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

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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.

Expedia and Treehouse Team Up on Back-to-School Drive Supporting students in foster care is easy with digital drive kits

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Expedia is partnering with Treehouse on one of many back-to-school drives throughout Washington to give hundreds of kids and teens in foster care a fresh start to the upcoming school year.

“Everybody deserves to get school supplies just like we did. It’s really important for youth in foster care,” said Quenita Dich, Salesforce Systems Administrator and Volunteers Committee Lead at Expedia. “We all want to fit in on that first day.”

Expedia’s Volunteers Committee is particularly passionate about education, and the resources and tools Treehouse provides make it easy for them to set up donation drive drop-off bins and information on every floor of the company.

“Whether you’re 8 years old or 80, anyone can host a back-to-school drive,” said Erika Lanier, Community Engagement Officer at Treehouse, a nonprofit dramatically improving outcomes for youth in foster care. “Our drive kits make collecting new clothes, backpacks and financial contributions simple. It is a low effort and high impact way to get involved.”

Classrooms, offices and places of worship are all invited to rally their communities and make a lasting impact in a young person’s life.

No different than any other child or teen, youth in foster care are looking to start the school year with a quality backpack and the latest trends in clothing and shoes. Monetary donations will go to fund a variety of extracurricular activities giving young people opportunities to explore interests and discover lifelong passions.

Any group or individual interested in hosting a back-to-school donation drive can visit the “Host a Drive or Event” pageat www.treehouseforkids.org to sign up. Contact Treehouse at 206.267.5109 or drives@treehouseforkids.org with any questions.

About Treehouse
Founded in 1988 by social workers, Treehouse is Washington’s leading nonprofit organization addressing the academic and other essential support needs of more than 7,000 youth in foster care. We’re committed to youth in care statewide achieving a degree or other career credential, living wage job and stable housing at the same rate as their peers. With fierce optimism, we fight the structural inequities that impact all of us. Learn more at www.treehouseforkids.org.

LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS ANNOUNCED AT CHILDREN’S ALLIANCE The work to improve the lives of Washington’s children continues

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The Children’s Alliance, a Washington state-based advocacy organization dedicated to improving the well-being of children by effecting positive changes in public policies, priorities, and programs, yesterday announced two upcoming leadership transitions.

Deputy director Jon Gould will leave his position at the end of September. Gould has served Children’s Alliance for 22 years. Paola Maranan, executive director since 2004, will leave her position at the end of May 2020. Maranan has served Children’s Alliance for 26 years.

The Children’s Alliance board of directors will lead the process to recruit and hire the next executive director. 

“Children’s Alliance has been fortunate to have the strong, long-term leadership of Paola and Jon,” said Gabriela Quintana, chair of the board of directors.

“The board joins with the staff and community to thank them for their years of service and wish them well for the future,” she continued. “We also know that leadership transitions are inevitable. With a strong staff, board, and network of child advocates, the Children’s Alliance will grow through this opportunity.” 

The two leaders, who comprise two of the three members of the organization’s staff management team, made independent decisions to transition within the same 12-month period. In the course of their long working relationship, they had made a mutual commitment to advise each other early of such a decision. They announced their transitions together in order to maximize the opportunity for strong planning and rehiring through much of 2020.

Children’s Alliance has a rich 36-year history of successful public policy advocacy for kids and families. As these longtime leaders prepare to depart, that work will continue due to the contributions of a strong board and staff.

The board will share information about the executive director search on the Children’s Alliance website: www.childrensalliance.org/transitions.

To read the personal statements of Maranan, Gould and Quintana, please visit www.childrensalliance.org/blog/announcement-childrens-alliance.

 

Annual Othello International Festival Brings the World to Rainier Valley

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Annual Othello International Festival Brings the World to Rainier Valley

Acclaimed as one of the most authentic multicultural festivals in Seattle, the annual Othello International Festival will convene again this year on Sunday, August 11 from noon to 6:00PM.

Known to be one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the nation, the Rainier Valley is home to speakers of over 59 different languages from China to Somalia, from the Philippines to Samoa and across the world. The Othello International Festival brings these communities together to share their music, dance, and artistic traditions under a high canopy of trees in the pastoral setting of Othello Park. Booths feature local businesses, community organizations, and multi-cultural food vendors surrounding the Park’s beautiful meadow where a dance floor invites attendees to join in the fun and learn from one another.

The Park is located just one short block from the Othello light rail station. Besides filling the Park, the festivities will spill across Othello Street onto the Holly Park Community Church grounds where the Seattle Police Department will be holding its annual picnic.

