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Ethnic Fest has been celebrating culture & community for Over 30 years!

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Metro Parks. Wright Park Ethnic Fest 2018 Photos by Russ Carmack.

July 27-28, 2019
Noon – 7 pm

Wright Park
501 South I St., Tacoma, WA

Ethnic Fest has been celebrating culture & community for Over 30 years! Enjoy two full days of music, dance, art, and foods from around the world.

Since 1986 Ethnic Fest has grown to become the largest celebration of culture and community in Tacoma. Voted the best festival of the South Sound; this year Ethnic Fest takes place Saturday, July 27 – Sunday, July 28 from Noon to 7 pm at historic Wright Park in Tacoma, WA.

This family-friendly, free festival has grown in size and hosts Kid’s Zones, hands-on cultural activities and experiences, performer stage, as well as numerous specialty arts and crafts, food, and information vendor booths. This year’s festival will also include a 3 on 3 basketball tournament, for Youth (15U) and Adaptive Recreation divisions.

Vendors and performers

Basketball Tournament

 

3 on 3 Basketball Tournament-Hoop It Up @ Ethnic Fest July 26-28

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Learn More About:

  • 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament-Hoop It Up @ Ethnic Fest July 26-28Date: July 26-28

Price:$85-$95

Register Your Team Today! Deadline July 19

Teams will be sorted by grade level.

3rd-8th Grade​ Registration

sign up online-button​

 

9th-12th and Family Divisions Registration

sign up online-button

 

 

 

Already Participating?

Metro Parks Tacoma Youth Sports provides recreational league play in five different sports during the year for boys and girls ages 5-12.

Coaches:
All teams are coached by volunteers who are background checked at national and state levels. MPT Youth Sports staff also provides guidance for any individuals willing to coach, including potential full team practice plans and coach training. Teams and players are registered as coaches are available. For more information please visit this page.

Sports Instruction:

  • MPT Youth Sports also provides instructional opportunities. Kidz Love Soccer and Skyhawks Sports Academy have contracted instructors that provide sports quality instruction on Metro Parks Tacoma fields and facilities.
  • Kidz Love Soccer provides year-round instruction in multiple-week sessions.
  • Skyhawks offers one-week tennis camps during the summer months at Stadium High School and Point Defiance Park.
  • MPT staff also provide instructional camps during the summer for basketball, soccer, flag football, and others.

Help SHA choose priorities for its 2020 budget

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You can help SHA choose priorities for its 2020 budget by completing this survey by July 15th.

The survey asks questions related to each of Seattle Housing Authority’s three Strategic Directions and its Key Objectives. It also asks for your thoughts on SHA and its properties, how to budget if federal funding is cut, and how to improve the survey and better reach under-represented communities.

Thank you for your participation. Please encourage others to fill out the survey. Your views and priorities matter to us

Take the survey now

Best Starts for Kids: Camps, drop-in programs, and career opportunities for young people all summer long

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With many area schools adjourning for the summer this week, King County is funding youth programs across the region through the Best Starts for Kids initiative.

“Summer should be a time for growth and exploration for children and young people, and Best Starts for Kids is making sure parents have lots of options throughout the region,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “We have camps, art studios, apprenticeship programs, and many more great ways for kids of all ages to make this a summer to remember.”

Best Starts for Kids funds a wide range of programs for kids and families throughout King County. In addition to year-round programming, the initiative provides expanded opportunities for young people to grow and explore during the summer.

“We can’t wait to see our kids play, try something new, and have some fun this summer. From learning through science or art to trying out a career in the trades, there are many amazing opportunities to learn and grow while school is out,” said Sheila Capestany, Strategic Advisor for Children and Youth. “We’re wishing all of our kids, young, people, and families a happy, safe summer from Best Starts for Kids.”

The following Best Starts for Kids-funded programs still have enrollment capacity for summer 2019 programs or are open on a drop-in basis this summer.

Summer Camps and Programs

Geeking Out Kids of Color (GOKiC) empowers kids of color with an education in computer science, programming, and robotics, helping unlock their creativity through technology. Limited spaces are available in the summer program at TAF Bethaday Learning Community Space in White Center. There are separate programs for elementary and middle school youth.

Learn more at https://www.gokic.org/.
For more information about the summer program please contact sam@gokic.org

Bellevue Boys & Girls Clubs provides a variety of specialty summer camps, travelling camps, and day programs that focus on keeping kids engaged and active throughout the summer months.

