Voting materials available in 7 languages
New this Primary Election: King County Elections now provides ballots and voting materials in Russian and Somali. Voters can now receive their voting materials, from ballots to voters’ pamphlets to ballot alerts, in seven languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Sign up to receive voting materials in the language of your choice at https://kce.wiki/languages. For more information about King County elections visit www.kingcounty.gov/elections.
FMD flies the flag for Pride, manages flags for county buildings
Crossposted from the DES Express Each year during the week before the LGBTQ+ Pride Parade, Facilities Management Division (FMD) staff prepare to raise the Progress Pride flag at the Administration Building. Graphic designer Daniel Quasar’s Progress Pride Flag added five arrow-shaped lines to the six-colored Rainbow Flag, which is widely recognized as a symbol of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ+) community. It’s one of many flags FMD manages for special holidays, sports team accomplishments and other events. In addition, FMD manages lowerings of the American flag at county buildings for… Read More
As Duwamish River is made cleaner, local artists help community connect to its waters
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories The Duwamish River has many sides to it – industrial corridor, habitat for migrating salmon, ancestral waters for the people who have long inhabited its shores and waters. Two local artists have been commissioned to capture the complexity of the Duwamish and the clean water infrastructure that’s being designed to support a healthier river for future generations. Timothy White Eagle and Laura C. Wright are designing art that will be featured as part of King County’s West Duwamish Wet Weather Storage Facility to enhance the project’s connections to community. Both are residents of King County,… Read More
Jail residents receive high school diplomas in first post-pandemic graduation ceremony
Crossposted from the DAJD Employee Newsletter On June 29, a high school graduation ceremony was held at the King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) for six young men. As the first graduation since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a welcome and inspiring return to normalcy. The six graduates were participants in the Interagency Academy, which was internally supported by DAJD Volunteer Coordinator Karen Pohio, and Education Instructor Tom Meadough. “The graduation ceremony provided a unique opportunity to witness students proudly receive diplomas as a measure of their dedicated efforts to… Read More
Executive Constantine recognizes July 26 as Disability Pride Day
In recognition of July 26, 2023 marking the 33rd anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed July 26, 2023 to be Disability Pride Day. “For more than three decades, the ADA has made our communities, our economy, and our county stronger and more vibrant by affirming and protecting the fundamental rights of people with disabilities – the right to equal opportunity, economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and accessible and equitable participation in the community,” he says. Read the full proclamation… Read More
Workforce Equity and you: Disability as a protected class
As an employer, King County has a reputation for being a place where all people can succeed and thrive. Diversity, inclusion, equity, and social justice are part of our True North for both residents and employees. This means that employees with disabilities, whether visible or not, all have the same rights and resources as employees in other protected classes. The Workforce Equity Team is part of the Director’s Office of the Department of Human Resources (DHR). Workforce Equity provides oversight, guidance, support, and compliance functions that ensure an inclusive and diverse workforce,… Read More
King County Green Schools Program recognizes 67 schools, two school districts, and 88 student Green Teams for resource conservation efforts this school year
Crossposted from Keeping King County Green As the 2022-23 school year draws to a close, King County Green Schools Program recognizes 67 schools, two school districts, and 88 student Green Teams for their waste reduction and other resource conservation practices – that’s more than twice the total number of schools as last year. Issaquah School District and Tahoma School District earned recognition as Sustaining Green School Districts for their environmental initiatives in 2022-23. Led by the County’s Solid Waste Division, the Green Schools Program helps King County schools and school districts to start and… Read More
ESJ Strategic Plan Refresh seeking administrative professional support
The Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Strategic Plan Refresh project needs your expertise and is seeking 8-10 administrative professionals to support 3-4 affinity spaces. Overview of tasks include: Creating meeting materials and logistics support Notetaking Scheduling, coordinating, and communicating resources Supporting hybrid meeting spaces Partnering with facilitators to support participants including breakout sessions First meetings will occur from July 31 – August 9, with additional meetings occurring every 3-4 weeks. Onboarding will be provided in late July with regular facilitation planning occurring before each meeting. To join the ESJ Strategic Plan Refresh… Read More
BIPOC Mental Health Month: Accessing culturally responsive mental health care
Balanced You recognizes the resiliency and strength within the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. We also recognize that one’s background and identities can present unique experiences, specific barriers, and opportunities to accessing mental health support; BIPOC and underrepresented communities face additional barriers including structural racism, access to quality care, and cultural stigmas. As a King County employee, you have access to comprehensive health care coverage, including mental health coverage. We have been working with our providers to reduce barriers to access. Most employees have medical plans through either Kaiser Permanente or… Read More
DNRP’s Shin Yu Pai talks with disability activist Alice Wong
Shin Yu Pai is not just a storyteller for King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP). Among her other accomplishments — and accolades — she’s the author of eleven books of poetry, the current Civic Poet for the City of Seattle, and host of the KUOW award-winning podcast Ten Thousand Things. Recently, Shin Yu had a conversation for her podcast with disability activist Alice Wong, founder of the Disability Visibility Project and author of the best-selling memoir Year of the Tiger: An Activist’s Life. Growing up in a suburb of… Read More
Employee News 