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Archives for April 2018

Treehouse Spotlights 3 Critical Policy Wins for Youth in Foster Care

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Changes support educational equity and successful transitions to adulthood for state’s most vulnerable population Treehouse, a Seattle based nonprofit which gives youth in foster care a childhood and a future, advocated for numerous child welfare and education issues during the latest Washington State Legislative Session, and is proud to spotlight three key policy wins.

“This was a tremendously impactful legislative session for the 9,000 children and youth in foster care statewide,” said Dawn Rains, Chief Policy and Strategy Officer at Treehouse. “Because of critical law changes and key investments, foster and homeless youth will have a better chance to achieve educational equity and make successful transitions to adulthood.”

Right now, fewer than 3 percent of youth in foster care earn a four-year college degree. And it’s even worse for children and youth of color who are disproportionately represented in foster care and achieve educational outcomes at significantly lower rates than their white peers.

Here are the three biggest wins for 2018:

Education Equity (included in the final budget bill, and originally SB 6223 and HB 2877): A group of six state agencies and several nonprofit organizations will work to align programs, accountability, policy and resources culminating in a report due to legislatures in December of this year. The report will include a plan for children and youth experiencing foster care and homelessness to achieve educational equity with peers while closing the gap between racial and ethnic groups.

Extended Foster Care (SB 6222 and HB 2330): The age eligibility to enroll in the program will change from 19 to 21, and youth will be able to enroll and exit out of the program as many times as they need. Extended Foster Care provides critical stability to youth transitioning from foster care into adulthood.

Passport to Careers (SB 6274): Through the collective efforts of Treehouse, College Success Foundation and Mockingbird Society, the program will include financial assistance for apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships prompting a name change to “Passport to Careers.” Under this new legislation, eligibility will incorporate ICPC youth, youth in federal and tribal foster care systems and unaccompanied homeless youth. The Passport to College Promise program was originally created to help students from foster care attend and succeed in college.

Treehouse has led or collaborated on landmark legislation to support the educational attainment and well-being of youth in foster care since 2001.

To advocate for youth in foster care: Join Treehouse’s Advocacy Action Center at www.treehouseforkids.org/advocate.

About Treehouse
Founded in 1988, Treehouse is Washington’s leading nonprofit organization addressing the academic and other essential support needs of youth in foster care. More than 7,500 youth each year prosper through programs that focus on their academic success, fulfill key material needs and provide important childhood experiences every child deserves. Learn more at www.treehouseforkids.org.

3 Things To Consider About Your 401(k) When Changing Jobs

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https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5f0ZHG4KQbFBvcFXREVgrjdBSgELC98GEuGvPbe383UPsmJ4EBsIWYV1OtoSaJzGxGqxv-ZQ3GOS_lpG-uCwaRiUf_dQI0xxm7CLZIV18Cusj_zLM01J74ci98dOXHBlcO0Ge2zOTwAymLfhswMore people change jobs than ever before. The average American worker makes 12 employment moves before retirement, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  With all those transitions come important decisions, and high among them is what to do with their 401(k). Numerous financial experts say one thing you usually shouldn’t do is leave your 401(k) behind with your former employer. Some 401(k) accounts are “orphaned” or abandoned every year either by their owner, former employer or plan administrator.
“It’s like cleaning out your old office; make sure you grab everything that’s important to you,” says Peter J. Strauss (www.peterjstrauss.com), an attorney, captive insurance manager and author of The Business Owner’s Definitive Guide to Captive Insurance Companies. “When you leave a job and leave your 401(k), failing to roll it into a new retirement account, it’s leaving money in a drawer, and worse, with compound interest growth.”
Because of the tax penalty for early withdrawal, it’s not usually a good idea to cash out your 401(k) before age 59½. But Strauss says the advantages of having a 401(k), keeping it mobile with job moves, and continuing to grow it are vital for personal financial growth and retirement. He lists three consider about your 401(k) when changing jobs:

  • The employer match. “That can be a great windfall, but it’s important to make sure the matching money is vested prior to your departure,” Strauss says. “Otherwise, if you didn’t work there long enough and the match hadn’t vested, you’re not maximizing your savings.” So when choosing to leave a company, Strauss says it’s important to consider the timing. “Find out if all your 401(k) contributions have vested, so you make sure you get a bigger bang for your buck,” he says. “It may be worthwhile to stick around a little longer to make sure you get the entire company match to take with you.”
  • Rolling it into an IRA. An IRA offers more investment choices than 401(k) plans do, Strauss says. And typically, IRAs have lower costs to operate because they don’t carry the administrative fees that 401(k) plans do. “But remember, just like rolling your 401(k) over into your new company, you need to execute the transfer properly, or else you will owe taxes and fees.”
  • Roll into your new company’s plan. This is the simplest option of moving your 401(k) after a job move. Your funds remain in the same place and continue to grow. A bonus: 401(k) plans allow you to borrow more than an IRA for a first home.

