Crossposted from Cultivating Connections Earlier this week King County Executive Dow Constantine and Minority Veterans of America celebrated the opening of Q’mmunity House today, the first transitional home in the country for LGBTQ+ veterans. Q’mmunity House will provide on-site holistic case management, connections to the veteran-serving community, and a safe, affirming, and supportive home for LGBTQ+ veterans experiencing homelessness in King County. The program fosters long-term stability and community connection by addressing the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ veterans who often experience higher rates of homelessness, discrimination, and other obstacles when accessing critical resources…. Read More

Crossposted from Metro Matters Earlier this month, Executive Dow Constantine proclaimed Sept. 15 – Oct. 15 as Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month. We would like to take a moment to recognize this annual observance, which celebrates the cultural, educational, economic and political contributions of the Latinx/Hispanic communities across our region and country. National Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month was enacted into law on Aug. 17, 1988, by President Ronald Reagan and is observed annually from Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, coinciding with the national independence celebrations of several countries. The Latinx/Hispanic community is the second-largest ethnic group… Read More

Crossposted from Cultivating Connections The Early Learning Facilities investment that funds improvements to family- and center-based child care facilities, released a report highlighting 2023 accomplishments. Read that report here! The investment from King County’s Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Account (PSTAA) directs Sound Transit 3-related funds to be used to improve educational outcomes. Read more.

King County Superior Court will celebrate Latinx Heritage Month with lunchtime events at the King County Courthouse in Seattle and the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. Nuestra Tierra (Our Land) will feature food (including tamales from La Huerta Mexican and Latin Market in Kent) a panel discussion, guest speakers, mariachi music, and dancers. It will take place at noon on September 20 in Jury Room 2E at the Maleng Regional Justice Center, 401 4th Avenue North, Kent, and at noon on September 27 in the Presiding Courtroom (E-942) at the King County Courthouse, 516… Read More

On Sept. 6, King County Executive Dow Constantine and the University of Washington School of Law announced a new partnership to open a free civil legal services clinic for veterans, servicemembers, and their families. Starting in early 2025, law students will work with the Veterans Clinic to provide free legal advice, representation, and services to veterans seeking benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other legal assistance. Read more.

Crossposted from Cultivating Connections It is back-to-school season, and this August the Reconnect to Opportunity (ReOpp) team hosted the fifth annual High School Resource fair with 23 community partners and 466 community members participating. The resource fair was initially launched in the summer of 2020 as a drive-through resource fair to connect families to basic needs items for school such as food, school supplies, and backpacks. The fair has become a fixture and draws consistent turnout from the community and organizational partners. Read more.

Crossposted from Metro Matters Are you an Access rider, caregiver to an Access rider, or service provider? Help shape the future of Access Transportation by taking our survey! King County Metro is continuing its full review of our paratransit rideshare service, Access Transportation, that will shape the service for the next seven to 10 years. We are at the stage where we are looking for community feedback from Access riders, Access caregivers, and Access service providers – organizations and businesses where Access riders are picked up and dropped off. If any of… Read More