Archives for July 2017

Seattle Seahawks training camp spotlight Kenny Lawler

July 31, 2017 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Seahawks Kenny Lawler.( Tatenda Productions)

The Seattle Seahawks beguan their 40th training camp Sunday, July 30th. Pete Caroll and his coaching staff are looking for the team to rebound from last years disappointing season that ended with a bitter 36 to 20 NFC Divisional loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta. Anything other than a Superbowl winning season is considered a disappointment for Carroll, his coaching staff, and players.

During the training camp sessions, we will be highlighting a particular player. Todays featured player is Wide Reciever Kenny Lawler. The former California Golden Bear spent last year on the team’s practice squad. The Seahawks have first team talent at the Wide Receiver in Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, and Tyler Lockett, and solid depth in Paul Richardson, Tanner McEvoy, and Lawler.

Baldwin earned Pro Bowl honors in 2016 and Paul Richardson answered the call when Lockett sustained a broken leg in week 16. Richardson hauled in 15 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns in Seattle’s final four games. With Kearse, Baldwin and a fully healed Lockett penciled in as starters, Lawler, McEvoy, and Richardson will not only be battling for playing time but a starting spot if Kearse or Lockett should slip.

While the challenge might seem insurmountable, Lawler believes he is ready for the challenge.

Committed to the communities.

July 31, 2017 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

HomeStreet Bank’s commitment to the communities where we do business is just a part of who we are. We work with community organizations. We go beyond the routine to be involved in our communities. We meet the housing, shelter and financial needs of the people who live there. Our employees provide volunteer leadership and service to local organizations. There really is no place like HomeStreet!

Charitable Contributions

Our Focus – Meeting Housing and Shelter Needs

Everyone should have a place to call home. That’s why HomeStreet Bank focuses community efforts on meeting housing and shelter needs. We support a variety of organizations that help individuals and families with the very basic need of emergency shelter all the way through the realization of homeownership.

Our approach to meeting housing and shelter needs is comprehensive. We provide financial and in-kind contributions, on-going employee leadership and first-time homebuyer classes. We also provide financing for housing projects, home loan products for qualified clients of all income levels and the servicing of loans.

Guidelines

HomeStreet is a true community partner. We feel that we can have the greatest positive effect on our communities by using all our resources in a collaborative partnership with a community organization. Any financial or in-kind contribution is made as part of an active partnership with an organization, creating multi-layered relationships through employee leadership and volunteer service, management leadership skills, financial expertise and business resources.

To be eligible for a financial charitable contribution from HomeStreet Bank, an organization must:

Be an IRS-designated 501(c)3 nonprofit organization
Be located in a community with a HomeStreet Bank branch or office.
Fit within the HomeStreet Bank focus of meeting housing and shelter needs.
Have a HomeStreet employee involved in a volunteer leadership role.

We do not make donations to individuals, teams or groups for scholarships, sponsorships or travel expenses. HomeStreet Bank does not contribute to any organization that practices unlawful discriminatory practices. Additionally, HomeStreet does not contribute to organizations in which religious practice is part of the criteria used for selection and/or receipt of services.

HomeStreet Bank occasionally makes in-kind contributions of merchandise, use of facilities or banking products. Charitable Contribution Guidelines apply. Contact your local branch to inquire.

How To Apply

If your organization meets our guidelines, please work with the HomeStreet employee involved in your organization to determine the appropriate step to take in requesting a charitable contribution.
If your organization does not meet these criteria, your organization may still submit a written request that includes but is not limited to:

Information about the overall mission, history and programs of the organization
Specific and detailed information about the housing or shelter program being considered for HomeStreet support
Proposal of ways to develop a partnership between the organization and HomeStreet Bank
The proposed use of any financial contribution
A list of current board of directors members and officers
Current and previous year’s financial report for the entire organization
Project budget, including committed funding, for the proposed project
Copy of the IRS 501(c)3 letter

Requests may be delivered to the local HomeStreet branch, or sent to:

HomeStreet Bank
Community Relations Department
2000 Two Union Square
601 Union Street
Seattle, WA 98101

Questions may be directed to 206-389-7705.

Support and Sponsor the Rainier Beach Back to School Bash!

July 28, 2017 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Imagine Rainier Beach with youth who are healthy, happy, full of hope and prepared for the future. Can you imagine youth who access the educational opportunities and neighborhood resources that improve quality of life for themselves and their families? We strongly believe this can be realized through a neighborhood collaboration effort and your support is needed!

