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When Diversity Matters Most. The Strength Lies In Differences, Not In Similarities

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Free job fair for LGBTQ youth and allies on March 30 at Miller Community Center

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Seattle Parks and Recreation will host a free job fair for LGBTQ youth and allies on Saturday, March 30, 2019 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Miller Community Center (330 19th Ave. E). Youth of all ages are welcome to attend and there will be many employment opportunities for high school-age youth (14-19) and young adults (19-24). Attendees should come prepared to spend some time visiting the various booths, which will have representatives from private employers as well as City of Seattle youth-employment and stipend programs.

Several City departments offer summer employment appropriate for teens and young adults, including positions in Seattle Parks and Recreation Aquatics (life guards, boat ramp monitors), Seattle Parks and Recreation Youth Engaged in Service (job shadowing an adult mentor, usually in an office setting), Seattle Parks and Recreation Student Teen Employment Program and Summer of Service (building trails in local parks as well as working on restoration and other projects), Youth Participatory Action Research (exploring social justice issues), and the Seattle Public Libraries Student Assistance program. Many local businesses will also be in attendance.

The Youth Job Fair for LGBTQ and Allies is a collaborative effort led by the Youth Employment and Service Learning Unit of Seattle Parks and Recreation. To participate in the fair or for more information contact Gwen Wessels, Seattle Parks and Recreation, at Gwen.Wessels@seattle.gov.

 

FUSION: Providing Transitional Housing for Families in Need

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FUSION is an all-volunteer organization in Federal Way and Northeast Tacoma with a mission to provide
housing and support services to the homeless in our community so they will have a safe, secure
environment as they work toward self-sufficiency.
Now operating ten condos, three single-family homes, a duplex and a fourplex, FUSION has proudly
served over 200 families during its 25-year history. Each family is welcomed into a beautiful, fully-
furnished home for 18 months and provided case management resources including education,
employment search assistance, financial guidance, family counseling and more. Historically, more than
80% of FUSION’s client families move into permanent housing when they leave the program.
Even with FUSION's success, however, there is much more to be done; homelessness continues to grow in our region. The FUSION board has decided to meet that challenge by hiring a full-time paid executive director.
FUSION’s work is complex, and critically important to the future of transitional housing in Federal Way
and Tacoma,” says board president Byron Hiller. “We’re expanding our leadership so we can increase
FUSION’s impact, and our new executive director will work closely with our terrific volunteers as the
organization continues to evolve and innovate.”
Speaking of volunteers, more than 100 of them contributed well over 18,500 hours to the cause in 2017.
And while FUSION’s volunteers are essential, the organization ultimately relies on community support to
make sure homeless families have a warm and comfortable place to live while they stabilize their lives.
Your contributions of time and money (and gently used furniture for resale at the FUSION Décor
Boutique) are what make the difference. Visit www.fusionfederalway.org to learn more, and get
involved!

Domestic workers breaking down doors to power in Seattle

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Councilmember Mosqueda to introduce breakthrough legislation which would establish a Domestic Workers Standards Board with the power to address wages, benefits, training, and other issues in the industry

Nannies, house cleaners, and other domestic workers in Seattle are breaking down doors to win higher standards and a voice at work. City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda will introduce a Domestic Workers Bill of Rights in committee Thursday which will take domestic workers from invisible to powerful.

After generations of exclusion from basic federal labor rights, domestic workers in Seattle are leading the way to a new model of worker power.

Who:  Nannies, house cleaners and other domestic workers with the Seattle Domestic Workers Alliance. They will be joined by City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda.

What: Announce introduction of landmark Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, share stories, visually break through doors, then head to committee hearing.

When & Where:
Thursday, June 21, 2018:

  • 8:30am: briefing on the legislation by Councilmember Mosqueda, City Hall. Contact Councilmember Mosqueda’s office for more information on the 8:30 briefing at 206-233-7801.

  • 9:00am: domestic workers, employers of domestic workers, and community supporters will rally on the 4th Avenue side of Seattle City Hall, immediately following Councilmember Mosqueda’s briefing.

