Green Globe Awards announced for 2019
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories
On Earth Day, King County Executive Dow Constantine recognized 13 businesses, cities, organizations and people for the work they’re doing to protect and improve the local environment with the Green Globe Awards. The Green Globe Awards are the County’s highest honor for local environmental efforts.
Congratulations to all those recognized! Among the recipients are three that were nominated by Wastewater Treatment Division, we appreciate their environmental stewardship efforts. Here’s a shout-out to Salmon-Safe and Clean Lake Union, Young’s Restaurant, and World Relief Seattle!
Read more from Clean Water Stories
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Watch a video of Administrative Professionals Recognition event
Some 250 employees attended the fourth annual Administrative Professionals Recognition Day event in the King County Courthouse April 24, and we put together a short video to commemorate the occasion. Click the image below to watch the video.
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Derrick Wheeler-Smith to serve as Project Director of Zero Youth Detention
Crossposted from Zero Youth Detention
Public Health – Seattle & King County is honored to announce that Derrick Wheeler-Smith will lead the County’s ongoing work to achieve Zero Youth Detention.
As Project Director, Wheeler-Smith will lead the implementation of the Road Map to Zero Youth Detention, which outlines strategies to lead with racial justice and further the work underway to transform the juvenile legal system. Wheeler-Smith’s background in youth empowerment makes him poised to build bridges between juvenile legal reform and the upstream community development work that schools, community groups and County-led programs are spearheading to ensure all King County youth are happy, healthy, safe and thriving.
“I’m excited to partner in this work in ways that will break the generational cycle of jail while removing barriers to social, mental, economic and financial success,” Wheeler-Smith explained. “Zero Youth Detention is about restoring futures and moving us away from a school-to-prison pipeline and into a school-to-wealth pipeline for the historically underserved young people in our community.”
Read more from Zero Youth Detention
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Featured Job: Communications Specialist III
Salary: $76,689.39 – $97,208.38 Annually
Location: WA 98057-2906, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Department: KCE – King County Elections
Job Number: 2019RL09802
Closing: 5/6/2019 11:59 PM Pacific
King County Elections (KCE) manages voter registrations and elections for more than 1.3 million voters in King County, the largest vote-by-mail county in the United States. KCE’s mission is to conduct fair, open and accurate elections. As a leader in providing inclusive elections, KCE is focused on three key priorities – (1) actively identifying and working to remove barriers to voting at both the individual and community level, (2) strengthening relationships with community and governmental partners, and (3) creating a culture of professional growth and development, openness and inclusion. Learn more at www.kingcounty.gov/elections.aspx
The Department of Elections – is searching for an energetic and resourceful professional who likes to “get stuff done.” The Communications Specialist III position in the Elections Department combines an exciting environment with the opportunity to cultivate talents and apply a variety of skills. The ideal candidate will thrive in an innovative, fast–paced environment and will not hesitate to roll up both sleeves, work hard, have fun, and get the job done.
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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Celebrate 10 years with BBY5K!
The Big Backyard 5K presented by Kaiser Permanente is celebrating its 10th annual event this year and there is still plenty of time to register! Lace up your sneakers and join King County Parks on Sunday, June 2 at Marymoor Park for this dog, stroller and family friendly event! You can sign up online through May 31 and in person on race weekend.
Proceeds from the event go to benefit King County Parks. So register as an individual or team today and support Your Big Backyard! King County Employees can receive $5 off their registration by using the discount code: KC5.
Will you be ready? If this is your first race, there are a few things you should know to make it the healthiest, most fun experience possible. Read about 9 essential training tips for beginners from our partners at Kaiser Permanente Washington. *Kaiser Permanente refers to Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington.
More information You can register to run or walk the 5K course or to run the special 10K course added this year to commemorate this tenth annual event! For kids ten and under, there is a free 1/4 mile Kids Dash presented by Parent Map, plus all the fun pre and post-race festivities.
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King County expresses gratitude for administrative professional employees
King County celebrated its more than 2,300 administrative professional employees last week at the 4th Annual Administrative Professionals Day Recognition Event.
This year’s event focused on the theme of “Gratitude” for the many contributions of administrative professionals to county government, and their work in helping all employees provide the best possible service to customers.
“Often administrative professionals and those who work behind the scenes don’t always get the recognition… but we all know you make it happen,” Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer, said at the event. “Providing opportunities to not only recognize the great work that you do, but also to identify career development needs and resources for administrative professionals, is something I am passionate about.”
Other guest speakers included King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci; Stacey McQuade, Director of the Career and Culture Division of the Department of Human Resources; Norm Alberg, Director of the Records and Licensing Services Division of the Department of Executive Services; Rhonda Mendel, KCIT Executive Assistant; and Amos Walters, Administrative Staff Assistant with the Department of Assessments.