Over recent years, Othello has come to be identified by this unique event with its colorful array of traditional costumes, dance, music, gymnastics, martial arts, giant puppets, petting zoo with camel, big bouncy houses, ethnic food trucks, art creation stations where participants can create their own art works to take home. “Othello without its Othello International Festival would be like Munich without its October Fest,” said Dick Burkhart, a long time Othello neighborhood activist. “There are lots of fun things happening in our Park these days, but this International Festival is an annual signature event that brings the whole community together.”

A visitor from London once said of the Othello International Festival, “I came here, and I saw the world.” Truly this event is a tiny microcosm of what should be happening on the entire planet. It is a coming together of people from many nationalities to be together as one community sharing their art, music, dance, and cultural pride.

Bring The Family for a Weekend of Great Food, Fun and Free Activities at the Bite of Seattle

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Enjoy the summer weather and festival atmosphere with great food, and an assortment of family-friendly activities at the Albert Lee Appliance Bite of Seattle® from Friday through Sunday, July 19th-21st, 2019, at Seattle Center, in Seattle Washington.

Along with hosting over 200 food and specialty vendors, 70 live acts on 3 stages, FREE Movie Night, The Alley Six Course ‘Multi-Bite’ Experience, the NEW Gladiator of the Grill BBQ Competition -a qualifier for the World Championships- MUNCHIES @ The Mural, and more, the Bite offers family fun activities, and several featured sponsor activities, for everyone to enjoy!

The Family FunZone: Presented by 106.1 KISS FM, this area is located inside the Bite of Seattle®, surrounding the Artists at Play playground structure near the MoPOP, which features an imaginative outdoor play area with a huge climbing structure, musical instruments & a roundabout merry-go-round. Family-friendly vendors include face-painting, bubble wands, plus enjoy fun food ranging from cookie dough and cupcakes to tacos and mini donuts, and so much more.

NEW to the Family FunZone for 2019, come join the fun at the Nintendo Switch Road Trip. Bring your family and experience a colorful and highly interactive space featuring playable demos of some of the hottest Nintendo Switch games, fun photo opportunities, Nintendo-themed challenges and more!

The Nintendo Switch Road Trip is a great place to get hands-on time with the system and some of its games. The space offers many areas themed to different games, like a warp pipe-filled stage to play the Super Mario Maker 2 game, a neon-colored paradise for the Splatoon 2 game and a large-screen TV and bucket race car seats for the high-octane Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game.

Take home a special Target discount coupon (while supplies last) and receive a free gift (while supplies last) by completing an event passport and checking in with your My Nintendo QR code pattern. For more details, please visit https://events.nintendo.com/roadtrip/

The Bite Cooks! This live cooking stage attraction features Seattle-area chefs showcasing their culinary expertise, and in 2019, is making history as 9-year old Hana Kumar from Junior Sous in Seattle, will be the first junior chef ever to cook on The Bite Cooks! stage. The Bite Cooks! is located on the Fisher Rooftop, and runs Friday, July 19 – Sunday, July 21. Hana Kumar will be on stage, Sunday, July 21st at 1:00 p.m.

MUNCHIES @ The Mural: This newly created area at the Bite of Seattle® features select specialty food vendors that offer a variety of unique and fun culinary treats. From Dragon’s Breath (Liquid Nitrogen Dessert), to Foot Long French Fries, and Chicken Waffle Cones to Cotton Candy Animals, and so much more, there’s plenty of delicious treats to MUNCH on for kids and adults alike.

FREE Bite Movie Night: Friday, July 19th – 8:30 p.m. Grab a blanket or lawn chair, and something to eat, and enjoy the featured movie ‘Wayne’s World’ in the Mural area, under the stars. Plus, look for Wayne and Garth characters with giveaways, and a ‘party on’ photo op. Wayne’s World is rated PG-13. Sponsored by 106.1 KISS FM,

Featured Sponsor Activities: In addition to the Family FunZone and activities, guests of all ages can learn more about their favorite brands or find new ones to love at our “Featured Sponsor Activities” at The Bite.

Stop by the Go RVing AWAY experience to take a tour of some of the newest RV units on the market and discover the one that’s right for you. Kick back and relax from the heat inside the RV, play a game of corn hole, and don’t forget to enter to win a brand new cooler for your next trip away.

Check out the AARP Block Party, and try your hand at the touch screen match game, take a turn on the prize wheel or smile for the camera at the photo booth. on’t miss out on all the fun at the AARP Block Party!

Stop by the PepsiCo Recycling Roadster, a hybrid vehicle equipped with solar panels that’s rolling into communities across the U.S., to learn about recycling and play fun games for the chance to win sustainable swag.

Be sure to check out Western Washington Toyota Dealers, and the sporty and aggressive new Toyota Camry—America’s bestselling car! And the adventurous new Toyota RAV4 is ready for anything anytime!

