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Navigating the pathway to college graduation successfully requires hard work, sacrifice and resources. It also takes a community.

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Nyomi Bennett (Cohort 18) was this year’s recipient of the Frederick Douglass award

At Rainier Scholars, we recruit fourth-graders into a cohort, so that students belong to a community of highly motivated students who share a vision of college success.  The initial phase of our program is the 14-month Academic Enrichment Phase (AEP), which begins the summer before the start of fifth grade and continues twice weekly during the school year. During this phase, scholars develop the skills needed to thrive in college preparatory settings. We honor the completion of AEP with a Rites of Passage ceremony, celebrating our scholars’ accomplishments and hard work.

Nyomi Bennett (Cohort 18) was this year’s recipient of the Frederick Douglass award, in recognition of her dedication to her own and her classmates’ education, as well her willingness to fight through obstacles with grace, wisdom and maturity. After completing 14 months of academic enrichment, Nyomi is now a sixth-grader at Seattle Girls’ School.

 

Christmas and free holiday assistance programs.

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King County and Seattle Christmas and free holiday assistance programs.
Across King County Washington there are several Christmas assistance programs. Non-profit organizations run them using donations from the community and also the support of volunteers. A wide variety of gifts and food items may be offered to struggling families, in particular those with children, in an effort to spread the holiday joy.

Some of the charities offer more than just Christmas help. They may also administer Thanksgiving meals or Easter gift baskets. Anyone who may qualify and is interested in getting more information will need to call a center.

Countless families in Seattle are struggling in these challenging times. The free gifts, clothing and meals that are provided around the holidays can make a big difference. It can free up your money for paying other bills and help people have some joy around Christmas and other holidays.

Black Diamond Community Center
Address of the non-profit is 31605 3rd Ave
Black Diamond, Washington, 98010
The non-profit does not serve the city of Seattle, and all people need to call for appointment to register/apply for Christmas help.. Phone number is (360) 886-1011
The center offers free Christmas gifts for school children, grades K-12, in Black Diamond district only.

Hopelink – Redmond
16725 Cleveland St
Redmond, Washington, 98052
(425) 882-0241
An on site Holiday Gift Room offers clothing, holiday gifts, toys, stuff, and more for Redmond and Sammamish area residents.

Another location is in Shoreline Washington and it covers low income, unemployed, and struggling families in that area. Food and hot meals may be served at Thanksgiving or Christmas too. 15809 Westminster Way N, Shoreline, WA, 98133. Dial (206) 440-7300 for intake or applications. Hope Link is also at 11011 120th Ave NE, Kirkland, WA, 98033, dial (425) 889-7880 as well as 14812 Main St, Bellevue, Washington, 98007, main phone (425) 943-7555. Or find more free stuff.

Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank
Address is 179 1st Ave SE, Issaquah, WA, 98027
Phone number  (425) 392-4123
The Caring Through Sharing store has toys, games, clothing, and more for children and students. Qualified families can shop for what they need.

Maple Valley Food Bank
21415 Maple Valley Hwy
Maple Valley, WA, 98038
(425) 432-8139
Hot meals, groceries, and Christmas Gifts may be passed out. It is for children, students, and teenagers of the Tahoma School District, Maple Valley, Hobart, Ravensdale, and Covington Washington.

Mercer Island Youth and Family Services – Holiday Food and Gift Program
2040 84th Ave SE
Mercer Island, Washington, 98040
Call (206) 275-7869

Multi-Service Center
Address is 1200 S 336th St.
Federal Way, WA, 98003
Phone number – (253) 838-6810
Provides free Christmas and holiday food for all clients. Volunteers and donations also can give gifts for children, ages 18 and younger. The program runs for qualified low-income Federal Way School District residents.

Storehouse at Real Life Church
26201 180th Ave SE
Covington, WA, 98042
(253) 631-3038
Up to 2 free gifts, presents, clothing items or gift cards are for families with children living in Covington.

Ford Fund Teams Up with the City of Tacoma and the Washington State History Museum to Kick-off Men of Courage Barbershop Challenge  

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  • The Men of Courage Barbershop Challenge invites community-focused barbershops
    in the Tacoma area to submit innovative community program proposals supporting
    why their location should be selected as a Men of Courage barbershop

 

  • Two barbershops will be selected as finalists and compete for a grant of $10,000
    to activate community engagement programs at their shops

 

  • Challenge runner-up to receive $5000 for their favorite nonprofit organization

Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, is joining forces with the City of Tacoma and the Washington State History Museum (WSHM) to offer motivated barbershops in Tacoma an opportunity to compete for a $10,000 grant to support programs they create to educate and empower African American men in their community. Additionally, the runner up in the challenge is eligible to select a local non-profit to receive a $5,000 grant.