“It’s a sense of comfort having a 401(k), and better, having one that’s not stagnant,” says Strauss. “If you one day go from ‘employee to employer’ and run your own business, you’ll have a heightened appreciation for it because of what it means to your employees. If you’re making a job change, don’t forget the retirement assets you’ve worked so hard for throughout your career.”

Here’s Why Millennials Keep Changing Jobs

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Employment expert discusses new findings about “job switching” among young people

“Job switching” is a fast-moving trend which has changed the face of the American workplace.

“Gone are the days of retiring after 50 years with a gold watch,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employment trends expert. “A new study has found that job-switching continues to rise, particularly among Millennials and those working in the tech industry.”

Wilson says that “job-switching” is the result of employees seeking greater learning opportunities and increased pay. “Today’s young workers aren’t afraid to leave a well-paying, suitable job, which makes them different from former generations. And research shows that this willingness to try new things pays off, especially when you are young: New research shows that workers who spend 2-3 years at their first job end up earning more money over their lifetime than workers who spend 4 or more years in the same role.”

The employment trends expert says that becoming complacent could stagnate an employee’s growth, as well as keep them from learning new skills and networking with new people.

“A person who shows up to the same office every day for years is probably not going to greeted by opportunity very often,” says Wilson. “On the other hand, workers who are willing to put themselves out there and keep their skills sharp could find that their tenacity pays off.”

So, what should employers do to keep employees from bailing?

“Make sure that you are offering your employees more than just a paycheck. Along with room for advancement, offer your employees continued learning seminars and educational opportunities. Allow them room for creative control where possible, and help tease out their hidden skills and abilities.”

Rethinking Incarceration

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FIRST COVENANT CHURCH is hosting a book event featuring Dominique Gilliard, author of Rethinking Incarceration. Gilliard’s book provides a timely, faith leader’s perspective on more just alternatives to mass incarceration as Seattleites organize against the new youth jail being built and imagine together a society where all thrive and are free.

Dominique DuBois Gilliard is the director of Racial Righteousness and Reconciliation for the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC). He is the author of Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating for Justice that Restores. He also serves on the board of directors for the Christian Community Development Association and Evangelicals for Justice. In 2015, he was selected as one of the ECC’s “40 Under 40” leaders to watch, and the Huffington Post named him one of the “Black Christian Leaders Changing the World.”

An ordained minister, Gilliard has served in pastoral ministry in Atlanta, Chicago, and Oakland. He earned two bachelor’s degrees—in African American Studies and History—from Georgia State University and a master’s degree in history from East Tennessee State University, with an emphasis on race, gender, and class in the United States. He also earned an MDiv from North Park Seminary, where he served as an adjunct professor teaching Christian ethics, theology, and reconciliation.”

For more information, please visit http://www.firstcovenantseattle.org/rethinking-incarceration/

How a Children’s Book is Fighting the Gender Pay Gap

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Melanie MazzaWhen Emily Kim graduated from law school in 2011, the job market was bleak. She was thrilled when she landed her first position and she took the salary offered, fearing that negotiation might cost her the job.

A while later, Emily assumed a role managing the office’s budget. In comparing past years’ payroll expenditures, Emily saw something that shocked her. The man who had previously occupied the position had been paid $10,000 more.
“We had the exact same qualifications,” she said. “We graduated law school in the same year.”
Emily couldn’t believe the discrepancy. “That really amped me up, and made me hyper-aware moving forward to think about salaries and what you’re worth.”

In recent years, Emily has been active in the fight for Equal Pay. Emily worked for Councilmember Jean Godden and joined Seattle’s Gender Equity in Pay Taskforce, where she focused on passing a paid parental leave policy. To generate more conversation about gender equality, Emily wrote a children’s book, “Sabrina for Student Council”, and has launched a Kickstarter to help fund it. She was “inspired to write a story to empower little girls, and especially little girls of color, to stand up for what is right and to engage in public office.”