  • 9:30am: Committee hearing begins in council chambers at 9:30 am.

Currently, thousands of domestic workers in Seattle don’t get the full protections of our workers’ rights laws. Some types of domestic workers are specifically excluded from federal labor protections, and for many others the rights spelled out in the law simply aren’t realities on the job. Few have access to basic benefits like healthcare and retirement, and there’s no good way for workers to set industry-wide standards and improve conditions.

For months, Seattle domestic workers have been working with elected officials to develop a Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights that will address the inequities faced by a workforce that’s mostly women and disproportionately people of color.

Key components of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights being introduced Thursday:

  • Covers all part-time and full-time domestic workers in the city — regardless of whether they are technically employed by an agency or a family, and regardless of whether they are classified as employees or contractors.

  • Ensures all domestic workers are covered by the minimum wage and receive rest breaks.

  • Establishes a Domestic Workers Standards Board which includes workers, employers, and community representatives and has the power to establish industry-wide standards on wages, benefits, training, and other issues.

The Domestic Workers Standards Board would be a breakthrough step for workers rights in Seattle and across the country — a new model of collective bargaining being led by women and people of color who have been too long excluded from other basic legal protections.

More information

The Seattle Domestic Workers Alliance (SDWA) unites nannies, house cleaners, and other domestic workers across Seattle. Workers have established SDWA a project of Working Washington, with support from Casa Latina, SEIU 775, and the National Domestic Workers Alliance.

Need Diversity In Your Workplace?

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The Numbers Say Role Models Are Lacking

It might feel more comfortable to work with people who are – more or less – just like you, but study after study has shown that’s not the best way to do business.  Research finds that diverse workforces are more effective workforces, which is why many large companies now have diversity programs for the recruitment and development of women, racial minorities, and LGBTQ individuals. “And that’s a good thing, but having a diverse workforce doesn’t go far enough,” says Jeremy Greenberg, founder of Avenue Group (www.AveGroup.com), a firm that advises private equity firms, Fortune 500 executives, and mid-market companies.  “It’s also important to have diversity represented in leadership and role model positions, and America’s institutions – from large corporations to universities to the music world – are lacking on that front.”

Avenue Group recently conducted a study to determine the level of diversity among role models in today’s America. The study looked at the top 100 leaders in nine categories: Fortune 100 CEOs, U.S. senators, presidents of top-ranked universities, best-selling authors, top-selling musicians, directors of the highest-grossing films, producers of the highest-rated TV shows, stars of the most-popular YouTube channels, and hosts of the most-popular podcasts. For the most part, Greenberg says, white men dominate in percentages far beyond their representation in the overall population. “There’s a stark difference in diversity between the leadership role models and the general population,” Greenberg says. “White males account for 69 percent of the role models, even though they make up just 31 percent of the U.S. population.”

Greenberg says a few things worth knowing about diversity include:

  • The benefits of diversity. Studies have found that a diverse workplace comes with proven benefits, including an increase in innovation, reduction in turnover, a higher level of creativity, and a more effective understanding of the needs of different market segments.
  • The importance of role models. Role models – the people we look up to, who take up media space, and earn our attention – play a key part in getting us comfortable with our differences. “Improving diversity in leadership positions can go a long way in helping to improve diversity in a company’s overall workforce,” Greenberg says.
  • Lack of diversity among Fortune 100 CEOs. Far and away the least diverse group that the Avenue Group study examined was Fortune 100 CEOs. Among these business leaders, 95 percent are white, 94 percent are men, and 90 percent are white men.
  • Authors and musicians boast most diversity – sort of. Musicians proved the most diverse in terms of race, with 49 percent of the top performers non-white and 41 percent of them Black. Yet the top performers aren’t so diverse in gender with women representing only 14 percent. “That makes them one of the worst gender-diversity offenders,” Greenberg says. The best category for women was best-selling authors, yet they still represent just 38 percent of that category. Racial minorities, though, make up just a small percentage of the best-selling authors, with 93 percent of them white.