The event is part of the Administrative Professionals Program, which was created to identify career development needs and resources for administrative professionals countywide.
“On behalf of Dow Constantine and the Senior Leadership Team, I want to express my gratitude to you in recognition of your contributions and accomplishments,” Whitney said. “We cannot do what we do every day without you and the care and expertise and passion that you bring to your work every day.”
Click here to learn more about King County’s Administrative Professionals Program.
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May is Mental Health Month
Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer, King County Executive Office
Dear employee,
May is national Mental Health Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of mental health to our overall health and well-being, and to our community.
Talking about and acknowledging mental health can be difficult and awkward, yet mental health is as important to our well-being as physical health. As the World Health Organization says, “there is no health without mental health.”
Silence and stigma are two of the biggest barriers to people getting the care they need. Employees, family, and friends may struggle in silence, or not know where to turn for help.
Together we can help change this by being compassionate, understanding colleagues, and working to create a culture of hope, inclusion, and support here at King County.
Mental Health Month is a great opportunity for all of us to strengthen our understanding of the importance of mental health and to learn about resources available to us and the people we care about. Balanced You has compiled this webpage with tools to help you recharge, build resilience, and get care for mental health, substance use, and other concerns. You will also find links to learn more about mental health, equip yourself to support people you care about, and inspire you to find your voice.
Whether mental health issues impact us personally, are present with us our whole lives or during a particularly challenging time, or these issues afflict our friends, co-workers, or families, I don’t believe there is any one of us who has not been impacted and suffered hardship. I am not different in this regard, and I strive to be a person who seeks to learn, help, heal, and de-stigmatize something that impacts virtually all of us.
We are stronger as an organization and a community when everyone has the opportunity to thrive, to be at their best, and feel their best. Hope, compassion, and recovery are all around us – in our co-workers, in our families, in ourselves – as are the resources to help one another and ourselves.
As a King County employee, and as the Chief People Officer for this 14,000-employee organization, I am continuously proud of the way we support each other, both on a daily basis and during challenging times. Thank you for continuing to care for and support one another and the people we serve.
Sincerely,
Whitney Abrams,
Chief People Officer
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May Day events Wednesday, May 1
Dear employee,
Several community groups are planning rallies, marches, and other events for International Workers’ Day this Wednesday, May 1.
We value and respect the peaceful expression of political views and people exercising their First Amendment rights. Employees who are scheduled to work and wish to attend any of the May Day events must follow their department’s appropriate leave policies and take leave with the approval of their supervisor. For more information on your department’s leave policies, please refer to your Human Resources Manager.
May Day activities could affect traffic and transit. Be prepared for these impacts and allow extra time when you travel. Please check with your supervisor for specific information or instructions for your work unit. Any alternate work arrangements must be approved by your supervisor.
Resources for Commuters
- Sign up for Metro Transit Alerts (text, email, tweets via @kcmetrobus, see RSS feed via desktop or mobile RSS reader)
- Sign up for King County Road Alerts (text, email, tweets via @kcroads)
- Sign up for King County Water Taxi Alerts (text, email)
- Visit the King County My Commute page
Visit the Eye on Your Metro Commute (blog during peak weekday commutes).
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Featured Job: Senior Crime Analyst – Metro Transit Police
Salary: $83,012.80 – $105,227.20 Annually
Location: WA 98108, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Department: King County Sheriff’s Office
Job Number: 2019CBM09459
Closing: 5/6/2019 11:59 PM Pacific
The Senior Crime Analyst for King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) is a great opportunity for an experienced, data-driven crime analyst to manage all aspects of crime analysis for Metro Transit Police. The Metro Transit Police Department is responsible for providing policing of King County Metro Transit’s bus system and routes across the county, and ensuring safety during Metro’s more than 400,000 daily boardings.
We are seeking candidates with the drive and experience to provide critical tactical and strategic analysis of crime related to Metro Transit operations and services. The successful candidate will demonstrate considerable expertise and creativity to effectively utilize proactive policing tools, incorporate intelligence-led policing techniques, data-driven analysis paradigms, and data collection procedures.
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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Invite your favorite nonprofit today
Crossposted from King County Employee Giving Program
Employee referred nonprofits are our favorite! It is our goal, after all, to connect Employees to the causes they are passionate about. Invite your favorite nonprofit here.
As an Employee Champion, during the Annual Giving Drive you may:
- Share about your favorite nonprofit
- Invite them in or do a special event in their honor
- Pledge
And eligible employees may use up to 3 days of sick leave to volunteer year-round.
Let’s get them in so others can learn about why you think they are so awesome!
Read more from King County Employee Giving Program
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