Visit their website to view programs and register online: http://www.bgcbellevue.org/a/Programs/Summer-Programs
Phone: (425) 454-6162 (Bellevue Boys and Girls Clubs administration line. See website for site phone numbers.)

WAPI Community Services’ Level Up Youth Academy Summer Beat Camp provides music education and career exploration for youth ages 10 to 18.

Learn more about WAPI Community Services at https://wapiseattle.wordpress.com/
Email levelup@wapiseattle.org to learn more about Summer Beat Camp.
Phone: (206) 223-9578; Toll-Free Number:  844-987-WAPI (9274)

Drop-in Programs

Kaleidoscope Play & Learn groups are weekly play groups for young children and their caregivers. Led by a trained facilitator, children enjoy culturally and developmentally appropriate play activities. Through facilitator guidance and modeling, conversation, peer learning, and hands-on experience, parents and caregivers learn what they can do at home to support children’s learning and healthy development. These free, drop in play groups take place all around King County in a variety of settings.

Click here to find a Play & Learn group close to you.

Visit https://childcare.org/family-services/find-care-ffn.aspx to learn more
Phone: (206) 329-1011 or Toll Free: 1-877-543-0059

SnoValley Power of Produce (PoP) Club is a summer program that engages children in educational food activities, conversations with local farmers, farm visits, and exposure to new kinds of fruits and vegetables at the Carnation Farmers Market. The Carnation Farmers Market is open every Tuesday from 3-7pm through August.

Visit https://carnationfarmersmarket.org/pop-club/ to learn more about PoP club.

Seattle Children’s PlayGarden Open Play is an opportunity to drop by and play in a beautiful, inclusive park. During Open Play, PlayGarden staff greet your family, answer your questions, help facilitate inclusive play between kids, help you visit with the animals and can work on a construction, art or garden project with your kids. This open play time is provided free of charge. No prior registration is needed.

Open Play Hours (6/25-8/31)
Tuesday 2 – 6 p.m.
Wednesday 2-6 p.m.
Friday 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Saturday 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Note: the PlayGarden is also open to the public the entire first week of July.

Visit https://www.childrensplaygarden.org/openplay to learn more.
Phone: (206) 325-5576
Email: info@childrensplaygarden.org
Address: 1745 24th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144

Gage Arts’ Teen Art Studios is a free, year-round, evening drop-in studio art program for young artists ages 13 to 18 that delivers quality art training to teens from all backgrounds, provides exhibition and portfolio building opportunities and encourages positive social engagement. Each month a different professional working artist teaches a specific art form, engaging teens in learning new skills, making art and developing new friendships in a supportive, safe environment.

Free Fridays are held at the South Park Community Center, Gage Capitol Hill, and Bellevue Arts Museum.
Visit https://www.gageacademy.org/teenartstudios/ to learn more.
Phone: (206) 323-4243
Email: info@gageacademy.org

The Trail Youth Coffee Home in North Bend provides young people with a safe, welcoming space to connect after school and during summer months. Young people can stop by for a free cup of coffee, connect with a volunteer mentor, learn how to be a barista, participate in free music lessons, and organize events that give back to the North Bend community.

Visit https://www.trailyouth.com/ to learn more
Email: Holly@thetrailyouth.com
Phone: (425) 273-4431
Address: 226 E North Bend Way, North Bend, WA 98045

Communities of Opportunity partners are sponsoring activities to engage youth and expand positive experiences for the entire community. For example, June 29 marks the summer opening of the 2019 Rainier Beach Farm Stand. Led by youth, the farm stand offers activities for youth and families while promoting access to healthy food. Young people can visit the farm stand to learn more and get involved.

Farm stand hours: 10 am to 2 pm
Address: Ethiopian Community in Seattle, 8323 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, Washington 98118
For more information on the farm stand contact: Claire West, claire@rbactioncoalition.org

Career Development Opportunities

ReConnect to Opportunity

Reconnect to Opportunity supports young people ages 16 to 24, who have not finished high school, and those who finished, but are unsure about the next steps. ReOpp can connect youth with education, employment, and post-secondary training opportunities.