On Saturday, August 12, 2017, 12:00p.m. – 4:00p.m. the Rainier Beach Action Coalition (RBAC) formally Rainier Beach Community Empowerment Coalition (RBCEC) and Rainier Beach Moving Forward (RBMF) in partnership with residents and dozens of organizations from the neighborhood will sponsor the 15th Annual Rainier Beach Back 2 School Bash. The purpose of this event is the same it has been since the first one in 2003 – to affirm the greatness within each child and address social barriers they face to learning.

This event has a rich history of strengthening neighborhood support for education, providing services to families in need and generating involvement in neighborhood projects that improve quality of life. Our goal is to provide students and families with backpacks, school supplies and information about neighborhood and educational resources, food, clothing and entertainment. We invite you to join with residents, social service agencies, faith-based organizations, and local businesses to make the Rainier Beach Back2School Bash a success.

We welcome monetary donations, in-kind contributions, the willingness to have a resource table, sponsorship, a backpack & supply drive, and/or volunteers. For specific details, please refer to the enclosed Participation Form, Sponsorship Level and Save the Date Flyer.

Travelers Take Heed: Wildlife Poses Dangers For Those Unaware

July 28, 2017 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Worth Reading w/ Sara - Book Review Journalist — Worth Reading w/ Sara – Book Review Journalist

As the summer travel season begins, many tourists head to outdoor destinations that bring them into contact with wildlife they don’t normally encounter back home.

Locals might be aware of a problem with alligators, bears, or lions, but if there are no warnings posted, someone from out of town may not know they’re potentially in danger.

One woman, Susan Mattern, learned this through painful experience. She witnessed a mountain lion attack her 5-year old daughter in a local Southern California park.

“The lion came out of nowhere,” she says. “As we stood in the ankle-deep stream, I glimpsed behind me a blur of matted fur, short round ears, a long tail. And then they were gone ¬¬– that fast – the mountain lion and my daughter.”

Mattern detailed the attack in a book, “Out of the Lions Den,” (www.outofthelionsden.net), which also recounts her daughter’s recovery and the long legal battles afterwards. Mattern’s faith as a former Catholic nun was severely tested.

Mattern has some tips for tourists heading to outdoor destinations:

Research the area before you go. Just like you read about the interesting sights, research the local wildlife. Ask locals, check news outlets for any recent wildlife attacks. And know what to expect in the outdoor areas you’ll be visiting.
• Don’t go hiking or camping alone. But if you do, make sure someone knows exactly where you are going, and when you will return.
• Small children and animals are simply prey for any large predator. If the animal is hungry or defending its young, it will attack. Don’t let your children run ahead on trails or get out of sight.
• Always carry protection with you, such as bear spray, or a sturdy walking stick.

“There are a few things the experts still say that just aren’t true.” Mattern says. “One is, ‘If you see a lion, make yourself look tall and threatening – make lots of noise.’ That’s good advice if you actually see the lion. But in reality, as anyone who has watched their own pet cat sneak up on a bird, the attack will almost always come from behind, stealthily and quietly. You will never even see it.

“And the saying, ‘Animals are more afraid of you than you are of them.’ Not in our case.”

Mattern points out that people are encroaching on wildlife’s habitat.

“Animals are protective of their territory and can attack before you know what’s happening,” she says. “People have to be protected, and even though cities and counties should warn people if there is danger, that doesn’t always happen.”

In her daughter’s case, she says, it took a lengthy lawsuit and trial before the county where the attack happened even put up warning signs in its parks.

“Remember, in spite of all the amazing programs on TV showing the majesty and beauty of these creatures – bears, alligators, mountain lions, snakes, elk, wolves, bison – they are wild creatures,” Mattern says. “They are not your cute dog or domesticated cat, eager to be petted and fed, or approached for a great photo-op. They are unpredictable and sometimes very dangerous.

“If you do see wildlife, leave it alone in its own natural environment. Let them be the wild creatures they are.”

Tour and Talk to Families from Seattle’s Newest Charter Public School on Friday, July 28

July 28, 2017 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Summit Public Schools invites you to have a first look at Summit Atlas, a new charter public school in West Seattle. Construction crews are putting the finishing touches on the new school, which opens next month to its founding families and students and will provide West Seattle, White Center and surrounding communities with additional public school options.

WHAT YOU WILL SEE AND HEAR

Construction progress of the new school and see what a classroom looks like.
Interview students and families on why they chose Summit Atlas.
Interview Summit Atlas faculty including the school’s founding principal.

WHEN

Friday July 28, 2017
10-11 a.m.

