Community News! September 2024
NEWS, STORIES, AND RECENT ARTICLES FROM AND ABOUT COO PARTNERS IN COMMUNITY
A condensed version of our monthly newsletter. Get all the news by signing up for the newsletter.
Othering & Belonging Conference – From Isolation to Connection
Some of them members who attended the conference together. Find out who on the blog!
“The opposite of othering is not saming, but belonging.” In this first of a three part series, our guest bloggers Jessica Werner of Moon Snail Consulting, Monika Sharma of King County Play Equity Coalition, and the Healthy & Safe Environments team reflect on what they learned at the 2024 Othering & Belonging conference. They share takeaways about moving from “The Story of I” to “The Story of We.”
Watch New Videos from June Collective Prosperity Event
Videos from the COO Learning Community Collective Prosperity event in June, “What Is Power Building?”, are now available on the COO YouTube page. The event featured speakers Jaimée Marsh, MSW, of FEEST; Kathei McCoy, a freedom seeker whose work is deeply rooted in the belief that everybody is deserving of liberation and joy; and Moderator Roxana Pardo Garcia of La Roxay Productions.
Watch the full “What Is Power Building?” video (56 minutes) or the brief highlights video (2:40)
We’ll be sharing videos from all three of the events this fall.
L-R: Roxana moderates the discussion at the first gathering, with Jaimée and Kathei.
Sign up for the Learning Community newsletter to hear about all these gatherings.
Series produced by La Roxay Productions in partnership with the COO Learning Community.
COMMUNITY NEWS!
Build 2 Lead featured in Seattle Medium Story
Jimmy Brown, Build 2 Lead founder
Our media partner Seattle Medium recently featured a story about our funded partner Build 2 Lead.
The story, Empowering Seattle’s Youth Through Education And Advocacy, explored why Jimmy Brown founded Build 2 Lead in 2020 and how it’s made a big impact since. Student intern Jaxon talked about how he first got involved with the organization and what he’s learned from it.
Social Housing Update – Vienna Trip & More
House Our Neighbors (HON) has shared a report about their trip to Vienna to learn about their social housing. COO’s Learning Community was a sponsor of the Vienna trip. Visit the report to see who’s pictured here. Photo credit: House Our Neighbors.
In more social housing news, Fast Company recently interviewed HON’s Tiffani McCoy about how the plans for Seattle compare to other social housing approaches in this country.
Follow House Our Neighbors to find out when the public vote on 1-137, the initiative to fund the Seattle Social Housing Developer, will appear on the ballot. And, check out the Candidate Forums below for information on their Social Housing Candidate Debate.
Community Gathers for Comp Plan Input
Community partners hosted a community forum on the One Seattle Comprehensive Plan at Rainier Arts Center, Aug. 8.
Setting the stage: Longtime Central District community member Ruby Holland of Wa Na Wari spoke via a video interview, and Jesse Simpson of Housing Development Consortium gave an overview. Then community members met in groups to share feedback about how to ensure that the Comp Plan reflects the needs and desires of our diverse communities.
Photo: In a Q&A session moderated by community leader Chukundi Salisbury (center), Rico Quirindongo of Seattle’s Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) (left) and Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales (right) took questions from the audience.
To hear about next steps on the Comp Plan, visit the Complete Communities Coalition website.
Partners Host “One Million Experiments” Film Screening
Community partners including Creative Justice and Massage Parlor Outreach Project helped host a screening of the documentary One Million Experiments July 25. The film explores what it means to create safety in a world without police and prisons. In a post-film discussion, speakers discussed how other movements intertwine with abolition (from climate justice to immigration), the co-optation of harm reduction, and the importance of experimentation in building the world we want to see.
Respair Media, who made the film, shared these photos from the event on their Instagram account.
Photo: Damon from Respair Media.
Partners Win Funding for Environmental and Climate Justice Work from DOH
Numerous COO partners have won funding from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) through Climate Commitment Act funds. DOH awarded $14 million to 41 community organizations and Tribes. Their work will focus on environmental justice and promote the health of communities disproportionately impacted by the harmful consequences of climate change. You can see the full list of funded projects here.
Guaranteed Recess for Elementary School Kids – It’s the Law
Recess is crucial for children’s health, mental well-being, and learning, and there’s good news coming this school year. Thanks to a new state law signed into law in 2023, all students in grades K-5 are now guaranteed recess to support their physical and mental health. The law encourages physical activity breaks for middle- and high-school students too. Our partner the King County Play Equity Coalition explains the new law and its benefits in this guest post on Public Health Insider.
