Lourdes Garcia brings her family’s passion for helping others to DPD
Lourdes Garcia slipped out of Cuba with her family when she was 7 years old, carrying little more than the clothes she could cram into a suitcase. Her parents left behind good jobs, furnishings, a large extended family. It was hard rebuilding their lives once they landed in Seattle, said Lourdes, who today works for the county’s Department of Public Defense. But her family’s remarkable story also instilled in her the importance of helping others – in part, because of the role model of her father, a man who helped countless Cuban refugees… Read More
Taking care of ourselves and one another in a difficult time
Dear colleague, Over the last several weeks in the national media, we have seen courageous women coming forward and reporting their experiences of sexual assault. Many of us have been impacted by these reports and the media that surrounds them. I know that there are many different reactions to this news. I also want to acknowledge there are many cases of sexual assault and harassment that don’t get national attention, and many that don’t get reported out of fear and marginalization. This is especially true for members of the transgender community, Native… Read More
October is Disability Awareness Month in King County
Dear fellow King County employee, October is Disability Awareness Month in King County, a time to celebrate and recognize the many contributions of people with disabilities in our community and around the world. It’s also a time to raise awareness about challenges that people with disabilities face and look at what we can do to help them thrive and fulfill their potential. Everyone deserves a fair shot at success. We are all better off when everyone has an equitable opportunity to fully participate in our community and contribute their unique perspectives and… Read More
King County remembers Sue Ammeter
“Sue was strong, she was fierce, but she also didn’t direct attention to herself and her efforts,” said Karla Lynch, Employment and Community Access Program Manager with the Department of Community and Human Services. “When I think about her energy and her effort, it really was to improve the lives of all people with disabilities.” While at King County Sue Ammeter worked as a Disability Services Specialist. She understood how disabilities could impact people’s lives, as she was blind herself. Her impact in the areas of civil rights, disability accommodations, and employee… Read More
2018 Balanced You Worksite Fund recipients
Crossposted from Balanced You The Balanced You Worksite Fund is a competitive process overseen by King County Employee Health and Well-Being in the Human Resources Division. It’s one way we’re investing in your health and well-being. In response to our first call for applications earlier this summer, we received over 100 applications totaling almost $300,000 in requests. In 2018, we plan to invest about $100,000 in over 40 projects reaching worksites throughout the County. Your interest and enthusiasm in creating positive change in our worksites was fantastic to see. Continue reading to learn more… Read More
An honest, open look at progress of our Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan
Dear fellow King County employee, King County has just launched a new public reporting website for our Equity and Social Justice 2016-2022 Strategic Plan to help us monitor, track and share our work to advance equity and social justice in our community. Unlike most governments that use websites as a trophy case to highlight success and ignore challenges, we are offering a comprehensive, transparent view of our work. I invite you to explore this new site; you will see that we are not tackling only the easy-to-fix problems and, consistent with that, we… Read More
Additional events for Latinx Heritage Month, Sept. 20 and Oct. 1
These upcoming events are sponsored by Metro Transit’s EEO, Equity, and Inclusion Office. All King County employees are welcomed. For questions, or to volunteer for future heritage month events, please contact Joy Bryngelson at 206-477-8667 or Joy.Bryngelson@kingcounty.gov. Cross Agency Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month Celebration hosted by Sound Transit, King County Metro and SDOT Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018 from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Union Station-Ruth Fisher Board Room. Come enjoy a cultural program and Latin-American desserts, both free! Consul of Mexico Presents “Mexican Ingenuity” Monday, Oct. 1, 2018 from noon to 1 p.m. at the King Street Center 8th floor conference room. Back… Read More
First Untold Story performance to be held Sept. 20 in Renton
The first of three performances for US – The Untold Story will be held Thursday, September 20 at the Department of Elections in Renton. It will be from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the Alvine Room. Each of the performances will feature stories submitted by King County employees of color who responded to the question, “What’s your untold story of racism?” These stories are available to read on the Untold Story Project blog. Local poets and actors will perform the readings under the direction of Seattle actor and storyteller Jekeva Phillips. The discussion to follow will be facilitated by conceptual… 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 2019 – 2021 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 Adult and Juvenile Detention Department of Community and Human Services Department of Public Defense Department of Transportation Human Resources Division Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Public Health – Seattle & King County. The application period closes… Read More
King County pilots innovative solutions for shelter, permanent housing
The King County Department of Community and Human Services placed an order for 29 modular units to house approximately 100 people, the County’s first acquisition of modular housing to provide affordable, mobile units that can be placed into service much faster than units built by traditional construction. The County is also partnering with the City of Shoreline on a supportive housing project for 80-100 people that proposes to model modular construction for permanent affordable housing development. Modular is a type of housing in which the components are manufactured elsewhere and then assembled… Read More
Employee News 