To apply, shop owners should visit http://fgb.life and submit their application online. Applications are being accepted now until November 22, 2019.

“The Men of Courage program is designed to uplift and celebrate the many contributions of African American men to our world,” said Pamela Alexander, director of Community Development, Ford Motor Company Fund.“We are excited to bring this program and the associated barbershop challenge to Tacoma.”

The Men of Courage Barbershop Challenge is an expansion of the Men of Courage (MOC) grassroots program that launched in 2015. Its intent is to build communities by advancing the narrative of black men through storytelling. The MOC initiative has included several activations that include community outreach, education programs and toolkits for conversation starters.

Over the past three years, curated forums have been held in Detroit, Baltimore, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles with national stakeholders such as activist Shaka Senghor, former Detroit mayor and NBA Hall of Famer Dave Bing, and NFL Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis participating. With nearly 200 community leaders serving as mentors and engaging in hours of storytelling, vision boarding and solution mapping with young men in the community, the work has resulted in more than 2,000 toolkits downloaded in 34 cities around the country. Additionally, the theme of the 2016 Ford Freedom Award, which celebrated and recognized achievements of lasting and positive impact for African Americans, highlights the pivotal work of the Men of Courage program.

“In helping African American men tap into powerful community conversations through this new program, we are making a statement,” said Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards. “We are saying that their ideas matter and can, in fact, profoundly shape the evolution of African American male identity in this country.”

The Tacoma MOC Barbershop Challenge seeks state-certified barbershop owners ages 18 and up to submit innovative applications that state why their barbershop should be distinguished as a Ford Fund Men of Courage shop and what that would mean for their community. Two finalists will be selected to compete by developing community engagement programming for adults and youth that focus on education, entrepreneurship and empowerment. Ford will support their efforts leveraging partnerships such as the Washington State History Museum and Microsoft to facilitate fun and engaging activities such as coding workshops, Xbox Game Nights and amplifying a job search with LinkedIn.

“We are proud to partner with the Ford Motor Company Fund in bringing their innovative Barber Shop Challenge to the Tacoma area. We look forward to experiencing the impact of the fun and meaningful activities that will come out of the challenge,” said Jennifer Kilmer, director of the Washington State Historical Society. “Men of Courage is the perfect companion program to the Men of Change exhibition. The Washington State History Museum is honored to host that exhibition this winter and we encourage everyone to take advantage of the opportunity to see it here.”

To apply, shop owners should visit http://fgb.life and submit their application online. Applications are being accepted now until November 22, 2019.

The Men of Courage program serves as a complimentary grassroots activation to the Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth. exhibition at WSHM December 21 – March 15, 2020. Created by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), Men of Change is made possible through the support of Ford Motor Company Fund and highlights revolutionary men—including Muhammad Ali, James Baldwin, Ta-Nehisi Coates, W.E.B. Du Bois and Kendrick Lamar— whose journeys have altered the history and culture of the country. Cincinnati’s Freedom Center was the first stop of the national three-year tour. For more information visit sites.si.edu.

For more information on programs that support the African American community, go to http://fgb.life .

About Ford Motor Company Fund

As the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, Ford Fund’s mission is to strengthen communities and help make people’s lives better. Working with dealers and nonprofit partners in 63 countries, Ford Fund provides access to opportunities and resources that help people reach their full potential. Since 1949, Ford Fund has invested more than $2 billion in programs that support education, promote safe driving, enrich community life and encourage employee volunteering. For more information, visit www.fordfund.org or join us at @FordFund on Facebook and Twitter.

About Men of Courage

Ford Motor Company’s Men of Courage (MOC) initiative launched in 2015 as a grassroots program designed to build communities by advancing the narrative of black men through storytelling, intergenerational forums, and community programs. Since its inception, MOC has hosted forums in the five cities and reported more than 2,000 toolkit downloads across 34 cities throughout the US.

About Washington State History Museum

The Washington State Historical Society partners with communities to explore how history connects us all. The Society’s most visible activity, the Washington State History Museum is located in Tacoma’s downtown core along Pacific Avenue among a thriving cultural scene. The museum features interactive permanent exhibitions about Washington’s past, unique rotating exhibitions highlighting the Society’s collections and dynamic traveling exhibitions.

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.