King County mobilizing for 2020 Census
Crossposted from DES Express You may have heard some buzz about the U.S. Census in the news lately. Whether the “citizenship question” can be included in the Census has been the focus of much debate. While the Supreme Court ruled that the question can’t be included, many communities still feel uneasy about participating in this important, once-a-decade civic event. “It leaves the immigrant communities to believe that the [federal] government is still after information that could endanger them,” Denise Hulett of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund told Slate magazine. King County made early decisions… Read More
Executive branch EEO/AA Committee recruiting new committee members
The Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Committee is recruiting new committee members for the 2020– 2022 term. The committee is employee-based and serves in an advisory capacity to the county executive; developing and reviewing strategies, systems, policies and guidelines to implement and enhance executive branch EEO/AA plans. The committee is actively recruiting representatives from: Department of Natural Resources and Parks Elections King County Sheriff’s Office Metro The application period closes Sept. 6. Please visit www.kingcounty.gov/jobs for additional information regarding qualifications and to apply. For questions, contact Lisa D. Longdon, Workforce Equity Program Manager at 206-477-3258… Read More
Connecting more veterans, service members and their families to support services with specially trained Pathfinders and Navigators
On July 30, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced a $7.5 million initiative that will provide specially trained Pathfinders and Navigators to connect more veterans, servicemembers, and their families to a network of supportive services. The community-based Pathfinders and Navigators will reach out to veterans, servicemembers, and their families throughout King County, focusing on those who face the greatest barriers, including veterans who are women, transgender, Native Americans, people of color, veterans who are experiencing homelessness, and their families. In addition to services, the Pathfinders and Navigators will connect veterans who experience… Read More
Community Court Program building safer neighborhoods
King County is helping low-level offenders get their lives back on track and building safer communities through a program called Community Court. The Community Court Program is an alternative problem-solving court that can help low-level offenders avoid the traditional court system if they adhere to a plan, access community services, and create positive changes in their lives and their community. “It warms my heart to have people succeed and to see the change in them,” King County District Court Judge Lisa Paglisotti said in a recent video about the program. “This is the one program that,… Read More
Family Treatment Court helping King County families
King County is protecting the health, safety and welfare of children in the dependency system and helping parents reunite with their children through its Family Treatment Court. The Family Treatment Court Program, started in August 2004, is an alternative option to dependency court for parents. Parents voluntarily enter the program and agree to increased court participation, chemical dependency treatment and intense case management in order to reunite with their children. “Family treatment court is not designed to be an adversarial type of program. It’s not designed to be litigious; it’s not based on… Read More
Free admission: King County Employee Day at the races Sunday, July 21
King County employees and one guest will receive free admission to Emerald Downs Racetrack Sunday, July 21 for the King County Express Stakes, which includes the Fiesta Premio Esmeralda. Employees must show their King County ID at any of the 12 gates, which will provide the employee and one guest tickets that include free admission, official program and tip sheet, and chips and soda. Children 17 and under get in free. In addition to this year’s King County Express Stakes, there will be the Mt. Rainier Stakes – the final prep race for the richest… Read More
From Standing Rock to Public Defense, Natasha brings a spirit of social activism to her work
By Leslie Brown, Department of Public Defense In 2016, five months after graduating from Pepperdine University, Natasha Frazier headed from her home near Washington D.C. to the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota to support the growing resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline. She pitched her one-person tent on the reservation, assuming she’d melt into the ranks of the swelling movement. But she quickly found herself drawn to the work of several volunteer defense lawyers and eventually joined the legal defense team in Mandan, North Dakota, a 40-minute drive from Standing Rock. Natasha… Read More
Passport Day a resounding success
Crossposted from DES Express Congratulations to everyone involved in the recent “Passport Day” at the Black River Community Service Center in Renton. The Recorder’s Office held the event on Saturday, June 1, to accommodate residents who might not otherwise be able to apply for a U.S. passport in person during standard weekday hours. “It exceeded our expectations,” said Norm Alberg, director of the Records and Licensing Services Division (RALS). “Staff were busy all day and people were very happy.” Read more from DES Express
Join us for Pride Flag-raising today at 1 p.m. and Pride Parade Sunday
You’re invited to join King County Executive Dow Constantine as he hoists the Pride Flag over the Administration Building today at 1 p.m. in celebration of Pride Month. Executive Constantine will be joined by King County Councilmembers and employees on the Administration Building Plaza (Fourth Avenue side, 500 Fourth Avenue) at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 27, as we debut a new version of the Pride Flag. The “Progress” Pride Flag was designed by Daniel Quasar of quasar.digital and shared under a Creative Commons license. This new design is an evolution of the traditional six-stripe rainbow flag, and is meant to be more representative of… Read More
Why is it important to work for an LGBTQ-inclusive employer?
King County is dedicated to being a welcoming, inclusive place – and that includes being a welcoming, inclusive place to work. As we prepare to celebrate Pride this weekend, you’re invited to watch and hear from your colleagues who are members of the LGBTQ community about being part of our 15,000-person team. We strive toward equity and inclusion every day, and our message to everyone is clear: you belong here.
Employee News 