Celebrating National Senior Center Month
Every September the National Council on Aging celebrates National Senior Center Month by shining a light on senior centers and showing the nation how vital they are to the health and well-being of a community. In King County, senior centers support a growing population of older adults by providing essential services such as food and nutrition, cultural and social activities, information and assistance, education opportunities, celebratory events, health and wellness programs, and connection for isolated seniors. The Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) funds senior centers to serve as recognized resource centers on… Read More
Public Health program transforms into collaborative troupe, empowering employees and engaging the community
The Employee Engagement Strategy (EES) Program at Public Health – Seattle and King County has recently undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving into a dynamic collective known as the EES Troupe. The Troupe brings together participants from various divisions and departments throughout King County, with the aim of fostering effective employee engagement and strengthening collaborative strategies. The EES Troupe has been working diligently to create a robust working environment that promotes teamwork, innovation, and productivity among colleagues internally. By encouraging employees to work together and leverage their diverse expertise, the Troupe aims to… Read More
Youth learn and develop community leadership skills through Metro Transit Equity Internship Program
Crossposted from Metro Matters This July, King County Metro hosted its second annual Youth Transit Equity Internship. The program provides a unique group learning and skill-building opportunity for young people interested in public transit and community leadership. Throughout the program, the Transit Equity Interns become peer ambassadors of transportation resources, explore career pathways within Metro, and build skills and knowledge of transit, urban planning, climate justice, and local government! Read more.
Metro wants to hear from people with disabilities about their mobility needs
Crossposted from Metro Matters Mobility for people with disabilities has always been a vital part of Metro’s mission and we work hard to remove barriers. Metro is currently developing a plan to further improve accessibility within our programs, services and activities. Our goal is to make it possible for everyone in King County to ride with us and get to the places they need to go. We invite you to complete our community survey by Oct. 15. Scroll down to learn more about Metro’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan. Your input about your experiences riding… Read More
We are racially just: Our King County values at work
A message from King County’s Learning & Development team 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… Read More
Executive Constantine proclaims 2023 Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month
Sept. 15 is the starting point for Latinx Heritage Month and King County, Executive Dow Constantine has declared Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 as Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month in King County. The month is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the cultural, educational, economic, and political influences and contributions of Latinx residents. “I urge all residents to join in this community celebration,” he said. Read the full proclamation in English here, and in Spanish here.
King County launches Determinants of Equity data tool
King County has a new tool to help us better understand disparities in our communities as we work to advance equity and social justice goals. As part of our work to become a welcoming community where every person can thrive, King County has identified 15 determinants of equity. We have also identified a set of indicators help us better understand where inequities exist and which groups experience the most severe inequities for each of the 15 areas. The Determinants of Equity tool provides data and information to help employees and community users understand these equity conditions… Read More
Reminder of Racially Just training for all Executive branch employees
King County has launched a new training, We Are Racially Just: Our King County Values at Work, to help ensure that we all understand what it means to be racially just and what we can do in our own work to advance racial justice at King County. “Racial justice necessitates breaking with the status quo, disrupting business as usual, and approaching our work differently,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said. “It can be hard work and it can be uncomfortable, but in order to make progress we must lean into one of… Read More
Finding hope and raising awareness during National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
This September, as we recognize National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we are reminded that we can all provide hope and support to those who are struggling. Too many people experience suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress without the support and care they need. The COVID-19 pandemic added to our anxieties and challenges, putting further stress on people’s mental health and wellness. We know that every year thousands of individuals die by suicide, leaving behind their friends and family members suffering a tragic loss. When we lose someone to suicide, it has a deep and… Read More
Growing people power rooted in community love
From the American Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pasifika Affinity Group “King County is centering people and their experiences to help inform what shapes our strategies, which shape our policies, funding, procurements, and allows true impact in communities being able to create their own resource building,” Amy Pak (she/her) says. “We have incredible leaders. There’s so much knowledge, skill, and power within the community.” Inaccessible, exclusionary practices and a history of systemic racism and inequity obstruct the pathways for grassroots, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), immigrant and refugee communities to access needed services…. Read More
Employee News 