Metro HR employee athlete competing in 2018 Special Olympics USA Games July 1-6 in Seattle

The 2018 Special Olympics USA Games will be held in Seattle and King County during the first week of July, and – in addition to being a public partner of the games – King County is proud to have employees participating! Jonathan Leckband, Office Assistant with the Department of Transportation, is one of the employees who will be competing in the games. He is a soccer player who will be representing the State of Washington during the Seattle- and King County-hosted games. More than 4,000 athletes and coaches representing each state and… Read More

Hiring Managers: Vets 4 HIRE funding available

Hiring managers have the opportunity to support veterans in their transition to civilian employment by creating a Vets 4 HIRE fellowship within your organization. The Vets 4 HIRE learning experience should last a minimum of six months and can be either full- or part-time. The goal of the fellowship program is to provide veterans with training and practical, hands-on experience to increase their skills for future opportunities at King County and other civilian employment. You can be reimbursed up to 50 percent of the first six months of the veteran’s wages, up… Read More

Environmental education programs and resources

King County’s Department of Natural Resources and Parks has made it easy for educators and students to find guidance on habitat, invasive plants, clean water projects and more in curricula that meet state and federal education requirements, that is customized for our Pacific Northwest environment, and that offers students ideas for future careers. The guides provided list resources that include curricula, transportation, in-class trainers, workshops, costs, presentations, camps, and grant and professional development opportunities. The Stormwater Runoff Education Resource Guides, the Green Schools Program, internships and more are in the Environmental Education… Read More

Kudos! to Deputy Joshua Lanich, King County Sheriff’s Office, for restoring faith in humanity!

Donna Wright sent a great, public Thank You tweet to Deputy Lanich of the King County Sheriff’s Office for his assistance Friday in helping an incapacitated driver who had driven the wrong way onto a freeway ramp. “…such an inspiring example of what a public servant should be … you restored my faith in humanity. Thank you for your professionalism and your service!” Thank you, Donna! Kudos, Deputy Lanich!

Save the Date: 44th Annual Seattle Pride Parade

The King County Pride T-shirt orders have been placed, and the parade kicks off at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 24 at 4th Avenue and Union Street. Lasting about 2.5 hours, the parade will end near Seattle Center at 2nd Avenue and Denny Way. Viewers are encouraged to watch the parade from the sidewalks, leaving the street open for the parade. No parking will be permitted in any area along the parade route and all vehicles must be registered, must display an event pass and must have a driver in the vehicle at all… Read More

Pet of the Week: Smokey

Crossposted from Tails from RASKC This handsome gent is Smokey, our Pet of the Week! Smokey was brought in by his previous family due to allergies. They described him as shy and loving. He does well with other cats, and was initially brought in with his brother Pisely (who has already been adopted). Smokey has a gorgeous thick coat that could benefit with nice brushing! Smokey is more confident when he is surrounded by confident buddies. He has a “Bashful Blue” personality, meaning he is gentle and loving, and likes to take… Read More

Metro’s 42nd Annual Metroadeo Saturday

ICYMI: join Metro General Manager Rob Gannon and Metro’s Safety team Saturday from 9 a.m to 2 p.m. to recognize the skills of our fantastic bus operators! There are three ways King County employees can participate in the Metroadeo: Bus operators can sign up now to compete. Employees can bring their antique, classic or special interest cars, trucks, motorcycles – or any other vehicle – to the 30th Annual Employee Car Show. Save the date and attend the event. Bring your family and friends! Visit the Metroadeo website for more information on… Read More

Community Owned Data series

Crossposted from Best Starts for Kids During the month of June, we will be running a “community owned data” blog series. This is our kick off post! Every other year, Best Starts collects community data that helps guide our funding strategies. To ensure that we are truly partnering with communities and sharing data ownership, Best Starts partnered with specific communities to have conversations about the data and help us understand it. We learned a lot from this process and want to share our learnings with our larger community here.  Best Starts for… Read More

Superior Court block party to celebrate Juneteenth Tuesday, June 19

In case you missed it, King County Superior Court is observing Juneteenth by hosting a Juneteenth – A Day of Remembrance block party celebration Tuesday, June 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, Juneteenth today commemorates African-American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. The event is free and open to the King County work community. Join the Superior Court for exhibits, live entertainment and food on Spruce Street between… Read More

Cine en el Parque outreach opportunities

The Department of Natural Resources and Parks invites King County departments and agencies to participate in the County’s Cine en el Parque Movie at the Park event Saturday, Aug. 4 at Dick Thurnau Memorial Park in White Center. Cine en el Parque, featuring the screening of Coco in Spanish with English subtitles, is a terrific summertime outreach opportunity for County teams to reach our Latino community and connect residents with programs and agencies. Departments and agencies are invited to participate and promote their community programs and services, particularly if you have materials… Read More