Metro celebrates Black History Month with special event featuring Dr. Terrence James Roberts
Metro’s Office of Equity, Inclusion and Belonging is honored to continue the celebration of Transit Equity Day and Black History Month with a special Lunch and Learn event featuring Congressional Gold Medal recipient, scholar, and Civil Rights figure, Dr. Terrence James Roberts.
Dr. Roberts is one of the Little Rock Nine, the group of nine black students who enrolled at formerly all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in September 1957. The nine students’ attendance put to test the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education United States Supreme Court ruling that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.
Join Dr. Roberts for a conversation on this history and present day efforts to realize racial justice. All King County employees are invited.
- Monday, Feb. 28 from noon to 1 p.m. Register here.
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Black History Month Stories of Hope: Abdirahman Hashi
The King County MLK Day Committee is sharing Stories of Hope first presented during the 2022 Martin Luther King Day celebration in honor of Black History Month.
Watch this video to meet Abdirahman Hashi, Project/Program Manager for Public Health – Seattle & King County, and hear in his own words a story of hope.
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New programs offered to get you on the path to feeling better
King County is offering several new Health Support Programs through Regence BlueShield to employees and family members covered by KingCare and KingCare Select medical plans.
These programs provide extra support when you need it. For example, you may need help understanding a new diagnosis, managing a chronic condition, or handling an illness. Click here for more information.
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RASKC sergeant “caught” helping people and pets
Cross-posted from Executive Services Express
A Kent resident recently observed Animal Control Sergeant – Lead Tim Anderson doing what he does best: helping people and pets. The resident, who saw the interaction during a break from her job at a local warehouse, took time to write to the county to recognize Anderson.
“If you could have only heard the genuine and kind conversation that took place between these two men, you wouldn’t know one was in a uniform – an authority figure – and the other down on his luck,” wrote Angela Dashiel. Read the full story here.
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Black History Month Stories of Hope: Gloria Fontenot
The King County MLK Day Committee is sharing Stories of Hope first presented during the 2022 Martin Luther King Day celebration in honor of Black History Month.
Watch this video to meet Gloria Fontenot, a Facilities Security Supervisor on the Facilities Management Division team, as she shares her inspirational story of hope.
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State v. Blake state Supreme Court decision signifacantly impacts King County Superior Court workload
Cross-posted from King County Superior Court
In February 2021, the Washington State Supreme Court made a decision that will be felt by people and institutions across Washington for years to come. The court decided, in State v. Blake, that the state law on drug possession was flawed, and as a result, convictions for drug possession charges across Washington must be vacated, and fines or fees paid by defendants must be refunded.
For King County Superior Court and the Department of Judicial Administration, it meant that a huge and highly consequential body of work appeared almost overnight. Read the story here.
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Jackie Moynahan named Interim Division Director of the Housing, Homelessness and Community Development Division
Cross-posted from Cultivating Connections
Jackie Moynahan has been appointed as the Interim Division Director of the Housing, Homelessness and Community Development Division (HHCDD) of the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS). In this role, she oversees efforts around community development, creating and preserving affordable and special needs housing, housing repair programs, and programs providing housing stability support for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Jackie has more than a decade of experience working in affordable housing and began her career in New York City repositioning and preserving struggling affordable housing properties. She has been with the DCHS since 2016. Read the full announcement here.
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Equity in Contracting program helps Metro launch innovative, cost-saving bus shelter solution
Cross-posted from Executive Services Express
Thanks to the recent Equity in Contracting Executive Order managed by the Department of Executive Services (DES), King County Metro is using innovative contracting techniques to address vandalism at bus shelters and save $1.5 million in replacement costs over ten years.
Last year, the King County Council approved legislation that increases contracting opportunities for small businesses owned by minorities, women, and socially and economically disadvantaged people. The county is removing barriers, implementing innovative contracting methods, and taking other actions to make it easier for minority- and women-owned businesses (MWBEs) to contract with King County. The partnership with Metro is the first of many examples to come of transforming the county’s existing race- and gender-neutral contracting program into one that is more pro-equity and amplifies the participation of MWBEs.
Read the full announcement here.
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Health Hero, Debra Baker, reminds us about the ‘Wonder of Now’
For Black History Month, Balanced You is excited to recognize our many talented Black employees in different bodies of work around the county.
Health Hero, Debra Baker, is an Organizational Development Lead in the Department of Human Resources. Her work supports departments, teams, and employees across the county by developing organizational health solutions and plans.
Debra shares about the concept of ‘beloved,’ understanding yourself as one who is accepted and greatly loved, and she describes the ‘Wonder of Now,’ her tips for being in the moment and practicing self-care. Watch this video to hear more of this inspiring discussion.
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Sheriff’s Office Communication Center announces Employees of the Year
Regardless of the type of emergency, virtually every one of them begins with someone dialing 911. In 2021, the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) Communications Center answered 527,050 phone calls from people seeking assistance in unincorporated King County and its contract cities. The Center never closes — its employees have been on the job throughout COVID-19, snow storms, forest fires, excessive heat, social protests, and more.
To recognize the great work that takes place in this important department, each year employees nominate and vote on their co-workers who best represent the professionalism and dedication required in their department. The 2021 honorees are:
- Garret Grobler — IT Specialist
- Camron Barth — Call Receiver
- Chris Condie — Dispatcher
- Neil Davis — Supervisor
of the Year
Communications Specialist of the Year
Each year, management selects the Communications Specialist of the Year from the four category winners. After careful consideration, Chris Condie received the honor for 2021. Chris is a 33-year veteran of the Communications Center, recently celebrating that anniversary. Chris’ career at KCSO began in 1989 which, coincidentally, matches his operator number — 89!
When he’s not working, Chris gets out into the wilderness, hiking, climbing, and back-country skiing. The knowledge of local wilderness lands he gains from these experiences has been very useful for the Search and Rescue calls the Communication Center receives. Because there aren’t specific addresses, Chris’ knowledge of trails and landmarks has been crucial in tracking down lost hikers.
Job opportunities available
The KCSO Communications Center is now recruiting for the next Academy. No experience is necessary. Click here to see the job posting for this position or email KCSO911Outreach@kingcounty.gov for more information.
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