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.
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
Employee News 