Legislative Branch recognizes Pasifika community for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month
The Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Affinity Group of the Legislative Branch and KCTV recently created a video to celebrate and honor the local contributions of the Pasifka Community in King County. The presentation is hosted by and features the Honorable District Court Judge Fa’amomoi Masaniai, as well as segments on the Voice of the South Pacific, the United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance (UTOPIA), the Pacific Islanders Community Association of Washington (PICA) Wellness Navigator program, and the White Center Community Development Association celebrating Cambodian New Year. View the presentation here. A special… Read More
Friendly Hmong Farms: A radical vision for supporting BIPOC farmers continues to grow
Cross-posted from Keeping King County Green This past Mother’s Day, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) families and supporters raised funds for their schools and Hmong flower farming families. Seattle moms enjoyed locally grown floral bouquets expertly grown and handcrafted by Hmong farmers, who have been an iconic part of King County’s agriculture scene for over three decades. Friendly Hmong Farms (FHF) organized the SPS Mother’s Day Weekend Fundraiser, bringing together Hmong farmers and volunteers to sell over 400 bouquets. Over $10,000 in flower sales were made by local farmers and an additional $8,000 was… Read More
It’s one of Metro’s favorite times of the year — Pride Month!
Cross-posted from Metro Matters Pride Month is a celebration of who you are, who you love, and being able to show up as your authentic self. King County Metro celebrates our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA+) and Two-Spirit family, friends, and colleagues. Metro celebrates their courage and commitment in advancing civil rights and equity. We celebrate with bright colors and joy, recognizing these communities have long been forcibly erased from history and pressured to hide in society. Read more.
Balanced You virtual exercise classes return
After a brief hiatus, Balanced You and their partner Vivecorp are excited to bring back the Core Conditioning and Yoga classes! No matter if you want to tone up, get in shape, or learn techniques to relax, these classes taught by certified trainers will help you toward your goals. Classes are free to King County employees. Registration is required. Visit this site to find out more and register.
King County commemorates National Gun Violence Awareness Day, June 2
Cross-posted from Public Health Insider In honor of National Gun Violence Awareness Day this Friday, June 2, Public Health – Seattle & King County’s Regional Gun Violence program is partnering with community organizations to host gun lockbox giveaway events throughout the county and promote Wear Orange Weekend. The shared goal is to promote gun safety and raise awareness of community organizations working to address gun violence in the region. Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children and teens in the US. Over the past three years, we have seen an uptick in the… Read More
Juneteenth an observed County holiday on Monday, June 19
King County government will observe Juneteenth as a paid holiday and most King County offices be closed on Monday, June 19. King County officially began observing Juneteenth (June 19) as a paid holiday in 2022 for King County employees who are eligible for comprehensive leave benefits. Due to the nature of county work, some services will continue as normal while others will operate on a reduced schedule. Metro will remain on regular weekday service. The establishment of Juneteenth as a holiday – in addition to Indigenous Peoples’ Day (second Monday in October) – reflects our… Read More
Join the King County Ragnar Northwest Passage Relay Team
Following the success with a King County team in the annual Ragnar Northwest Passage Relay from Blaine to Langley, the team wants to gauge interest in adding a second King County team of runners this year. The race is July 14-15; a team is 12 runners in two vans, each taking on three legs. There is still time to register another team by the June 9 deadline. If you’re interested joining, email Seth Watson.
Balanced You Burnout and Resiliency Training: Now available as an online course
While the COVID-19 emergency order has ended, the sense of burnout has not. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Balanced You has led live trainings to teams across the county about burnout and resiliency. Now King County employees and teams can take the Burnout and Resiliency training online and on-demand through NEOGOV Learn at a time that works best for them. People managers can also take an add-on to the course to learn how to support their team in preventing burnout. Burnout and compassion fatigue are conditions that can lead to long-term… Read More
Mental Health Month Recap
As Mental Health Month comes to a close, we wanted to recap some of the key resources we shared this month. Bookmark these pages below to return back to in times of need. How to find a mental health care provider: Whether your insurance provider is Kaiser or Regence, there are robust tools at your fingertips to connect you with a mental health care provider. Mental Health resources for children and teens: We are seeing a growing concern around children and teen mental health. Washington state has a free referral service that helps families… Read More
DLS Participatory Budgeting Project Team receives 2022 Innovation Award for Equity and Social Justice
The Department of Local Services (DLS) Participatory Budgeting Project Team has been honored with the Innovation Award for Equity and Social Justice. This award, part of King County Executive’s Performance Excellence Awards, is one of the of five Innovation Awards highlighting department teams whose projects, improvements, and ingenuity deliver exceptional, measurable results. “We solve problems” and “We drive for results” are core values at King County, and these award recipients met challenges in creative and impactful ways. Read more and watch the video here.
Employee News 