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Olympia renters rally against unfair evictions; push for city renter protection policies

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As housing becomes increasingly unaffordable in the Puget Sound, and renters feel growing instability in their homes, Olympia renters are rallying Tuesday at City Hall to push their city council to enact renter protections.

Olympia is one of the most rent-burdened areas in the state with 53.7% of renters devoting more than 30% of our income toward rent. Further, people of color, seniors, single-parent households, and individuals or households with disabilities are the most likely to be rent-burdened. The price of rent is only one of the obstacles renters in the city face when trying to ensure stability for their families.

That’s why renters are gathering outside Olympia City Hall Tuesday at 6 pm to demand their City Councilmembers pass a slate of tenant protection policies including move-in payment plans.

What: Renter Rally & Public Comment

When: Tuesday, October 8 at 6pm

Where: Olympia City Hall, 601 4th Ave E, Olympia, WA

Tacoma City Officials, Puyallup Tribe Councilmembers, Community-Based and Faith-Based Organizations and our Youth “Take It To The Streets”.

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Tacoma City Officials, Puyallup Tribe Councilmembers, Community-Based and Faith-Based Organizations and our Youth “Take It To The Streets”.

by Evangelist Janis Clark

One thing is for sure, Tacoma concerned citizens is taking to the streets to help curb the recent uptick of violence.  Approximately 300 citizens, to include an impressive group of African American Granddads, Dads, Uncles, Brothers, Nephews and Cousins hit the pavement for a “Call To Action – Tacoma Cease-Fire”.  This movement is led by Community Leader Candace Wesley.

“Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards says that there have been 22 homicides in the city so far this year, more than all of 2018. Every city council member on Tuesday, September17 voted in favor of a “ceasefire” proclamation, but Woodards says the city is only a part of the solution.” “When citizens of Tacoma like this step up and say, ‘We know there is a problem and we know we are part of the solution,’ that’s a different narrative,” Woodards said.

On Wednesday, September 25th, “Drums Not Guns Peace March” organized by Stephanie Smith-Bright will begin at the old Portland Avenue Community Center now ran by the Korean Women Association (KWA) at 3513 East Portland Ave, Tacoma, WA 98404 and end at the Puyallup Tribal Administration Building on Portland Avenue. Also joining the Peace March is Elder A.J. Watkins, D. Min., Pastor of Simonton Genesis Ministries, Inc., with a faith-based response of “Fight for Peace – Protect Our Streets” in “laying down a blanket of prayer” for our loved city, Tacoma.

Metro Parks Tacoma wins National Gold Medal Award

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Metro Parks Tacoma has won the prestigious 2019 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management, the top achievement in the industry.

The announcement was made Tuesday, Sept. 24 by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) at the opening session of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) annual conference.

Metro Parks also learned at the conference that it has earned accreditation for a second time, meaning it remains in an elite group of agencies that meet 151 rigorous standards for managing lands, facilities, resources, programs, safety and services. Only three agencies in Washington State have earned accreditation.

“Our staff, our volunteers, our program partners, and our community members rise to the challenge every day to help Metro Parks be among the best in the industry,” said Aaron Pointer, President of the Metro Parks Board of Commissioners. “The past few years have been extraordinary, as we’ve built new parks and facilities, added or enhanced programs, and developed new partnerships to expand our reach. Earning the National Gold Medal Award and accreditation at the same time is an incredible honor for everyone who contributes to our mission of creating healthy places to play, learn and grow.”

The National Gold Medal Awardprogram honors communities that demonstrate excellence through long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development, and agency recognition. This is the third time Metro Parks has won it. The park district won the National Gold Medal in 1985 and 1992, and it was a finalist in 2017.

Metro Parks highlighted a variety of accomplishments in its application and video, including:

·         Opening the Pacific Seas Aquarium and Eastside Community Center in 2018.

·         Transforming a contaminated Superfund site into Dune Peninsula and the Wilson Way pedestrian bridge, which opened in July.

·         Creating the Elementary Sports Program and Whole Child Access Pass to reduce geographic and economic barriers that make it harder for children to participate in recreational opportunities.

·         Expanding environmental and conservation education from pre-school through high school, and implementing programs such as the Ocean-Friendly Restaurant campaign to reduce single-use plastics.

The other National Gold Medal finalists in the population category of 150,000 to 400,000 people were agencies serving Tampa, Fla; Norfolk, Va.; and Greensboro, N.C. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission was among four finalists in the state parks category, which was won by Florida.