WHERE

9601 35th Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98126

Summit Atlas Public School will open August 2017 at the corner of 35th and Roxbury in White Center. Atlas will begin enrollment with a sixth grade and a ninth grade class before eventually serving grades 6-12. Atlas is a Summit Public School and seeks to prepare a diverse student population for college success and to be thoughtful, contributing members of society.

At Summit Atlas, students can expect to experience rigorous college preparatory curriculum, high expectations, and a tight-knit, encouraging community. At Atlas, students can expect the following:

One-on-one weekly meetings with a dedicated mentor
A free laptop used for personalized learning
Exciting expeditions courses like video game design, music production, physical fitness, and bicycle engineering
Daily individualized math and reading instruction
Service opportunities with community partners
Athletics and co-curricular programming

And most importantly, a college acceptance letter their senior year.

Atlas believes that education is “for me”–the student–to realize my potential via a college degree. Education is “for us”–our Atlas community–to bring one another along in our pursuit of our passions and future degrees. And at Atlas, education is “for others.” We believe that a college education is only valuable if utilized for the betterment of our community and society.

We would love for you to join us in this journey and become a part of the White Center legacy at Summit Atlas.

For questions or information on how to enroll, please reach out to Principal Katie Bubalo at kbubalo@summitps.org.

Largest National Gathering of Progressive Activists Announces Jam-packed Line-up –

July 28, 2017 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

August 10-13: Largest National Gathering of Progressive Activists Announces Jam-packed Line-up
Thousands to attend convening to highlight key strategies to advance the progressive movement in the Trump era

As the Trump administration continues to wreak havoc on our nation, America’s leading annual progressive conference, Netroots Nation, will kick off early next month. The event will take place August 10-13, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Confirmed speakers include former Vice President Al Gore, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), GA House Minority Leader and gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, FL gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum, Bernice King, civil rights advocate and scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw and more to be announced in the coming weeks.

This year’s convening will bring together more than 3,000 progressive activists and leaders to share organizing strategies to resist Donald Trump’s regressive policies and discuss key issues critical to winning the 2018 midterm elections, including climate and environmental justice, civil rights, intersectional leadership and more. With 90 panels and 60 training sessions—the most in Netroots history—this year’s conference will also promote a progressive vision that goes beyond resistance. Featured workshops and trainings include running for office, building power locally, unifying and expanding the progressive movement and more.

Netroots Nation 2017
Confirmed speakers include:

Former Vice President Al Gore
GA House Minority Leader and gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams
Tallahassee Mayor and Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn)
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WA)

August 10-13, 2017
Hyatt Regency Atlanta, 265 Peachtree Street NE 30303

FIRST PLACE OPERATES TWO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND A HOUSING PROGRAM

July 28, 2017 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

First Place School for students in primary education
Doreen Cato Early Learning Center for students three to five years old

Our educational programs are tuition-free or deeply discounted for qualifying families.

The First Place Housing Program provides on-site housing at Imani Village and provides housing vouchers and counseling to families. The First Place organization was founded in 1989 by a small group of educators and social workers who saw that homeless children were not in school and decided to do something about it. First Place began operating on April 10, 1989 as a transitional school for homeless children and, by the end of the first week of school, 20 children were enrolled.

The First Place organization incorporated as a 501(c)(3) and became one of four Washington State sites through which homeless children attended school (First Place, 2007). From the beginning, First Place set out to provide the services designed to enable a student and family to address the complex set of educational, physical, emotional, and environmental issues surrounding their current circumstances. As a result, First Place gave children the special attention and services they were unable to receive in a traditional public school.

HOW WE DO IT

STUDENT CENTERED

SMALL CLASSES, BENCHMARKED PROGRESS, NURTURING, AND PERSONALIZED INSTRUCTION ACCELERATE STUDENT LEARNING.

STABILITY FOCUSED

FAMILY SUPPORTS BUILD STABILITY

IN FIVE AREAS:

EDUCATION AND TRAINING,
HEALTH CARE,
HOUSING,
JOB READINESS,
LIFE SKILLS.

HOLISTIC

CHILDREN AT FIRST PLACE RECEIVE THREE MEALS DAILY, TRANSPORTATION, ON-SITE NURSING, ON-SITE COUNSELING, AND OTHER ESSENTIALS THAT MAKE LEARNING POSSIBLE – EVEN DURING TIMES OF TRAUMA AND TRANSITION.

The United States has become the most dangerous industrialized country for women to give birth.