Visit https://reopp.org/ to learn more and connect to resources.
Phone: (206) 263-8244
Address: 645 Andover Park West Tukwila, Washington 98188

Pre-apprenticeship training programs

Direct Access to Laborers Education & Careers (DALEC) is a four-week training program for young people ages 18-24. The program begins on July 8. Trainings are held at Laborers Union Local 242 in Des Moines. Space is still available to enroll.

To learn more or enroll contact Dale Bright, dalerbright@gmail.com
Phone: (206) 751-3311

ANEW Trades Rotation Program and Pre-Apprenticeship and Construction Education (PACE) are high-quality pre-apprenticeship programs that support young people ages 18-24 to gain the knowledge, physical, and technical trades skills needed to successfully apply and be accepted into an apprenticeship. The 10-week Trades Rotation Program begins July 15 at ANEW’s training facility in Kent. The 11-week PACE program begins August 28 at the PACE training facility in North Seattle.

To learn more or enroll contact Michelle Miller, michelle@anewaop.org
Visit https://anewaop.org/ to learn more about Trades Rotation Program and PACE

 

YMCA Expands Foster Care Work with Free Memberships for Kids

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The YMCA of Greater Seattle, a licensed foster care agency, expands its offerings with free memberships for kids in foster care.

“No child chooses to go into foster care,” said Loria Yeadon, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Seattle. “But we can make foster care a better experience for our children who need us most.”

The Y is expanding its foster care services by offering King County kids in foster care free memberships at any of their locations. The Y has 13 branches throughout King County, with a new location opening in Kent this fall.

This announcement builds upon the Y’s long history of licensing and supporting foster care families. For over 30 years the Y has offered foster parent training, behavioral health counseling, cultural competency training, and 24-hour crisis consultations. The Y also combats homelessness, a problem that affects one in three young adults exiting foster care, by offering free case management and housing resources.

Parents who choose to foster through the Y receive free memberships, child care during workouts, access to Parents Night Out program, weight loss and disease prevention programs and so much more. The Y offers income based pricing so that no family is ever turned away.

“Two years ago we celebrated 30 years as a licensed child placing agency. We’ve learned a lot about the best ways to build our foster care community and provide support for foster families. Offering free memberships ensures all kids and families have the resources and opportunities for healthy, thriving lives,” explained Yeadon. “Further we are always looking for partners who can help us do even more.”

Learn how you can support the Y’s foster care program and details about a foster care membership online.

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About the YMCA of Greater Seattle

The YMCA of Greater Seattle is the Northwest’s leading nonprofit organization strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Founded in 1876, the Y reaches more than 253,000 people of all backgrounds, abilities and financial circumstances annually through 13 branches, two overnight camps and more than 200 program sites throughout King and south Snohomish counties. It nurtures more than 142,000 kids and teens to develop their gifts and give back to our community and engages thousands of volunteers who contribute hundreds of thousands of service hours each year. Visit seattleymca.org.

About the Y’s Foster Care Program

The YMCA of Greater Seattle has been a licensed child placing agency for over 30 years, providing holistic support to youth in foster care and their foster families. The Y also provides services for youth aging out of foster care, helping them with the transition into adulthood through case management support to find housing, graduate from school, and secure employment. In 2018, 504 youth and young adults were served through the Y’s foster care program.

City of Seattle Joins Over 12 Other Regional Agencies to Recognize Smoke Ready Communities Day

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Mayor Durkan and the City of Seattle joined with organizations from across the Puget Sound to host a resource fair at the Rainier Beach Community Center to help residents learn how to protect their health during wildfire smoke season.

Wildfire smoke has become increasingly normal in the Seattle area during summertime. Last year, wildfire smoke led to 24 days of poor air quality. This year, the air could get even worse.

In response, Smoke Ready Communities Day was created to ensure that our diverse communities will have the resources they need to stay healthy and safe when our air quality is poor. Smoke Ready Communities Day comes as a joint effort between Pierce, King, Kitsap, and Snohomish counties, Mayors of cities in all four counties, including Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett, Emergency Management departments across the counties, the Washington Department of Health, the Washington Department of Natural Resources, and Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.

As an outdoors-loving city and region, we must ensure that while we do enjoy nature and the outdoors, we stay safe and inside during heavily smoky times. Stay safe this season!

