Community News! January 2025
NEWS, STORIES, AND RECENT ARTICLES FROM AND ABOUT COO PARTNERS IN COMMUNITY
A condensed version of our monthly newsletter distributed December 30. Get all the news by signing up for the monthly newsletter.
Reflecting on 2024 + Our Vision for 2025
Our Director Elsa Batres-Boni recently shared some highlights from 2024 and our vision for 2025 in this Year-End Message to our community. Highlights included our 10-year anniversary celebration in September, the public-private partnership gathering in October, and some major accomplishments from our three core strategies. She also previewed a new opportunity for leaders of BIPOC organizations coming in early 2025.
Just in time for her message, we published a new collection of stories from our 10-Year Anniversary:
“The Community Is the Founder” – Our story about the celebration
Our new 10-Year Anniversary highlights video (2 minutes)
A new photo gallery of 200+ photos from the evening
If you didn’t get Elsa’s message, you can read it here. Contact us and we’ll add you to our mailing list.
Funders “Embrace Courageous Action” October 3
Another highlight of 2024 was the gathering of 60+ philanthropists and government grant-makers October 3. They met to talk about shaping a vision for how philanthropy, government, and community can collaboratively transform funding practices to better serve nonprofit organizations across King County and Washington state. We published this recap earlier this month, “Embrace Courageous Action”: A Recap of the October Public-Private Partnerships Gathering. COO and Magic Cabinet co-hosted this gathering.
For the Co-Op Curious: Sign Up for Series in January
Our Learning Community continues its visits to different worker-owned cooperative businesses in January. Join these free events for a site visit, a talk with founders, and food.
Upcoming visits in January:
January 6, 6 p.m. at Patty Pan Cooperative in Shoreline
January 14, 5:45 p.m. at Equinox Studios in Georgetown
Sign up for either visit, or both, and learn more.
This site visit series is designed by Mike Seo, from the Seattle Cooperator Meet-up, and supported by the COO Learning Community.
Our Ripples: Partners Gather to Learn Ripple Effects Mapping
About 20 people from COO’s Evaluation Advisory Group, and COO team members, came together November 12 to collect rich stories and visualize impact through a process called Ripple Effects Mapping (REM). REM is an evaluation method that can be effective for programs doing complex work, the kind our partners are doing.
Learn more, including how your organization might be able to use this process.
Powerful Narratives Work Project Update
We received a strong pool of applications for the Powerful Narratives Work Fellowship Program by the closing date earlier this month. We’ll be sharing in early January the names of the people who will be selected to participate. Thank you to all the applicants!
The Fellowship is a new program generated by COO’s commitment to narrative power as a critical component of community power building, and our understanding of the significant role narrative strategy can play in strengthening policy, systems, and culture change. This first offering is geared to support individuals who are working to build a regional Solidarity Economy, and forwarding material changes centered on the principles of a Just Transition.
Learn more about the Powerful Narratives Work Fellowship
Community News!
STACC4J Celebrates, Calls Attention to Airport Impacts
The B-Town (Burien) Blog reported on the community advocacy activities of the Sea-Tac Airport Community Coalition for Justice (STACC4J), one of our funded partners. The coalition recently gathered for its 8th Annual Air & Noise Celebration, to recognize highlights of its work around the critical environmental and health concerns raised by the proposed Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) at Sea-Tac Airport.
ACHD Hosts Generational Wealth Conference
Generational Wealth Conference: African Community Housing and Development recently hosted a Generational Wealth Small Business Conference, as recapped in this piece from South Seattle Emerald.
New Video Highlights NextCycle Pitch Showcase Teams
NextCycle Pitch Showcase: Watch highlights from the 2024 NextCycle Washington Pitch Showcase where 13 teams delivered 5-minute pitches describing their reuse, repair, recycling, or organics recovery initiatives. COO’s Learning Community is a sponsor of this program. Find more information on NextCycle Washington’s page.
Creative Justice Celebrates 10th Anniversary
Seattle Medium reported on Creative Justice’s 10th anniversary and their unique approach to addressing systemic inequities in the juvenile justice system.
More News from Around the Community
Closed Doors Report: Homestead Community Land Trust has published its Closed Doors Report to help policy makers, housing advocates and philanthropists overcome barriers to information about how the crisis of supply of affordable for-sale homes is playing out in their communities.
Fighting Furniture Waste: The Furniture Repair Bank was featured in a recent radio interview about the problem of furniture waste and how people can get involved. Founder & Executive Director Xenia Dolovova talked to KNDD morning show host Gregr (a.k.a. Greg Shishman) in early December on his Sunday morning public affairs show, Conversations. Listen to the interview.