LISC Wins Award for Economic Development Project
Local Initiative Support Corporation – Puget Sound (LISC) has won a VISION 2050 Award from the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) for their work on the Casino Road Economic Agenda. LISC Puget Sound partnered with Casino Road Connects and Village on Casino Road, with funding from Kaiser Permanente. Among the honorees is Tina Vlasaty, who was a panelist at the COO Learning Community’s Commercial Affordability Summit. Photo credit: LISC
LGBTQIA+ Housing Rights Forum
Sept. 19, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. on Seattle’s Capitol Hill
Queer Power Alliance and partners invites community members to this forum to empower renters in queer communities. They will share survey results, discuss housing costs, and talk with the 43rd Legislative District’s elected delegation to help shape 2025 Washington state policies. The other event partners are The QLaw Foundation of Washington, Lavender Rights Project, and Washington Low Income Housing Alliance. Food and drink will be provided.
Register Here (address will be provided after registration)
MORE NEWS from around the community
New Exhibit Inspires Civic Participation: “We Can Be Heroes: Voting and Beyond” at the Wing Luke Museum inspires civic participation, with interactive exhibits and more. Read the South Seattle Emerald story.
New Strategic Plan: Public Health – Seattle & King County has rolled out its new Strategic Plan. Nearly 100 community and public health system partners – including COO partners -- played an important role in its development. This Public Health Insider post, A new era of health and racial equity in King County, spotlights the launch event and the community input that led to this roadmap for the next five years.
More Community Response on EDI: An opinion piece in NextCity.org, co-authored by Quynh Pham of Friends of Little Sài Gòn, explored the budget threats to Seattle’s Equitable Development Initiative (EDI) and the community response.
Reunion on Union Celebrates Black Community: Past and current residents of Seattle’s Central District came together for the fifth annual Reunion on Union late last month. Enjoy this photo essay by Susan Fried in South Seattle Emerald.
Funding for Infant Health: Villa Comunitaria is among the organizations who received grants from the City of Seattle’s Department of Education and Early Learning. The $1.49 million in funding across five organizations is intended to reduce race-based disparities in infant health. Read about it in Seattle Medium.
Homeownership Initiative Updates: Africatown Community Land Trust is encouraging people to sign up for their Africatown Wealth Builders: Homeownership Initiative, a new program in partnership with Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA). The program helps Seattle’s Black residents learn about pathways into homeownership and equitable mortgage assistance. Sign Up for Updates
Experts Talk Affordable Housing: Two national affordable housing experts are featured on the “Beyond Four Walls: Conversations on Affordable Housing” podcast. Michael T. Pugh, LISC President and CEO, and David Dworkin, CEO of the National housing Conference, talk about the imperative work of supporting generational wealth and homeownership for people who have been sidelined from America’s prosperity. Listen to the podcast
Best Starts Reports on Early Learning Facilities Investments: Best Starts for Kids shared takeaways and accomplishments from the first year of their Early Learning Facilities investment. This investment funds improvements to family- and center-based child care facilities. Read that report here
New Park Opens in Seattle’s Little Saigon: Hoa Mai Park, the first park in Little Saigon, opened July 27. Read about the park’s cultural relevance, its public art, and the grand opening – and see the photos – in this International Examiner story.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
EquityED Conference and Conversations Advancing Equity, Tuesday, Oct. 1 – Thursday, Oct. 3: The Community Network Council is inviting community members to a series of Conversations Advancing Equity: “We Are ALL Collaborators.” These will take place alongside their inaugural EquityED 2024 Conference in October 2024. Find Conference and Conversations information on their registration page.
Registration is Open for NextCycle’s Pitch Showcase, Sept. 23, 12:30-5:30 p.m. at Seattle Public Library Central Branch
NextCycle Washington’s Pitch Showcase will feature 13 teams pitching their reuse, repair, recycling, and composting projects from three pitch groups: Launch, Innovation, and Community. This event will bring teams together with an audience of business, recycling, government, non-profit, and investment professionals. Teams will compete for monetary awards while receiving statewide recognition and networking opportunities. The COO Learning Community is a sponsor of this event. Learn More and Register
Get Free Vaccinations for Kids at Back-to-School Vaccination Events
Go-Vax Kids is collaborating with school districts and community organizations to host free back-to-school vaccination events throughout the summer and early fall. Check Public Health – Seattle & King County’s Where to Get Vaccinated in King County webpage for a list of free vaccination events, locations, and times. This webpage will be continuously updated as additional events are scheduled.
These events are intended for children ages 0-18 living in south King County, as well as children who are uninsured, are experiencing homelessness, or who recently moved to the U.S. and do not have a healthcare provider.
MEET THE CANDIDATES AT UPCOMING FORUMS
Candidate forums and debates are a great way not only to learn about the issues candidates stand for, but to elevate your organization’s issues. Here’s a partial list of candidate forums coming up before Election Day, Nov. 5.
Tuesday, Sept. 10: Washington State Gubernatorial Debate. 8-9 p.m. on Seattle’s KING5, immediately following the presidential debate (if it happens). Also streaming on seattletimes.com. Hosted by KING5, Seattle Times, and other media partners.
Tuesday, Sept. 17: Social Housing Candidate Forum, 6-7 p.m., location to be announced. With candidates from the 43rd Legislative District, Position 2, and the citywide Seattle City Council race. Hosted by House Our Neighbors. Register here.