The book tells the story of Sabrina, a young girl who speaks out against gender discrimination. At her school, the boys always get bigger cookies than the girls at snack-time. Sabrina’s teacher explains that “it’s just the way it is.” Dissatisfied with this answer, Sabrina launches a student council campaign and advocates for gender equality. The book follows her as she partners with student associations, negotiates with unions, and fights for policy change.By exposing children to concepts of equality, discrimination, and the political process, Emily hopes that “Sabrina for Student Council” empowers young readers to engage in politics and fight injustice.

Emily is thrilled about Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunity Act (HB 1507) that passed through the legislature this year. By ending employer pay secrecy policies, requiring provision of job-related reasons for differences in pay and opportunities, and strengthening workers’ rights to inquire about their pay, this bill protects women from the pay discrimination that Emily experienced.

CENTRAL AREA COLLABORATIVE IS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO FILL A NEW POSITION – COMMUNITY CONSTRUCTION NAVIGATOR

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COMMUNITY CONSTRUCTION NAVIGATOR – POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
We’re Hiring!

Interested in helping shape how our community is engaged in Central Area construction projects?

Community Construction Navigator Position

The Central Area Collaborative, through funding provided by the City of Seattle, is hiring a Community Construction Navigator to serve as a critical link between our community and staff responsible for building projects in the Central/Judkins Park area. With a seat at the table, the Community Construction Navigator can bring forth ideas, concerns, and questions we have about construction, so that our community is less impacted.

Job description

The Community Construction Navigator’s primary focus will be on SDOT’s year-long 23rd Ave Phase 2 project but will also include private construction projects in the neighborhood (Vulcan’s Promenade 23 development, Community House’s 23rd and Jackson development, etc.) and SDOT’s Jackson Street corridor improvements.

Key responsibilities

  • Serving as an information link between the community, CAC, City and private developers
  • Participating in regular meetings where construction plans, schedules and details are reviewed
    • Primary focus: SDOT’s Phase 2 23rd Avenue Project (between Jackson and Rainier)
    • Secondary focus: Private construction projects (e.g. Vulcan, Community House, Midtown Design Review, etc.)
  • Regular field visits to community businesses and gathering places to check-in on construction
  • Participating in community briefings and meetings
  • Planning for and participating in community events (e.g. UmojaFest)
  • Providing input on plans for wayfinding and business district signage developed by city and/or private developers

Preferred skills and experience

 

  • Strong communication skills – one-on-one, small group, and Open House settings
  • Motivated, passionate and courageous
  • Ability to nudge and challenge city staff to seek multiple perspectives and check assumptions
  • Experience taking collaborative approach to solve problems and identify solutions
  • Active civic participant on issues affecting the Central Area/Judkins Park/Rainier Community
  • Ability to forge connections and relationships with local businesses, community leaders and organizations, government agencies and private developers

 

Hours and Compensation

  • Position starts May 1, 2018
  • Mostly weekday obligations, with occasional weekend and night events/meetings
  • Work will take place in office environments and in the field; no heavy lifting will be required
  • Expected to be approximately 30-60 hours/month, with work hours primarily 8 AM – 5PM with occasional evening meetings.

Submit your cover letter and resume to , attention Dennis Comer by May 2, 2018. Interviews will be scheduled the week of May 7 in the Central Area.

Mayor Durkan Announces Families, Education, Preschool and Promise Plan to Make Significant Investments in Closing the Opportunity Gap and Creating Pathways to Jobs

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For the First Time, Durkan Proposes an Exemption for Low Income Seniors, People with Disabilities, and Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities

Renewing and Combining Expiring Levies Would Be $20.75 a Month for Homeowners

Joined by education advocates, City Councilmembers, and community leaders, Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan announced her Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise plan to nearly double the children in preschool, increase investments in K-12, and expand access to college through the Seattle Promise College Tuition Program. With both the 2011 Families & Education Levy and 2014 Seattle Preschool Program Levy set to expire this year, Mayor Durkan is proposing the City renews and combines them through a new Families, Education, Preschool and Promise plan. You can view the full action plan and budget here.

“Working together, we can take a major step towards closing the opportunity gap in our City, putting our young people on a path to good-paying jobs, and creating a more affordable future for our City’s children. These investments in quality preschool, K-12 education, and college will build true economic opportunity for our young people,” said Mayor Durkan. “This proposal will also be the first to have built-in relief for the most vulnerable taxpayers in our city, including veterans, disabled and the elderly. To truly build equity, we must work to reduce the impact on those who are the most impacted.”

