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

Pride is coming! Order your t-shirt by June 14! 

The 2019 Pride t-shirts are ready to order! Fill out the order form, get payment ready ($8.50 each shirt, cash or check preferred, no credit or debit cards) and return the completed form with payment to Mariah Taylor in person or via interoffice mail (CNK-PH-1250) by Friday, June 14. Orders without payment will not be submitted. If you work outside of the downtown core and want your shirt sent through interoffice mail, include your mailstop on your order form.  As a reminder, we will have an additional 150 adult size t-shirts available at no cost on… Read More

Supporting and advancing immigrant rights 

Bookda Gheisar has been the Immigrant and Refugee Policy Advisor for King County in the Office of Equity and Social Justice (OESJ). This is Bookda’s last week before she transitions to take a new position at the Port of Seattle as their first Senior Director for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.  In this article, Bookda shares some of her reflections and learnings while at the County and provides resources that are available to support King County employees as we all work towards more equitable work places and communities.  In 2015, the King County Council and King County Executive formed the… Read More

Join King County at the 40th Annual Washington Women in Trades Fair, May 10 

Join King County Facilities Management Division, Department of Natural Resources & Parks, Department of Transportation and others at the Seattle Center for the 39th Annual Washington Women in Trades Fair this Friday, May 10 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center. Learn more about the fair at the Washington Women in Trades website. 

May is Mental Health Month

Dear employee, May is national Mental Health Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of mental health to our overall health and well-being, and to our community. Talking about and acknowledging mental health can be difficult and awkward, yet mental health is as important to our well-being as physical health. As the World Health Organization says, “there is no health without mental health.” Silence and stigma are two of the biggest barriers to people getting the care they need. Employees, family, and friends may struggle in silence, or not know… Read More

Join King County for Pride 2019, June 30 

Bring your Intersectional Selves and join your colleagues Sunday, June 30, as we march in celebration and support of Seattle’s LGBTIQQA community! All are welcome; feel free to bring your friends and family! Can’t make it to the parade? You can still order a t-shirt to show your support for the community (details to come).  Please email Mariah Taylor at mariah.taylor@kingcounty.gov with “Pride 2019” in the subject line.  To remain informed: Get on the distribution list to stay up to date on Pride related activities including important dates, t-shirt sales, and Parade details. Mariah… Read More

With one year until Census Day 2020, Executive Constantine, Mayor Durkan, and Seattle Foundation announce first-ever $1 million Regional Census Fund 

Joined by community members at El Centro de la Raza, King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan, and Seattle Foundation President and CEO Tony Mestres created the first-ever Regional Census Fund to provide $1 million in funding to help community organizations prepare for the 2020 Census, which will be conducted April 1, 2020. The Regional Census Fund is a $1 million pooled fund that will allocate money to Seattle and King County-based community organizations to help fund outreach and other activities for the United States 2020 Census. Read more in the… Read More

Reminder: 4th Annual Administrative Professionals Recognition event, Wednesday, April 24 

King County will celebrate the many contributions of our Administrative Professional employees at the 4th Annual Administrative Professionals Recognition event on Wednesday, April 24, from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., in room E-942 of the King County Courthouse.  This year’s event will focus on our “Gratitude” for the contributions of all Administrative Professionals. There will be guest speakers, and light refreshments will be provided. Space is limited so please register for the event, and arrive early so as to allow extra time for security screening.  Questions? Email administrativeprofessionals@kingcounty.gov. 

Youth engagement program provides resources and voice to Latinx students

King County is committed to being a place where every person can succeed and fulfil their potential. It is important to further work being done that allows every community here to thrive and have the opportunities it deserves. A current program in the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS), through the Employment and Education Resources (EER) division, seeks to do this for underserved Latinx youth. The King County Reengagement System, working closely with the Road Map Project, coordinates with local partners to reduce education and employment disparities faced by youth and… Read More