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
Celebrating 2023 National Disability Employment Awareness Month
In October King County celebrates the contributions made by people with disabilities, and how disabilities, both visible and non-apparent, enhance our workforce, our communities, and our country. King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci honored the contributions of individuals with disabilities by proclaiming October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). On Oct. 10, during hybrid King County Council meeting, Councilmember Claudia Balducci read the proclamation and provided additional personal insights. Thank you to the King County Council for recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month as a time to honor the invaluable contributions of… Read More
Celebrating Metro’s Hispanic/Latinx employees
Crossposted from Metro Matters Over the past month, we have been engaging with our Metro colleagues from the Latinx Affinity Group to learn about their unique experiences related to heritage, community, and personal identity, as part of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month. This heritage month is uniquely recognized in the middle of September through the middle of October (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15), as it coincides with national independence celebrations in several Latin American countries. Read more.
Celebrating 35 Years with Jamie Schmeichel, Parks Specialist
By Quinn Pense, Parks District Maintenance Coordinator Please join us in celebrating Jamie Schmeichel, an extraordinary individual who has dedicated an impressive 35 years of their life to serving our community. Jamie is an integral member of the nursery team and restoration program, working diligently to ensure the flourishing beauty of our parks. His current tasks include weeding, filling pots with soil, transplanting plants, measuring fertilizer, planting seeds, and helping to tidy up around the Nursery. He does all of this with a smile and comes to work happy to be part of… Read More
Adaptive adventures: Making the outdoors accessible
Crossposted from King County Parks This spring, the Healthy Communities and Parks Fund (Tier 1), awarded nearly $200,000 total to 14 different organizations working to improve access to parks, open space, and recreation in underserved communities of King County. One of those organizations is Needs of the Community (NOC) Society, who received almost $15,000 to provide free and accessible travel opportunities for young adults with medical illnesses and disabilities through their Camp Without Borders program. Read more.
Reminder of required training: We Are Racially Just: Our King County Values at work
To reach our True North – a welcoming community where every person can thrive – we must achieve racial justice. “We Are Racially Just” is a core value of King County. Through personal testimonies from King County employees, the We Are Racially Just: Our King County Values at Work eLearning course explores what it means to be racially just and helps to familiarize employees with King County’s Pro-Equity and Anti-Racist actions and identify behaviors that can support these actions at work. This training helps to ensure that each of us understands what it means to be… Read More
Consider ways you can support and honor Indigenous People and Native American causes
In recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday, Oct. 9, King County’s ARWAG (Anti-Racist White Action Affinity Group) encourages you to consider ways you can support and honor Indigenous People and Native American causes. Consider volunteering your time or donating all or part of a day’s pay in support of Native American causes. Take a look at nonprofit organizations participating in this year’s Annual Giving Drive for ideas. You can also use up to three days of sick leave to volunteer at an Employee Giving Program nonprofit or at a local school. Also, take a moment… Read More
Employee News 