Remembering Ms. Bridgette: South Seattle Emerald pays tribute to Bridgette “Ms. Bridgette” Hempstead, the community activist who founded Cierra Sisters for Black women dealing with cancer and left a lasting legacy after passing earlier this month.
Another Look at 2025: South Seattle Emerald managing editor Rosette Royale looks ahead to 2025: Confronting Negativity in 2025 With a Dose of Optimism — a Little Bit More
Partner Events
We shared news about:
The First Fridays CD Art Walk, Friday, January 3 and every first Friday in 2025;
Thriving in Place: Visions for Community Stewardship Across King County, January 8;
Shared Prosperity: Civic Commons Lunchtime Webinar, January 14
MLK Day Celebration, January 20
To see more about these and other community events, please visit our Community Events Calendar.
Other Opportunities
Casting Call: Gay City Tobacco Prevention/Awareness Campaign
Gay City is partnering with the Washington State Department of Health to shed light on the harmful effects of menthol cigarettes on the LGBTQIA+ community.
They’re looking for people within the LGBTQIA+ community who formerly used menthol/tobacco products to share their story on camera for a paid, multimedia public awareness campaign that will air throughout Washington state.
You’d get the chance to speak on the issue, explain how you’re thriving and doing things you’re passionate about, and living your best life (or even just doing a little better). If you’re chosen for the campaign, you’d receive $1,500 for your participation.
Civic Commons Seeks Feedback on the Future of Affordable Housing
Washington state has awarded a contract to Civic Commons to develop a multi-year affordable housing strategy and plan. Now Civic Commons seeks your input. You can learn more and share your thoughts via the Civic Commons survey today.
King County Metro Looking for South King County Input
King County Metro is working to improve public transportation in south King County. They are looking for input on proposed changes via this survey, which closes February 28. Learn more about the project here.
Report your Bomb Cyclone Damage in a King County Survey
King County Emergency Management is collecting information about damages caused during the November 17-25 windstorm. This may include damage caused by the bomb cyclone, winds, flooding, mudslides, or landslides. People whose primary homes and businesses were impacted are encouraged to report their damages by filling out the survey at KCEmergency.com. The information could be used as a starting point to notify residents and businesses whether grants and loans become available.
Washington State LGBTQ Commission & WSU Survey
The Washington LGBTQ+ Survey is the first-of-its-kind comprehensive statewide survey of LGBTQIA+ and Two-Spirit people living in Washington. Sponsored by the Washington State LGBTQ Commission (the Commission) and led by Washington State University and a queer and trans research team, this groundbreaking research aims to understand the unique characteristics and experiences of LGBTQ+ Washingtonians–from adolescents to adults. The input provided by this anonymous survey will help inform government decisions, policies, and legislation.
The survey -- available in English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese -- is open through January 31, 2025, and can be completed at walgbtqsurvey.com.
Legislative Session Means New Opportunities to Advocate
The 2025 state legislative session opens Monday, January 13 in Olympia. It’s the season when community members can urge their state elected officials to take action on policies and spending to benefit our state. To learn more about the legislative process:
You can visit the legislature’s Learn and Participate page.
Your favorite community-based organization may be hosting or attending one of the many Advocacy Days or Lobby Days during the session; contact them to ask.
What district are you in? You can look up the names of the two state representatives and one state senator for your legislative district at the helpful District Finder site. You can also find your U.S. congressional representatives there.
This advocacy works! In the last session, several of our Systems & Policy Change funded partners had legislative wins. Examples are the “Nothing About Us Without Us” bill (Disability Rights Washington) and the new legislation and funding for birth doula services that is expected to go into effect soon (Doulas For All Coalition).
Funding Opportunities
See funding opportunities from Best Starts for Kids and many others on our Funding Opportunities page.
You can also check out funding opportunities from other agencies and organizations that support groups that promote the health and well-being of our babies, children, and young people on the list maintained by Best Starts for Kids. Read more!
Job Opportunities
Ethiopian Community in Seattle: Senior Program Officer
FEEST: Two positions, Organizing Director and Food Access Manager -- apply by February 3
Sea Potential: Entrepreneur in Residence – apply by January 8
Seattle Foundation: Director, Controller
Seattle Indian Health Board: Numerous positions including Policy Director
SouthEast Effective Development (SEED): Director of Asset and Property Management
City of Seattle Office of Housing: Director of Capital Investments, Multifamily Rental Housing
King County: Airport Community Engagement Specialist – apply by January 3
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
About This List: These job announcements are current as of December 30, 2024. Please check the employer's site for the most current information.
If you have a job to share in next month's issue, please send it to us by mid-January. Thanks!
Thank you for reading our newsletters this year. We look forward to working with you in 2025 to dismantle unjust systems and create a community landscape where all individuals have the opportunity to live healthy, self-determined, and fulfilling lives.