As proposed, Mayor Durkan’s plan would make seven years of investments to:

  • Continue the successful pilot of the Seattle Preschool program and nearly double the number of children in quality preschool from 1,500 in 2018-19 to 2,700 in 2025-26;
  • Increase K-12 and community investments to close the opportunity gap, increase teacher diversity, provide support services including for students experiencing homelessness, and help students most at risk of dropping out of school;
  • Expand access to college for Seattle public school graduates through support for the Seattle Promise College Tuition Program, which would serve approximately 1,350 high school students participating in college prep and 875 Seattle Promise college students each year.

“Mayor Durkan’s plan marks the future of our City’s investments in education to close the opportunity gap and make sure Seattle’s children are prepared for the jobs of the future,” said Dwane Chappelle, Director of our City’s Department of Education and Early Learning and former Rainier Beach High School principal. “One of the best solutions we have to prevent the opportunity gap is investing in high quality preschool. In the Seattle Preschool Program, we’ve seen our children of color make the greatest gains. We must give more kids this opportunity to enter kindergarten prepared to succeed. Once we give our kids the great start they deserve in kindergarten, we can invest in K-12 education to address the opportunity gap, then ensure all our kids can take advantage of Seattle Promise.”

“This is an important first step towards fulfilling our commitment to make sure that all kiddos – from birth through post-secondary graduation, college or apprenticeship – have programs and resources to meet their needs. I’m especially excited to work with fellow councilmembers to enhance and solidify our investments in infants and toddlers and to make sure we have a diverse and well-trained workforce to help support our children – it’s good for kids, good for teachers, and good for our local economy,” said Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda (Position 8, Citywide).

“Research affirms that investing in early learning is not only a cost-effective strategy, but one that prepares more of our kids to thrive inside and outside the classroom. I am happy to see the Mayor’s action plan reflect these critical early learning investments, specifically in the growth of our Seattle Preschool Program, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on shepherding this set of investments through the Council process,” said Councilmember Rob Johnson (District 4, Northeast Seattle).

“The opportunity and kindergarten readiness gap affects all students but especially students of color, low-income students, English Language Learners, students with learning disabilities, and students experiencing homelessness. The City of Seattle plays a historically significant role in supporting our public school system to help each child fulfill their potential. Our more recent investments in early learning have shown that quality pre-school and wrap around services are an essential part of the education pipeline,” said Councilmember M. Lorena González (Position 9, Citywide). “Over the next several weeks, I will work with the community, educators, the school district, Mayor Durkan and the City Council to continue our investments in evidence-based education strategies, while also identifying ways to respond to emerging issues, like the rapid growth of students experiencing homelessness.”

“We’ve accomplished a lot with our education levies, but let’s set our Seattle students up for the best possible future by expanding access to pre-school and higher education opportunities. By boosting the bookends of a young person’s K-12 education with additional learning, we will prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow, contribute an educated workforce, and grow our economy. These investments will also help us narrow the gap in educational outcomes experienced by students of color and those from low-income areas,” said Councilmember Debora Juarez (District 5, North Seattle).

Under Mayor Durkan’s plan, homeowners of a median assessed value property ($665,000 in 2019) would pay approximately $20.75 a month or $249 a year. For the first time, qualified low-income seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans with a service-connected disability will be eligible for an exemption.

Inslee opposes federal proposal aimed at blocking benefits for immigrant children and families

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Gov. Jay Inslee sent a letter today detailing grave concerns around proposed federal changes to how applications to extend or change an individual’s immigration status are processed.

The Trump administration is reviewing a draft proposal that would, for the first time, allow the federal government to discriminate against individuals who have used, or whose families have used, noncash public benefits. That includes U.S.-born children of immigrant parents.

“The proposal is clearly intended to deny basic supports like food, health care, and housing to lawfully present immigrants and their families — including millions of children and U.S. citizens — who pay taxes, work, go to school and contribute to our country’s economy,” Inslee wrote.

Washington state is home to 455,000 children who are U.S. citizens and have at least one immigrant parent.

If the draft “public charge” proposal were adopted, immigration officials could consider whether individuals or any of their dependent family members have received or sought any public services such as Medicaid, CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Plan), SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Section 8 housing vouchers, the earned income tax credit and other assistance. Ultimately, use of these basic supports could be used in immigration decisions, including the denial of green cards and even deportation.

