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
2018 Equity & Social Justice Speaker Series
You are invited! The 2018 Equity & Social Justice Speaker Series invites you to a Lunch & Learn Tuesday, Aug. 28, noon to 1 p.m. in room 123 of the Chinook Building. This session features The Anti-Defamation League, with a presentation by Hillary Bernstein and Miri Cypers (Director), and is brought to you by KC Equity Fund and KCIT ESJ: Learning, Advocating, Cultivating.
Turning passion for people into opportunities
By Katelin Gladney, Customer Service Intern Take a walk around King County and you’ll see how residents’ experiences can vary wildly. Some are doing well and benefitting from the strong, tech-fueled economy. But far too many are struggling to even keep a roof over their heads. Finding ways to help those struggling is the mission of King County employee Andréa Akita, Director of Communities of Opportunity (COO). King County partnered with the Seattle Foundation a local philanthropic organization, to create the initiative aimed at providing equity and social justice to all communities… Read More
Lift Every Youth graduation: Each one, teach one
Last week, we shared how our Lift Every Youth Employment & Mentorship Program is helping to break down barriers to well-paying jobs and career success for young people through an innovative internship and mentorship program that intentionally prioritizes young people with the greatest needs in Internship program breaks barriers for young people most affected by inequities. This year’s program participants graduated last week, and marked the occasion with a graduation event with King County Executive Dow Constantine at the Dexter Horton Building. “Over the last two years, Lift Every Youth has been… Read More
Employee News 