“We have been doing this for so long now that kids in King County just call their sex ed FLASH.” Andrea Gerber says this matter-of-factly. She has good reason to be proud of both the longevity and the quality of the FLASH curriculum. Along with her colleague Kari Kesler, the two led a three-day training in May that attracted 35 leaders and health educators from 14 states across the U.S. to become experts on FLASH, showcasing the success of the curriculum and its far-reaching impact. “It was amazing to have people from… Read More

More than 250 veterans and military spouses converged upon the Washington State Convention Center August 10 to take part in the Third Annual Working with our Troops Career Expo – an event cosponsored by the King County Veterans Program, WorkSource Seattle / King County, and the Washington State Convention Center. In addition to King County, the employers in attendance included more than 120 major corporations, small businesses, and Federal, State, County and City agencies; including Amazon, Boeing, Starbucks, ThyssenKrupp, Tommy Bahama, Weyerhaeuser and first responders. King County was represented by the Human… Read More

Crossposted from King County Wastewater Treatment Division  Summer’s over and school supplies are flying off store shelves. For ten students, it’s time to return from a special experience. At the end of August, ten high school students completed internships at King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD). For six weeks, these interns have seen their world view and horizons expand. They’ve learned about water and wastewater systems at the foundation of our region.  They’ve learned about careers that protect the environment. They heard industry professionals describe their career paths and commitment to our… Read More

It just takes one person to save a life. And for a gentleman on the evening ferry headed from Seattle to Bainbridge Island on July 18, that person was a quick-thinking King County employee. It began with the announcement that there was a medical emergency. A passenger was having trouble breathing and ferry crew members had responded. When they realized he needed medical attention, a call was put out for medical professionals who could assist. That’s when Jim Gleckler, a Registered Nurse with Public Health, stepped forward. “He had stopped breathing and… Read More

By Dijana Steward, IT Project Manager and member of the KCIT Employee Engagement Committee In July, King County IT CIO Bill Kehoe and I were asked to participate in the “Diversity Panel and Resources Event for Tech Industry Career Opportunities” event, an evening-long program hosted by the Department of Community and Human Services to provide insight and inspiration to people of color in their quest to build a career in technology. Bill was on the employer leadership panel and I was on the “this is how it really is” diversity panel. I… Read More

In the August 27 edition of the Seattle Times, the King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s Internship Program was mentioned in the “Rant & Rave” section for empowering teens and youth. The mention went as follows: “RAVE For King County’s wastewater treatment high school internship program and their staff. The students started with the thought that government doesn’t care about the average citizen and ended feeling empowered to participate in decision making and making our community a better place for everyone. Incredible growth was demonstrated during the students’ end-of-program presentations.”