“By significantly expanding the scope and reach of ‘public charge’ rules, our state expects many eligible individuals to stop using their benefits or not apply for benefits at all. This will undoubtedly lead to people across the U.S. going hungry, not accessing needed medical care, losing economic self-sufficiency, and even becoming homeless,” Inslee wrote.

Supporting Washington’s Workforce

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I strongly believe in the foundations of justice, fairness, and equality, and strive to support families who make Washington their home and work hard every day.  This year we passed several pieces of legislation that reaffirm Washington’s longstanding pursuit of equality and equity in the workplace.

Equal Pay Opportunity Act

Women make up almost half of the workforce, yet we continue to earn less than men do for similar work. Because of this disparity, women save less toward retirement, which means more women live in poverty in their senior years. Washington was one the first states in the Union to address the wage gap by passing the Equal Pay Act in 1943. For the first time since then, we added new provisions aimed at closing the gap between what women and men are paid by:

●        Prohibiting pay secrecy policies

●        Allowing discussion of wages

●        Preventing discrimination by gender in providing opportunities

●        Banning retaliation against workers who file complaints, discuss wages or seek advancement opportunities

●        Ensuring workers are entitled to administrative and civil remedies in the event of violations

Fair Chance Act (Ban the Box)

More than one in five adults in Washington State—disproportionately people of color—have a conviction or arrest record that can show up on a routine criminal background check for employment. Checking the “yes” box on a job application indicating a prior arrest or conviction often eliminates a person from consideration. The Fair Chance Act will help ensure that these 1.2 million people are judged by their qualifications and work experience, and not reflexively rejected by employers at the start of the hiring process. The employment of people with conviction histories can improve the economy and benefit public safety through decreased recidivism.

The Fair Chance Act (HB 1298) will help achieve this goal. The law extends similar protections that we already have in Seattle to job seekers statewide. Like the Seattle ordinance, HB 1298 exempts employers hiring for a position with unsupervised access to children or vulnerable persons; employers, including financial institutions, that are required by law to consider criminal records; and law enforcement or criminal justice agencies. This new law will also provide a better chance at success for the next generation of Washington residents, as nearly half of all U.S. children have at least one parent with a record.

Strengthening protections against sexual harassment in the workplace

The #MeToo movement has helped to illuminate how pervasive sexual harassment is, and the impacts it has on the lives and livelihoods of women.

This session, the Legislature passed new laws to combat sexual harassment in workplaces across our state:

●        SB 5996 prohibits an employer from requiring an employee, as a condition of employment, to sign a nondisclosure agreement that prevents the employee from disclosing sexual harassment or sexual assault.

●        SB 6471 calls for the development of model policies to create workplaces that are safe from sexual harassment.

●        SB 6068 sheds light on repeat sexual harassers by removing barriers to lawsuits created by non-disclosure agreements.

I’m grateful to be serving on a new workgroup to bring more transparency and accountability when workplace harassment occurs within the Legislature itself. The House workgroup should recommend reforms in the coming months.

Healthy Families, Healthy Communities

The threat of repeal of the Affordable Care Act, along with other federal attempts to diminish the law, have led to an uncertain future and increasingly unstable markets. Our long-term care infrastructure is threatened by the “age wave” and needs to be reinforced. Rural and under-served communities struggle with a lack of healthcare professionals. And, the opioid overdose crisis continues to grow. As Vice Chair of the House Healthcare and Wellness Committee, I took particular leadership on policy and funding to protect vulnerable people and improve access to healthcare across our state.

Banning conversion therapy

So-called “conversion” therapy uses a range of dangerous and discredited practices that falsely claim to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. It doesn’t provide counseling that promotes acceptance, support, and/or understanding. It is fundamentally harmful to children who deserve love, not rejection, and has been associated with increased risks of suicide and depression among LGBTQ young people. I was the prime sponsor of the House version of this legislation, and was grateful to partner with Senator Marko Liias, who has devoted many years to this cause. With the passage of SB 5722, Washington joins a growing number of states banning this harmful practice. Love trumps hate.

Keeping services covered under the Affordable Care Act

Because of the Affordable Care Act, access to preventive services has increased for all age groups and the data show it saves lives and improves health throughout all stages. While the other Washington debates repealing the ACA, HB 1523 requires that the current ACA preventive service coverage remain in health plans at the state level. Healthcare should not be compromised by politics.

Reproductive Care for All

Ensuring reproductive freedom is a core value that I hold dearly. While many states and even the federal government are taking steps to limit reproductive rights, Washington state has finally approved the Reproductive Parity Act, SB 6219. The new law protects a woman’s right to make our own healthcare decisions and requires insurance plans to offer full coverage for reproductive health.