“There is certainly a long way to go to improve diversity across all categories,” Greenberg says. “As our role models become more diverse, those who aspire to emulate them will be more inspired and provide tangible examples of success to help them move through their career journeys.”

You can review the findings from the Avenue Group role model diversity study here.

 

About Jeremy Greenberg

Jeremy Greenberg (www.AveGroup.com) is the founder of Avenue Group, which advises Fortune 500 executives and mid-market companies. He is also the co-founder and CEO of Flyte Fitness, an exercise equipment and education company. Jeremy built multi-million-dollar businesses for two Fortune 500 companies (Capital One and Avon Products) and is an Entrepreneur in Residence at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he holds an MBA.

Washington State Dyslexia Advisory Council Seeks Applicants

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Applications now being accepted

Dyslexia has been defined in statute as a

specific learning disorder that is neurological in origin and characterized by:

Unexpected difficulties with accurate or fluent word recognition, and poor spelling and

decoding abilities that are not consistent with the person’s intelligence, motivation, and

sensory capabilities.

These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological components of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities.

The Washington State Dyslexia Advisory Council was created via Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6162 during the 2018 legislative

session. The Council will advise the

superintendent on matters relating to dyslexia in an academic setting.

Applicants can apply here: Deadline is July 12, 2018. Appointees are expected to:

Attend in–person meetings;

Respond timely to emails and meet deadlines and,

 Spend time beyond council meetings to

support outcomes of the council.

Appointments are voluntary for a two–year term with an option to renew for an additional two years. Travel for meetings and meals (based on per–diem) will be reimbursed by OSPI.

 

 

WorkSource helps thousands experience the power of a job

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Sanae visited WorkSource Lynnwood in October 2016. She had been laid off from an aerospace company and was struggling to find work. Her work history in aerospace was extensive, and she was passionate about the field of structural analysis engineering. But at 46, the Japanese American woman was worried she’d have to move home to Japan and live with her parents.

After participating in several resume-writing and interviewing workshops, Sanae approached her job search with new confidence and landed a $147-an-hour job with another Washington company.

For the latest reporting period, covering April 2016 through March 2017, WorkSource helped 129,667 people find a job. Since WorkSourceWA.com launched in 2016, 11,722 employers have posted 393,521 jobs, and 272,936 job seekers have registered to post their resumes, apply for jobs and more.

The services Sanae and many others have received from the Washington State Employment Security Department underscore the life-changing work of ESD employees, their workforce partners in the WorkSource system, and the federal grants that make these programs possible. Through its weekly Power of a Job series, ESD began spotlighting customer stories in August.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local l9 is looking for an experienced full-charge bookkeeper

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The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local l9 is looking for an experienced full-charge bookkeeper, who can also perform extensive administrative assistant duties. Significant professional experience as an accountant or bookkeeper and a BA or AA in accounting is strongly preferred. We are looking for someone who has excellent organization skills and is able to work independently. The individual will need to perform general office duties and have strong communication and customer service skills. The a full-time on-site (Monday-Friday) and union represented position. Starting wage $25 with room for increases commensurate with experience and an outstanding employer paid medical/dental benefit package for the employee and their dependents. Contributions to a pension program, paid sick leave, vacations and holidays are also provided. To Apply: Send a resume’, cover letter and salary history in PDF format to President@ilwulocal19.org, be sure to reference bookkeeper in subject line.

WSDOT PRE-APPRENTICESHIP SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

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WSDOT PRE–APPRENTICESHIP SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
This scholarship aims to assist female, minority or socially/economically
disadvantaged Washington state residents who want to work in the Heavy
Highway Construcon Industry.
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS UNTILALL FUNDS ARE
EXHAUSTED. APPLY NOW FOR PRIORITY CONSIDERATION.
MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE HERE
Contact WSDOT’s On–The–Job Training Support Services Program Coordinator,
Jane Rockwell at 360–704–6317 or rockwja@wsdot.wa.gov