Supporting Disability Awareness Month through the 2020 Annual Giving Drive
Each year King County employees help hundreds of nonprofit organizations do vital work in our community and around the world by donating to the Annual Giving Drive. The start of this year’s Giving Drive coincides with Disability Awareness Month, which King County celebrates each October. The following are four participating nonprofits whose work helps people with disabilities: Alliance of People with disAbilities (9438) – To provide independent living resources and advocate for the well-being and assure full exercise of human rights of persons with disAbilities. Center for Independence (9185) – Empowering people with disabilities to live independently… Read More
Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month and supporting one another
The King County Latinx Affinity Group is hosting several events throughout the year to encourage employees during these challenging times, and celebrate Latinx Heritage Month, recognized as Sept. 15 – Oct. 15. Several of these events are planned in collaboration with Sound Transit Latinx in Transportation (LiT), and the Seattle Department of Transportation’s Latinx Caucus. They are intended to educate and empower community members to join together in supporting one another, the Latinx community, and other King County communities as well. To learn more about these events and the Latinx Affinity Group… Read More
Coming together to address racial inequities and care for one another
In honor of Latinx Heritage Month, recognized as Sept. 15 – Oct. 15., the King County Latinx Affinity Group has hosted several events to celebrate the Latinx community. In addition to these events, the Group has also developed opportunities to honor and highlight the great work being done on behalf of other minority communities. In July, the group held a Lunch and Learn to discuss working alongside the Black Lives Matter movement, and how to support the efforts being made to raise awareness and create change in response to the injustices experienced by the Black community. To… Read More
Join us: Veteran diversity, equity and inclusion listening sessions
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections Our King County Veterans Program, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA Puget Sound Health Care System) is hosting four listening sessions on diversity, equity and inclusion in veterans service systems. The listening sessions seek to learn and hear from veteran constituents (partners, employees and clients) to identify systemic bias and discrimination in veterans services in King County. Please join us for a virtual conversation on: Veteran Listening Sessions: Addressing Systemic Racism with Veteran Systems Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 1:30 –… Read More
Lunch and Learn Sessions for Disability Awareness Month, October 7 and 21
In celebration of October as National Disability Awareness Month, the Department of Human Resources is hosting two Lunch and Learn discussions that focus on Race and Disability, to be held via Zoom. We will begin our discussion with a short video and then an open dialogue facilitated by Workforce Equity Manager Gloria Ngezaho, and employees Jennifer Greenlee, Lili Stansberry and Christina Davidson. All King County employees are welcome to join. Lunch and Learn, Wednesday, Oct. 7 from noon to 1 p.m. – Discussion on the intersection of Race and Disability Lunch and Learn, Wednesday, Oct. 21… Read More
Celebrating Disability Awareness Month in King County
Dear fellow King County employee, Each October, we celebrate Disability Awareness Month in King County and the many contributions that people with disabilities make to our community. Every person deserves the opportunity to fulfil their potential, share their unique abilities, and fully participate in everything that our region has to offer. Disability Awareness Month reminds us that we must continue to break down barriers to promote inclusion and expand opportunity for all people with disabilities. The global COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the urgency of this work. COVID-19 is having a disproportionate impact… Read More
Executive proclamation for 2020 Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month and events
King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed the month beginning Sept. 15 “Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month” in King County. View the full proclamation here. To commemorate the celebration, the King County Latinx Affinity Group (KCLx) hosted a kick off celebration by hosting an informal panel discussion with the KCLx leadership committee. “During these difficult times, this is an opportunity for us to proudly share and celebrate our diverse Latinx culture with our colleagues, as well as come together with our King County familia for mutual support,” shared Melissa Arias, KCLx Membership Chair and Program Manager for the Department of Community and Human Services. KCLx is collaborating with Sound Transit Latinx… Read More
Leading with racial justice in King County
Crossposted from Public Health Insider On June 11, 2020, King County Executive, Dow Constantine, and Public Health Director, Patty Hayes, declared racism is a public health crisis. They heard the call-to-action from the community and have resolved to hold all of King County to a higher standard. King County is committed to providing the resources needed to equitably address the damaging effects of racism and will do the necessary work, long-term, to create and affect tangible change. Read more.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month 2020
National Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month is observed from Sept. 15 – Oct. 15 in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. This month is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the long, important presence and contributions of Hispanic and Latino and Latina (Latinx) Americans. A video to celebrate Latinx/Hispanic Heritage month was produced by Latino Northwest Communications in collaboration with Utopia Media and Entertainment and King County Metro, Sound Transit, and Seattle Department of Transportation and will be airing on Univision. View the video in English below and in Spanish here.
My proposals for anti-racism and criminal legal system transformation in upcoming budget
Dear fellow King County employee, Today I announced a package of proposals that transforms the criminal legal system and funds ongoing work to confront racism as a public health crisis. There is increasing acknowledgement of the brutal reality of racism and bias throughout our society, and the imperative to be deliberate and steadfast in our commitment to anti-racism. That is why I joined with Public Health Director Patty Hayes in June to declare that racism is a public health crisis, and that all of King County government is committed to implementing a… Read More
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