Executive Constantine proclaims 2024 Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month
Latinx Heritage Month is celebrated every year from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed this time as Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month in King County. This month recognizes the anniversary of 1821 independence declarations in five Latin American countries – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile, and Belize also celebrate their independence on Sept. 16, Sept. 18, and Sept. 21, respectively. “The cultural, educational, economic, and political influences of Latinx residents can be appreciated in all aspects of life,” he said. “I urge all… Read More
New report release: “Early Learning Facilities: Investing in Spaces Where Children can Thrive”
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.
Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month with Nuestra Tierra/Our Land
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
King County partners with University of Washington to open free veteran civil legal clinic
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.
Fifth annual Reconnect to Opportunity High School Resource fair distributes resources to more than 450 community members
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.
Your voice can be part of the future of Metro’s paratransit services
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
A new era of health and racial equity in King County
Crossposted from Public Health Insider At a recent community celebration, Public Health – Seattle & King County unveiled an ambitious five-year strategic plan aimed at improving the health and well-being of our community. This new roadmap is the culmination of extensive collaboration and input from nearly 100 community and public health system partners, as well as hundreds of Public Health staff members. Informed by the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic and underscored by King County’s commitment to equity and the declaration of racism as a public health crisis, the plan charts a course toward a… Read More
Black Women’s Experience Project examines equity at King County
Crossposted from the DES Express The Black/African Women’s Affinity Group, co-chaired by DES’s own Miesha Vaughn, Tort Claims Investigator in Risk Management, and by Ebony Frazier, EIB Manager in the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD), recently released a report with the Wright Resource Group, “An examination of the experiences of Black women employees at King County.” From the Executive Summary: “The purpose of the project is to understand the current state of Black Women employed at King County and to provide recommendations to address possible inequities and promote a healthy… Read More
July is Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month
July is Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month, a time to highlight the unique strengths and challenges faced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in relation to mental health. Named in honor of Bebe Moore Campbell, a journalist, teacher, author, and mental health advocate, this month is dedicated to continuing her legacy by focusing on the mental health needs and experiences of BIPOC communities. Fear of judgment, cultural beliefs, generational differences, and lack of access to resources often prevent people of color from addressing mental health… Read More
In their own words: Meet the dynamic AANHP Leadership Council
Since its inception, the American Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pasifika (AANHP) Affinity Group has flourished under exceptional leadership: Sung Cho and Stephanie Santos (2019 – 2020), Renee Hosogi and Phoebe Naguit (2020 – 2022), and Helen Potter and Guru Dorje (2023 – 2024). As we transition into a new phase, a collective decision has been made to establish a joint leadership structure known as the AANHP Leadership Council (ALC). This council aims to honor the collective identity of the AANHP community through collaborative leadership. The ALC comprises the following members: Allen Ikua Gomes,… Read More
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