Crossposted from DES Express 

You may have heard some buzz about the U.S. Census in the news lately. Whether the “citizenship question” can be included in the Census has been the focus of much debate. While the Supreme Court ruled that the question can’t be included, many communities still feel uneasy about participating in this important, once-a-decade civic event. 

“It leaves the immigrant communities to believe that the [federal] government is still after information that could endanger them,” Denise Hulett of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund told Slate magazine. 

King County made early decisions to mobilize to ensure as accurate a count as possible. County Executive Dow Constantine called together a Complete Count Committee, with Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and former Gov. Gary Locke as co-chairs. 

Read more from DES Express

On July 30, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced a $7.5 million initiative that will provide specially trained Pathfinders and Navigators to connect more veterans, servicemembers, and their families to a network of supportive services. 

The community-based Pathfinders and Navigators will reach out to veterans, servicemembers, and their families throughout King County, focusing on those who face the greatest barriers, including veterans who are women, transgender, Native Americans, people of color, veterans who are experiencing homelessness, and their families. In addition to services, the Pathfinders and Navigators will connect veterans who experience isolation to supportive communities. 

“No other county in this nation does more to support those who serve in the armed forces, yet our mission will not be complete until we connect all veterans, servicemembers, and their families to the services they need to thrive,” said Executive Constantine. “We have increased the resources available to veterans who live in King County. Now, our specially trained Pathfinders will reach those who face the greatest barriers to those resources.” 

Read more in the official press release. 

King County is helping low-level offenders get their lives back on track and building safer communities through a program called Community Court.  

The Community Court Program is an alternative problem-solving court that can help low-level offenders avoid the traditional court system if they adhere to a plan, access community services, and create positive changes in their lives and their community.  

“It warms my heart to have people succeed and to see the change in them,” King County District Court Judge Lisa Paglisotti said in a recent video about the program. “This is the one program that, I think, we’re giving people tools teaching them to be self-sufficient, giving them hope, restoring their dignity, energizing them to move forward in positive ways.”  

The Community Court addresses crimes such as theft, shoplifting, and other low-level offenses. The goal is to divert people from the traditional justice system and offer resources that can help them address the underlying issues that led to their offences, and ultimately lead to stronger, safer neighborhoods. 

The Community Courts are located in Redmond and Burien, and include Resource Centers that offer services to participants, such as job training, education, housing, healthcare, and much more. The Community Court Resource Centers are open to everyone, not just those enrolled in the program.  

The program offers resources, opportunities, and promotes the goal of empowering participants to create positive change. Watch this video to learn more or visit  the Community Court Program.