July 28, 2017 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

pregnant-woman — Written By : Melissa DiPento – Social Journalism student CUNY Graduate School of Journalism

American women are more than twice as likely to die of pregnancy-related causes as British women, three times as likely as Canadians, and six times as likely as Norwegians – that’s according to 2015 data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.

Many wealthy nations have been successful in reducing maternal deaths in recent years. The U.S. has not followed suit. The maternal mortality rate jumped more than 25 percent from 2000 to 2014, researchers said.

For every expectant or new mother in the U.S. who dies, as many as 100 women come close to dying, often with devastating long-term physical, emotional and economic effects. Maternal near deaths are on the rise, and now exceed 65,000 a year, says the Centers for Disease Control.

The racial disparities are striking: African-American mothers are three to four times more likely to die or nearly die compared to white mothers.

ProPublica, a non-profit investigative media organization, is seeking to understand why so many American women – particularly African American women – die and nearly die because of pregnancy and childbirth. The goal is to figure out how healthcare system can be improved to protect future mothers from harm.

Do you know someone who died or nearly died in pregnancy or childbirth? ProPublica is interested in hearing your story.

Continued Federal Funding to Prevent the Spread of Zika More Urgent than Ever with Reports of the First Locally-Acquired Case This Year

July 28, 2017 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

With the announcement of the nation’s first case of locally-acquired Zika for the 2017 season reported today, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) representing the nation’s nearly 3,000 local governmental health departments, is calling on Congress to allocate funds to keep our communities safe from this debilitating disease. The impact of the Zika virus on pregnant women and their babies can have devastating effects on families. It will cost millions of dollars to care for a child with Zika-related birth defects over their lifespan.

“I can’t overstate the need of continued funding and support resources for local health departments so they can help protect their communities from mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika. From mosquito control programs, mosquito bite prevention education, to disease surveillance, health departments have a responsibility to protect the health and well-bring of their communities. With the first locally-acquired case for 2017, and with summer well underway, we have to be vigilant to prevent new Zika cases from occurring,” said NACCHO’s President Umair A. Shah, MD.

A resident of Hildago County, TX has tested positive for the Zika virus, the state’s first probable Zika infection this year. Zika is still here and a remains a threat in the U.S. State and local health departments in partnership and support with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) need continued funding in order to combat the disease. Together this collective public health response can limit the impact of Zika in our at-risk communities. This funding is vital to our efforts to increase the readiness and response capacity of laboratory, epidemiology, environmental, and maternal and child health programs.

One-time supplemental funding that Congress provided to address Zika is running out. Further, the CDC receives 12 percent of its annual funding from the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF) and passes much of the money on to state and local health departments in the form of grants. Senators debating the repeal of the Affordable Care Act are also considering whether to repeal or cut the PPHF. With regard to Zika, epidemiology and lab capacity grants funded in part by the PPHF are critical to identifying women who have been infected and tracking the spread of the virus.

“If Congress eliminates the PPHF and fails to continue to allocate vital funding enabling local health departments to carry out their mandate to protect our communities, they will have failed to protect the American public they have been elected to serve,” said Laura Hanen, NACCHO’s Interim Executive Director and Chief of Government Affairs.

High expectations for Washington Huskies in 2017

July 27, 2017 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

With achievements come high expectations. In sports just about every team can be king of the hill for a day. The difficulty is staying top dog from one season to the next. That is the question being asked Husky head coach Chris Petersen and his team after last years Conference winning season and College Football Playoffs 24 to 7 Semi-final loss to Alabama.

The question is a resounding yes according to the 2017 preseason Media Poll.Washington has been chosen as the favorite to win the Pac-12 North in the annual preseason media poll, announced this morning at the conference’s football media days.

The Huskies, who won the division and conference titles last year, received 49 out of a possible 52 first-place votes in the poll. USC also received 49 out of 52 first-place votes to win the Southern Division. The Trojans were listed as the favorite to win the overall Pac-12 championship, with 28 votes. Washington was second-favorite with 22.

Washington opens the 2017 season Friday, Sept. 1, at Rutgers. The Huskies open fall camp on Monday.

Here is the complete Pac-12 Football preseason media poll:

North Division
1. Washington (49): 309 points
2. Stanford (1): 247
3. Washington State (1): 206
4. Oregon (1): 163
5. Oregon State: 101
6. California: 64

South Division
1. USC (49): 309
2. Utah (1): 220
3. UCLA (1): 209
4. Colorado (1): 182
5. Arizona State: 109
6. Arizona: 61

PAC-12 TITLE GAME CHAMPION: USC (28 votes)
Others receiving votes: Washington (22), Oregon (1), Utah (1)