Congratulations 2019 Bridge Fellowship graduates
More than 100 leaders, colleagues, family, and friends celebrated the 27 employees who graduated from the 20-week Bridge Fellowship, King County’s intensive professional development program, at a ceremony in downtown Seattle. King County Executive Dow Constantine gave the keynote address at the June 24 ceremony, speaking about the importance of providing genuine opportunities for employee development and advancement, and how the Executive Branch True North – Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive – is connected to this focus. “With the Bridge Fellowship, we are developing employees, helping them thrive… Read More
Graduate shares her experience with Bridge Fellowship
Ladna Farah graduated from King County’s Bridge Fellowship program on June 24, and gave a heartfelt speech about her experience in the program, her aspirations, and what she learned from it. Good Afternoon! My name is Ladna Farah. Thank you all for being here today. I would like to share my thoughts and discoveries about the topics: Fear and Leadership, to share how the King County Bridge Program has contributed to my personal development and to thank the King County Bridge Fellowship Program for awakening my leadership potential and aspirations. There is a… Read More
Are you listening? The Untold Story Project offers hope and healing as employees share their untold stories of racism and visions of a more equitable future
Kelly Westhelle, Wastewater Treatment Division The Untold Story Project is launching its 2019-2020 program. Employees of color are encouraged to submit their untold or unheard stories of racism or vision for a more equitable future here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/untold-story by August 30, 2019. All submitted Untold Stories will be posted at http://www.untoldstoryproject.blog. Stay tuned for an announcement on performance dates later this year. I believe storytelling is foundational to the human experience. Stories bridge time across generations, and bridge space by linking different communities and cultures. Stories teach us about life, the world around us, the people around us,… Read More
Celebrating Pride and the fight for equality
Dear fellow King County employee, This month marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising in New York City, a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in our nation. We have come a long way since this landmark event, yet many LGBTQ+ Americans continue to experience discrimination and fear in their personal and work lives. Here in King County we are dedicated to being a welcoming, inclusive community. In 2012, King County became the first jurisdiction in the nation to enact marriage equality based on voter approval, and one of… Read More
Reminder: Register for free showing of “The Most Dangerous Year,” June 25
In honor of Pride Month, King County employees will have an opportunity to watch and discuss the film about the anti-transgender legislation in Washington in 2016 and the journey of many Washington families with transgender children. The Seattle writer and director, Vlada Knowlton, will be on hand for the discussion. The movie supports the Executive’s priority of advancing equity and social justice within County government and in partnership with communities. Tuesday, June 25 from 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Chinook Building Room 121, 401 5th Ave., Seattle This event is free, but seating is limited. Please… Read More
Executive’s Small Business Awards now accepting nominations
Nominations for the 2019 King County Executive’s Small Business Awards are open through July 15, 2019. To be eligible for consideration, a business must meet the following requirements: Be located in King County Have 50 or fewer employees Be a for-profit business in operation for at least 3 years All past winners and 2018 finalists are ineligible for nomination Nominate your favorite local small business by July 15 at www.kingcounty.gov/smallbiz
County employees graduate from women’s leadership program
Crossposted from DES Express Six King County employees graduated on June 7 from the first-ever NW Women’s Leadership Academy, sponsored by the Washington City-County Management Association: (Kelly) Tuyet Dang (DNRP) Stephanie Lucash (DES) Lluvia Ellison-Morales (DES/RALS) Lorraine Patterson (DNRP) Brandy Rettig (DLS) Elizabeth Soltero (DES/RALS) “We’re proud to have so many King County employees graduating from this program,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said. “King County is committed to equity, including providing abundant opportunities for women in leadership.” Read more from DES Express
KCIT staff craft for equity
Doing good by being creative—now that’s pretty crafty. It’s all possible at the weekly Tuesday lunch gatherings of the Rainbow Circle in the Chinook Building. The Rainbow Circle founded by Jennifer Broadus, the lead of the King County Information Technology (KCIT) Equity and Social Justice events team. It grew out of her desire to bond with other knitters while helping the community in an intentional way by creating projects to support organizations in the Employee Giving Program. “We pick different nonprofits with an equity lens,” Jennifer explains. “That might include helping kids… Read More
Show your Pride at 2019 Seattle Pride Parade
It’s less than two weeks until the 2019 Seattle Pride Parade, and King County is getting ready to celebrate. Join your colleagues, friends and family Sunday, June 30, as we march to celebrate and support Seattle’s LGBTQ+ community. The King County contingent will be staging on 4th Avenue, between Union Street and University Street. Just look for the Metro Bus or Medic One Rig to find us. The Parade route is about a mile long and will end near Seattle Center at 2nd Avenue and Denny Way. We recommend people arrive at 10:30… Read More
King County Supported Employment Program highlighted at national conference
Christina Davidson and Jeff Casem from the Disability Services Section of the Department of Human Resources recently presented on King County’s Supported Employment Program at the National Associate of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) Directors Forum and Mid-Year Conference. The conference featured a national audience of approximately 200-250 state directors of services, senior management, policy makers, self-advocates, researchers and providers from all over the country in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their interest was in learning how to take on policies for the employment of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and embedding in… Read More
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