The process for accreditation included a lengthy assessment of 151 standards, hundreds of supporting documents submitted as evidence, a four-day site visit by a team of trained park professionals, and a hearing with the commission to grant accreditation. Metro Parks was first accredited in 2014, and this was the district’s first time being reaccredited.

“I’m excited for our staff and everyone associated with Metro Parks to receive such distinguished recognition. It’s a credit to their passion, energy and innovative thinking,” said Metro Parks Executive Director Shon Sylvia. “This isn’t a one-time accomplishment. Being reaccredited shows we are doing our best to live these standards every day.”

Of the thousands of park and recreation agencies in the nation, only 178 are accredited, according to NRPA. The park departments in Bellevue and Shoreline are the only other accredited agencies in the state of Washington.

The NRPA is a nonprofit dedicated to helping its 60,000 members provide everyone with access to parks and recreation services for health, conservation and social equity. The AAPRA is focused on the administration of recreation and parks.

“Conversation With The Streets”

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“Conversation With The Streets” | IS A MOVEMENT

With the “Conversation With The Streets” movement,
we believe in an unconventional way of reaching out, healing, and educating!

SEPTEMBER 2019 PANEL RELEASED | DINNER WILL BE SERVED

Wed, September 25, 2019 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM PDT
Seattle City Hall (Main Level)   600 4th Ave Seattle, WA 98104

BLACK LEADERS UNITE

  • Andre’ L. Taylor, Activist and Motivational Speaker
  • Jay Morrison, CEO, Entrepreneur, and Real Estate Expert
  • Nuri Muhammad, Nation of Islam, Student Minister, Indianapolis, Indiana

This event is sponsored by the organization, NOT THIS TIME, with support from the Mayor’s Office of Seattle, Seattle Neighborhoods, Seattle Foundation, The McCaney Project, and Savren Marketing.

THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

YOUR COMMUNITY IS ONLY A CLICK AWAY … www.nwfacts.com

Treehouse’s 5th Annual African American Community Conversation

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Treehouse’s 5th Annual African American Community Conversation is on Wednesday, October 23rd  at 5:30 p.m. at the Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) in Seattle, and I hope you’ll join us! This year’s conversation is titled “Black Excellence: Celebrating our success and preparing for the future.” We need each of you to join the conversation, as Treehouse seeks to close the academic/opportunity gap for African American youth that have experienced foster care. We encourage youth to attend the event and participate in the discourse as well.

 

The exhibits at NAAM are open to those attending the conversation. We encourage you to show up at 5:30 p.m. and explore the museum before our discussion.

 

See event details attached, and register at https://engage.treehouseforkids.org/AACC19. Feel free to bring a friend and spread the word.

Are Washington students are missing out on basic life skills ?

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Math, science and language arts are standard classes that Washington students will be learning when they head back to school, but it is the class that is not on their schedule this year that can affect them the most. Personal finance is a lifelong beneficial subject for children to learn in school, yet a recent study analyzed 11,000 high school course catalogues and concluded only 1 in 6 high schoolers is currently required to take a personal finance course to graduate. Washington currently does not have a law that requires students to take a standalone personal finance class. Without these classes, students are missing out on critical life skills that help everyday adults avoid money problems such as budgeting, saving, investing and even how to do their taxes.

NATIONAL AWARDS PROGRAM SEEKING WASHINGTON’S TOP YOUTH VOLUNTEERS OF 2020

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The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards will grant two Washington honorees $1,000 scholarship, a medallion and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

Kirkland and Bellevue students were Washington’s top youth volunteers of 2019

Today through November 5, 2019, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is looking for Washington’s top youth volunteers of the year.

Students in grades 5-12 are invited to apply for 2020 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards if they have made meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service within the past 12 months. The application is available at http://spirit.prudential.com and www.nassp.org/spirit.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), was created in 1995 to recognize the exemplary volunteer work of middle level and high school students. Since then, Prudential Spirit of Community Awards have been given to more than 130,000 middle and high school students across the country at the local, state and national level.

“We’ve honored young people from three generations since this program began, and while the world has changed many times over, one thing has stayed the same: Young volunteers are doing remarkable, meaningful work to address the challenges facing their communities,” said Charles Lowrey, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. “As we enter our 25th year, we remain inspired by these young people and their stories of service, and hope that they’ll inspire others to get involved, too.”

