Crossposted from Headwaters Do you enjoy winter wildlife, unique plants, and peaceful preserves? Are you craving time outdoors in the midst of our darkest season? If so, allow us to recommend a Wetland Walk! King County is home to different types of wetlands, including tidal marshes, wet meadows, and swamps. These special ecosystems support plants, animals, and people, and provide wonderful opportunities to get outside and explore. Read more.

While Human Trafficking Awareness Month is wrapping up, the need for more eyes and ears on alert for this horrific crime continues all year long. Human trafficking occurs when force, fraud, or coercion is used to compel a person into sex acts, labor, or services against their will. One organization, Real Escape from the Sex Trade (REST), estimates that more than 2,000 women, men, and children are currently being exploited in the Puget Sound region. Human trafficking is usually considered a hidden crime because it often happens in private settings. However, it… Read More

Crossposted from Metro Matters Recently, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay joined King County Metro to launch a new fleet of battery-electric buses that enhance transit operator safety, reduce harmful emissions, and prioritize deployment in south King County communities disproportionately affected by air pollution. Rolling out in electric yellow and seafoam blue, the first battery-electric buses purchased from GILLIG will begin serving riders in south King County starting Monday, Feb. 2. Initial service will operate periodically on routes 105, 128, 161, 165, 184, and RapidRide F Line as Metro evaluates performance and ramps… Read More

Crossposted from King County Local A brightly colored piece of artwork now greets anyone traveling in the heart of Skyway. It’s the result of community feedback and advocacy, as well as support from the Department of Local Services. Last week, the department joined the community to unveil the new “Welcome to Skyway” mural along the north end of Renton Avenue South. Stretching 40 feet long and standing 4 feet high, the unveiling marked the culmination of a community driven effort led by the West Hill Community Association and supported by the Department… Read More

Crossposted from the King County Parks Newsletter If you need to reserve fields or other spaces in our parks this year, check out our Fee Assistance Program! Our goal is to make sure everyone in the community can rent or use a park facility — regardless of the ability to pay. Reserve picnic shelters, trails, tennis courts, ballfields, and more. Learn more and apply here.

Crossposted from the King County Parks Newsletter As we get further from the historic flooding in our region, our crews are hard at work repairing the damage and reopening our affected parks and trails. Some of the recovery efforts will be long-term, but many of our flooded properties have reopened for public use. Please check the Backyard Fun Finder to view current impacts and closures in our parks as you plan your trip to nature!

Crossposted from Cultivating Connections According to South King County data and decades of higher education research, a lack of individualized support is a main barrier to receiving a college education. That’s why programs like King County Promise prioritize building individualized supports. A cross-agency initiative designed to support young people with graduating and successfully transitioning to college or the career path of their choosing, King County Promise provides one-on-one advising, service referrals, postsecondary navigation and transition support, and an Equity Grant to support students through key milestones like financial aid completion, high school graduation/equivalency, college admission, college… Read More