Executive Constantine proclaims June 19, 2024 as Juneteenth
King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed June 19, 2024 as Juneteenth in King County, stating that “Juneteenth marks both the long, hard night of slavery and discrimination, and the promise of a brighter morning to come.” “Juneteenth is a time for celebration, prayer, and gathering of the community, and organizations have the common mission to promote and cultivate knowledge and appreciation of Black history and culture,” he said in the Proclamation. “I urge all citizens to become aware of the significance of this celebration in Black History and in the heritage… Read More
New programs bring music, mentorship, and business skills to King County’s detained youth
By Christina Lorella Kuzu, Communications Specialist with the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention The end of May and early June marked the beginning of three new youth programs at the Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center (CCFJC) in King County, expanding services to youth in custody and allowing a plethora of additional opportunities for residents to spend time participating in group activities together with their peers. Cocreative Culture On Friday, May 18, Providence Kamana and Grady Mukanya of Cocreative Culture visited each of the units at CCFJC, presenting information… Read More
Words matter: Public Health – Seattle & King County’s Equitable Language Guide
It is important to make sure the way we talk and write fosters inclusivity, respect, and equity. In 2020, Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) recognized gaps in how they communicated with the people they serve. To resolve this issue, PHSKC revised their communication practices which included enhancing equity and inclusion through the words they used in messaging. What partially started as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, grew into a multi-year project that resulted in the launch of the Equitable Language Guide for PHSKC. The Equitable Language Guide is… Read More
Three things we did to make contracting more equitable
By Office of Equity and Community Partnerships, Public Health – Seattle & King County Sometimes systems that were intended to create fairness backfire. Organizations and vendors should have equal opportunity to bid for government contracts, so government agencies typically use Requests for Proposals (RFPs) in an attempt to open up contracting. But in reality, this process can add to disparity. For example, if you are a small organization or business, you probably don’t have dedicated staff who can easily respond to RFPs. Even for highly capable staff, it can be daunting and… Read More
Keeping KCCF orderly and fun: Ting Chou marks 25 years with King County
By Christina Lorella Kuzu, Communications Specialist with the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention You can find Ting Chou at the King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) every Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon, making sure officers and residents get what they need. From stocking supplies to fulfilling resident kites (a written request from a person in custody), his role as a records unit support clerk is important to jail operations. Ting also makes it his unofficial duty to guarantee that coworkers don’t take themselves too seriously. “We know when he’s… Read More
King County Executive proclaims June to be Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month
King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed June 2024 to be Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month. In the proclamation, Executive Constantine urges all King County residents to honor the fight against discrimination and to honor the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people to our County and our society. Read the full proclamation below.
Shared learning towards a racially just King County
In 2023, more than 70% of King County employees took the We Are Racially Just training, a wonderful achievement for a course that was only launched in August. At King County, we aim to reach our True North – to create a welcoming community where every person can thrive. To achieve this, we must be racially just and actively work toward dismantling racist systems, practices, and approaches. The training is one of the ways King County has worked toward this goal. We are racially just is a core value of King County… Read More
Thanking our local veterans for their service
Dear fellow King County employee, For more than a century, our nation has dedicated November 11 as the day to recognize the brave members of our country’s armed forces, past and present. They placed their own lives at risk to defend freedom here at home and around the world. Veterans Day is our opportunity to honor and thank them for their service. King County is home to some 115,000 veterans of all ages. Almost 1,200 of our King County colleagues are veterans, working alongside us in every department and every branch of… Read More
Energizing! the Future
Did you know that building and facility energy use is the region’s second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, which represents nearly half of King County carbon emissions? The continual increase in greenhouse gas emissions is a key driver of the ongoing climate crisis. The need for sustainable, regenerative, and resilient building practices is critical to curbing greenhouse gas emissions and fostering a climate-friendly future. Additionally, climate change often disproportionately impacts frontline communities – communities that face historic and current inequities and have limited resources to adapt, often cited as environmental justice… Read More
King County receives federal grant to improve re-entry services for people being released from jail
The U.S. Department of Justice recently awarded the Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget’s Criminal Legal section a $1 million grant to contract for virtual re-entry services for people being released from King County jail and people returning to King County after being release from Washington State prisons. PSB’s Criminal Legal section will use the funding to procure and implement an electronic, 24/7/365 substance-use disorder (SUD) recovery system that offers immediate and interim SUD interventions specifically designed to address the unique needs of people involved in the criminal legal system. Interventions will include evidence… Read More
Employee News 