Wednesday, Sept. 18: Seattle City Council Debate, 7 p.m. at Seattle Central College in Seattle. Hosted by Washington State Debate Coalition and co-hosted by Seattle CityClub and GSBA. Register to attend in person and submit a question
Thursday, Sept. 19: Washington Attorney General Debate, 8 p.m. at Seattle Central College in Seattle. Hosted by Washington State Debate Coalition and co-hosted by Seattle CityClub and GSBA. This will also be broadcast on TV, radio, and online by media partners FOX13, Cascade PBS, TVW, Converge, Rainier Ave Radio, KUOW, and Washington State Standard. Register to attend in person and submit a question
Thursday, Sept. 26: Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Debate, 7-8 p.m., Edmonds Center for the Arts. This will also be broadcast on TV, radio, and online by media partners FOX13, Cascade PBS, TVW, Converge, Rainier Ave Radio, KUOW, and Washington State Standard. Hosted by Washington State Debate Coalition and co-hosted by Seattle CityClub and GSBA. Register to attend in person and submit a question
Boards and Commissions
Equity Response Team, Public Health
Public Health Seattle – King County is recruiting up to four community members to join the Equity Response Team (ERT) through a Request for Applications.
The ERT is a working group dedicated to assisting Public Health programs, teams, and leadership in addressing the intersections between racial equity and social justice and public health practice, strategies, and/or services.
More Information and Sign Up for Notices
Health Care for the Homeless Governance Council
Health Care for the Homeless is recruiting nominees for its Governance Council, who provide strategic direction and community guidance in effectively addressing the health needs of people experiencing homelessness. They are looking for individuals who have experienced homelessness (consumers) and/or are involved in providing services to individuals living homeless (non-consumers) to join the Council.
More Information is on the HCHN website; or, email Rekha Ravindran or call Rekha at 206-263-6975.
Funding Opportunities
Best Starts for Kids TA & Capacity Building Providers
Apply By Friday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m.
The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify Best Starts for Kids Technical Assistance & Capacity Building Providers for 2025-2027 is now open! To help grow and sustain the strong system of community-based organizations in King County, Best Starts seeks to partner with technical assistance (TA) providers and capacity building (CB) organizations/individuals/consultants.
· Technical assistance providers will support organizations interested in responding to Best Starts funding opportunities with culturally responsive assistance for proposal development.
· Capacity builders will offer individualized, culturally responsive coaching, training, workshops, peer learning opportunities, tools, and expertise to support organizations’ capabilities after being matched to organizations by Best Starts staff.
Click here to view the full funding opportunity details and apply.
Other Funding Opportunities, Non-Best Starts
Best Starts for Kids is posting a monthly blog series that highlights funding opportunities from other agencies and organizations that support groups that promote the health and well-being of our babies, children, and young people. Visit their blog to see August-September opportunities for non-Best Starts funding, as well as opportunities with rolling due dates.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
These opportunities were current as of Aug. 27, 2024. Please check the websites of these organizations to find out if they’re still available.
African Community Housing & Development: Donor Relations Coordinator
Arcora Foundation: Senior Program Manager - Prevention
CHOOSE 180: Community Navigator, CHOOSE Freedom and Director of Finance
LISC: Director, Finance Operations - Strategic Investments (remote)
Magic Cabinet: Director of Philanthropic Advising (apply by Aug. 28)
Seattle Foundation: Several positions including Chief Marketing Officer
Seattle Student Union: Student Organizer/Program Coordinator (part-time)
Seattle University: Washington Middle School Site Manager, Sundborg Center for Community Engagement
Sightline Institute: Senior Research Associate, Climate + Energy – priority application by Sept. 3
Uncommon Bridges: Project Associate
Washington State Budget & Policy Center: Executive Director – priority application by Sept. 2; and Research & Policy Director – apply by Sept. 9
City of Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development: Senior Grants Administrator – apply by Sept. 10
University of Washington: Director, Climate Impacts Group
King County: Numerous positions including
Behavioral Health Facility Development Manager (Special Projects Manager II) – apply by Aug. 31
Chief Strategy and Operations Officer (SPM II) – apply by Aug. 31
Construction Workforce Coordinator – apply by Sept. 2
Deputy Division Director - Health Sciences Division – apply by Sept. 9
Employment Litigation Attorney – apply by Sept. 11
Housing & Services Program Manager (PPM II) – apply by Aug. 31
Medical Interpreter/Translator - Spanish – apply by Aug. 29
Overdose Data 2 Action Program Manager – apply by Sept. 2
See more job listings on these sites that collect multiple opportunities:
Housing Development Consortium’s job listings from housing organizations
Philanthropy Northwest’s searchable list of positions in development, communications and more
King County, City of Seattle, State of Washington and other government jobs at www.governmentjobs.com
Find more King County, City of Seattle, State of Washington and other jobs at governmentjobs.com
If you have a job or news item to share in the September issue of COO & Partner News, please send it to us by mid-September. Thank you!