Washington’s top youth volunteers of 2019 were Kobey Chew, 18, of Kirkland, who produced two videos and a slideshow for a free online medical library to help people — especially those in developing countries — understand that people with disabilities are often much more capable than is frequently assumed, and Mehr Grewal, 12, of Bellevue, who has volunteered with a Seattle charitable organization for the past four years, and during that time has initiated campaigns to promote correct hand-washing and healthy eating, and assisted in the group’s semiannual health camps. Read more about Kobey and Mehr at http://spirit.prudential.com/honorees/2019/wa.

 

How to Apply

To apply for a 2020 Prudential Spirit of Community Award, students and certifiers must complete the following steps:

  • Students complete the online application by November 5, 2019.
  • Then, students submit the application for certification to their principal or head of a local participating organization.
  • Certifiers review all applications for their school or organization, then select a Local Honoree to nominate for state-level judging by November 15, 2019.

Applications can be certified by a middle or high school principal or head of a Girl Scout council, county 4-H organization, American Red Cross chapter, YMCA or a Points of Light Global Network member. (Students can request a paper application by calling 888-651-2951.)

 

The 2020 Awards Program

On February 4, 2020, the top middle level and high school volunteer from each state and the District of Columbia will be named State Honorees. They will receive $1,000 scholarships, engraved silver medallions and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., with a parent or guardian for four days of recognition events from May 2-5, 2020.

In Washington, a distinguished national selection committee will name 10 of the 102 State Honorees as America’s top youth volunteers of the year. These National Honorees will receive additional $5,000 scholarships, gold medallions, crystal trophies for their nominating schools or organizations, and $5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for nonprofit charitable organizations of their choice.

Several Distinguished Finalists in each state will receive bronze medallions, and runners-up will receive Certificates of Excellence. Local Honorees selected by schools and participating organizations for state-level judging will be presented with Certificates of Achievement; they will also receive President’s Volunteer Service Awards if they have served the minimum number of volunteer hours to qualify (26 hours for age 10 and younger, 50 hours for ages 11-15 and 100 hours for older students).

“When students use their energy, compassion and initiative to improve the lives of others, they not only make a difference – they also set an important example for their peers,” said JoAnn Bartoletti, executive director of NASSP. “We’re proud to honor middle level and high school students who go above and beyond in their volunteer service.”

 

About The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is the United States’ largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer community service. The awards program also is conducted in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ireland, India, China and Brazil, where Prudential has significant business operations.

 

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student’s potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn more at www.nassp.org.

 

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com.

Expunging Marijuana Records This Month

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Marijuana convictions continue to bar people from housing, employment, education, and more despite legalization in several states.

CanIexpunge is an online application that helps people expunge, destroy, or otherwise reduce the negative impacts of criminal records, restore voting rights, and access legal information relating to re-entry, reducing recidivism, and expungement options.

If you are interested in finding out if you can expunge your record, click here.

If you are interested in finding a lawyer who provides expungement or criminal defense services in your area, click here.

CanIexpunge is a project of the Rights Restoration Project. The Rights Restoration Project is an nonprofit that educates people with criminal records and criminal statuses about their rights, particularly those pertaining to expungement, records mitigation, and voting.

King County invests $20 million in services to seniors across the region, focusing on building connections and healthy aging

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King County Executive Dow Constantine today announced investments of over $20.6 million to senior centers across the region that will offer a wide range of resources for older adults and their caregivers, expand outreach to isolated seniors, and create and enhance services reflecting the diversity of King County’s senior population. 

Funding was made possible thanks to voter approval of the expanded Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy that, for the first time, includes funding dedicated to older adults and caregivers.

“King County is investing in programs specifically designed to improve the quality of life for our local seniors and their families,” said Executive Constantine. “Thanks to King County voters, we are making healthy aging a priority, and the support we’re providing for these senior centers will significantly increase access to services for older adults throughout the region.”

Save the Date! LIHI Gala & Auction November 1st, 5:30pm Four Seasons

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Our auction team is busy procuring fabulous items for you to bid on at our Annual Gala & Auction, but it would be wonderful if you could help us by donating an item.  To do so, please use our procurement form or shoot our auction team an email.  For sponsorship opportunities please email or call executive assistant Kathy Mulady at 206-443-9935 x102.  Our target is to raise over $500,000 for LIHI’s Supportive Services Program, Urban Rest Stops, and Tiny House Villages.