I hope to continue work in 2019 on two related bills I introduced this session which did not pass. HB 2909, the Reproductive Health Access for All Act, would ensure coverage of the full range of reproductive health services for all Washington residents, including transgender people and all immigrants. HB 2482, the Protecting Patient Care Act, would ensure that healthcare providers are able to deliver information, referrals, and services that are in the best interests of their patients, including abortion care and death with dignity. For patients living in rural areas, patients with limited finances, and patients who lack mobility, these barriers to essential healthcare can be insurmountable and life-threatening.

Expanding access to community mental health services

In recent years, Washington’s behavioral health system has been in crisis, with the state on the losing end of lawsuits over access to mental health services, and at risk of losing Medicaid funding for patients at Western State Hospital. Last year we made major budget increases to help solve these problems. We continued that work this year with a $306 million behavioral health investment plan, including $65 million in new investments toward Community Behavioral Health capacity; $4.2 million to address the state’s opioid overdose crisis; $58 million for construction, renovation, and upgrades at state facilities; and $24 million for supportive housing for the chronically mentally ill.

Responding to the opioid addiction and overdose crisis

Striking the right balance between ensuring patients have access to the care they need and minimizing the risks of misuse and addiction is difficult. We enacted a new statewide drug take-back program (HB 1047), so that unused opioids and other prescriptions can be disposed of safely. We made a number of new investments to expand access to Narcan/Naloxone, a drug that can reverse overdoses, and for Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), a proven approach to reduce the risk of overdose and minimize opioid use. We also increased support for the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program, a key tool for doctors and pharmacists to improve patient care and stop prescription drug misuse.

Sound Generations Appoints A New Chief Executive Officer

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Jim Wigfall – Sound Generations, Chief Executive Officer

Sound Generations formerly known as Senior Services has named Jim
Wigfall, a long-standing executive leader for Boeing as its new Chief Executive Officer effective April 16, 2018.

Sound Generations is the most comprehensive non-profit organization that serves older adults and adults with disabilities in Washington State. Their evidence-based, award-winning, and nationally recognized programs ensure positive aging by improving elder health and providing food security and social connection.

Wigfall replaces interim Chief Executive Officer, Susan Doerr. Sound Generations anticipates his 30 plus years of executive experience will enhance the vitality of the organization and propel its important work forward. Wigfall brings a sound business acumen, a vast understanding of a team-based systems approach to continuous improvement, as well as experience in fundraising, policy, and advocacy.

Wigfall is looking forward to developing a strategic focus for the future and steering
Sound Generations in an exciting new direction by building on the organization’s assets
of outstanding staff and programs.
This opportunity comes at a perfect time, both for me and for the organization,”
said Wigfall. “I’m excited about guiding Sound Generations toward meeting the
emerging and growing needs of one of the fast growing demographics in King
County. What Sound Generations provides is so vital to our caring and
committed community.”
“Sound Generations is so very fortunate to secure a strategist like Jim Wigfall as
our new Chief Executive Officer,” enthused Mark Stensager, Sound Generations
Board Chair. “Jim will lead this organization towards a path of sustainable
growth. As the board chair, I look forward to working with him.”
As a baby boomer, Wigfall is actively assessing the desires of his aging parents who
have emerging needs. They strive to actively lead their best lives possible while
maintaining their independence. Wigfall is personally and professionally motivated to
advance the mission of Sound Generations.
In his community activism, Wigfall holds board membership with the King County
Library System, Special Olympics Washington, and the Citadel School of Business
Advisory Board, his Alma mater. He holds a Master’s in Business Administration from
the University of Tennessee. As Sound Generations’ next leader, this extensive
knowledge will serve the organization well.
A resident of Newcastle, with one daughter living out-of- state, Wigfall likes to write
fiction, is an avid sports fan, and enjoys playing golf.

Sound Generations is the most comprehensive non-profit organization serving older
adults and adults with disabilities in Washington State. Established in 1967, we promote
positive aging for nearly 65,000 individuals and those who care for them in King County
through a network of integrated services and community connections. More than 2,200
volunteers, together with 182 employees, make our work possible and effective.
The affiliated community partner sites include Ballard NW Senior Center, Central Area
Senior Center (Seattle); Lake City Seniors.org; Senior Center of West Seattle;
Shoreline/Lake Forest Park Senior Center; and Sno-Valley Senior Center (Carnation).