Seattle Youth Commission now accepting applications

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2018-2019 Seattle Youth Commissioners

The City of Seattle is now accepting applications for the Seattle Youth Commission (SYC), a 15-member commission of ages 13-19 that addresses issues of importance to youth. Appointed by the Mayor and Seattle City Council, youth serving on this commission work with elected officials, City staff, community leaders, and young people citywide to make positive changes through policy, organizing, and events. The deadline to apply is Monday, June 17 at 5:00 p.m.

Commissioners serve a two-year term beginning in September 2019 and ending June 2021.  The commissioners meet biweekly on Wednesdays at Seattle City Hall from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. and will have additional committee commitments. In addition, the commissioners are required to attend a half-day retreat on Saturday, September 21.

Apply Now

To apply, complete and submit this online application by June 17 at 5 p.m. Interviews for applicants will be held on July 9 and 11 from 4 – 6 p.m.

People’s Academy for Community Engagement is poppin’

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Our People’s Academy for Community Engagement (PACE) has been “popping up” in unexpected places lately! Through the new PACE Pop-Up model, a condensed version of the program’s civics training is being made available throughout the city. PACE Pop-Ups were developed to expand access by creating a portable and free version of the training that could be brought directly to communities. It has proven to be an ideal option for residents from under-represented communities that might encounter barriers to attending the full PACE program.

The pop-ups typically happen in collaboration with other community organizations or neighborhoods. They have been hosted at neighborhood events in Little Brook and Delridge, as well as in partnership with Capitol Hill Housing, Seattle Teen Summit, Redmond Middle School, and the Seattle Youth Commission.

The most recent collaboration was with the Seattle Public Library (SPL). SPL’s Adult Basic Education Program Manager Meira Jough had heard about PACE and thought it would be a great fit for the Library’s English Learning classes. She reached out to PACE Coordinator Hilary Nichols who began building a curriculum catered to English learners and new residents. In May, PACE Pop-Ups took place in three of SPL’s English Language classes at the Central, Beacon Hill, and Northgate Libraries. The classes proved to be an excellent venue for civic education as many of the students were new to America or Seattle and came from communities traditionally under-represented in the civic process.

We recently dropped in on the PACE Pop-Up in the Beginner English Class at the Central Branch Library and met an incredibly diverse and inter-generational group of residents. In two hours, they were introduced to the basic vocabulary of civic engagement, the structure of city government, and the role that government plays in their lives. They also participated in activities that allowed them to practice using their voice to engage with local government.

Get funds to support your Night Out event

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2017 Night Out Event at Capitol Hill Tool Library

If your neighborhood plans to participate in the Annual Night Out on August 6, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods has a fund to support your event.

The Small Sparks Fund provides matching dollars for neighborhood-initiated projects that promote community engagement. Community groups can request up to $5,000 to help fund Night Out planning efforts and activities such as outreach materials, educational fairs, and kids’ activities, to name a few.

For information on the application process, visit our website or call 206-733-9916. The deadline for applications for Night Out is Tuesday, June 25 at 5:00 p.m.

Night Out is a national crime prevention event designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, increase neighborhood support in anti-crime efforts, and unite communities. To learn more about Night Out, visit seattle.gov/police/community-policing/night-out.

Vera Njuguna joins Community Liaisons team

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Vera Njuguna joined our Community Liaisons program team in April.

She serves as a project manager focused on coordinating community outreach and engagement opportunities between Community Liaisons and various city department projects.

Get to know a little bit more about Vera below:

Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Kenya and moved to Washington State in early 2000.

What neighborhood do you call home?
Belltown

What makes your neighborhood special?
Belltown has a vibrant art community, an eclectic mix of live shows and small businesses that add to the culture of the neighborhood. These qualities are especially critical to preserve at a time when residents are facing increasing displacement.

What did you do prior to joining the Department of Neighborhoods? What excited you about the work?
I administered contracts for K-12 and post-secondary investments at the Department of Education and Early Learning. I was excited to be part of a team that was working to move the needle in providing equitable educational opportunities and also work with community partners who were passionate and committed to the work!

What made you want to work at the Department of Neighborhoods?
In a growing city where the needs of the historically underserved communities continue to be a challenge, I value the Department of Neighborhoods’ approach to ensuring equitable access to government and opportunities to build community.

What’s your favorite place in Seattle and why?
Olympic Sculpture Park. I love walking the trail towards Magnolia.

What are you passionate about?
Building relationships that foster change, outdoor activities, and a good movie.