Visit the Full Circle booth to learn about eating locally grown produce, and how Full Circle can conveniently add fresh fruits and vegetables to your family’s meals, plus, stop by the Hello Fresh booth to learn how to enjoy wholesome home-cooked meals with no planning, no shopping and no hassle, and pick up a special discount code for your first two boxes of HelloFresh!

Come visit the Gecko at the GEICO Booth! GEICO. Everyone is a winner with GEICO, so come and play a game and visit with the Gecko.

Plus, bite into delicious samples from Tate’s Bake Shop, Quorn, Red Rock Deli, KIND, Jarritos, more.

The Bite of Seattle® is a free-to-attend community festival, and in an effort for guests to experience the best of the Bite of Seattle®, we are excited to also offer discounted food and drink packages including the Experience Bite Package which includes Craft Beer & Cider Tasting + The Alley, plus The Alley stand-alone ticket, and, the Craft Beer & Cider Tasting Only Package. Discounted packages are on sale now online.

 

Inquest ordered into fatal shooting of Charleena Lyles by Seattle police.

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Executive Dow Constantine today ordered an inquest into the fatal shooting of Charleena Lyles, 30, by Seattle police officers on
June 18, 2017.

The purpose of inquests is to determine the causes and circumstances of any death involving a member of law enforcement within King County while performing his or her duty.

A pool of retired judges serves as pro tem Inquest Administrators to oversee the process. King County Superior Court provides a courtroom as required by state law. A Staff Attorney hired on a pro tem basis assists the Administrators and will run the proceedings. The chief law enforcement officer of the involved agency will testify about the department’s use of force policy and training.

A jury of no more than six will be asked to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the death. Instead of being asked whether the officer had reason to fear for their life, jurors will now be asked to determine whether the officer’s actions complied with department training and policy.

Trees for Neighborhoods

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Since 2009, Trees for Neighborhoods has helped Seattle residents plant over 9,300 trees in their yards and along the street. That’s 9,300 more trees working to clean our air and water, make our streets more walkable, and our neighborhoods healthier! See where the trees are planted.

When you participate in Trees for Neighborhoods, you receive:

  • Help selecting the right tree and planting location
  • Free trees (up to 4 per household, lifetime max of 6)
  • A watering bag & mulch for each tree
  • Training on proper planting and care
  • Assistance applying for street tree planting permits
  • Ongoing care reminders and future pruning workshop opportunities
  • Tree delivery & planting assistance if you need physical help or lack access to a vehicle
  • Street tree evaluations for the first couple of years to let you know how your trees are doing

Plant a Tree in 2019!

The application will open on July 15 and close on August 12. To make sure you don’t miss the application window, sign up here for the 2019 email list to find out what tree species we will have and application information when we have that information available.

How to Apply?

  1. Evaluate your planting site and tree options. Read the planting considerations page.
    Select the tree best suited for the space.

    • Under power lines? Select one of the power line approved trees.
    • Planting along the street? Review the minimum planting strip width requirements before selecting your tree.
    • Backyard space? Choose the largest tree appropriate for your site.

Want help deciding on the right tree for your space? Come to one of our free Right Tree, Right Place workshops. While these classes are optional, we highly recommend taking one as they will help you make the best decision about where to plant your tree.

July 20: Right Tree, Right Place workshop Rainier Beach Public Library Branch, 11:00 AM – Noon

August 3: Right Tree, Right Place workshop Lake City Public Library Branch, 11:00 AM – Noon

  1. Review the 2019 tree list. Pay attention to the mature size of the trees and their needs for sun. Select trees that will have room to grow to maturity. If you have the space, please consider planting a larger tree to bring greater benefits to your neighborhood.
  2. Apply Online. Applications will be accepted from July 15 through August 12. As long as you apply within this time frame, there is no benefit to submitting your application early. All applications will be processed and applicants notified of their status after the application closes August 12. If there are more requests for a given species than we have trees available, recipients will be random selected. If trees are still available following the first application period, a second application period may be added in mid-August. Learn more about the application process here.
  3. When you apply, you will chose a planting and care workshop next fall to pick-up your trees. Add this date to your calendar. If your application is approved, you will need to attend this workshop to pick up your tree. Fall is the best time to plant a tree in Seattle because your new tree will benefit from our fall and winter rains.
  4. Need assistance planting your new tree? We offer delivery and planting help to participants who need physical assistance or lack access to a vehicle. To inquire about this service, please call 206-684-3979 or email TreesforNeighborhoods@seattle.gov.

Important 2019 Dates

  • July 15: Application opens
  • July 20: Right Tree, Right Place workshop (optional). Rainier Beach Public Library Branch, 11:00 AM – Noon
  • August 3: Right Tree, Right Place workshop (optional). Lake City Public Library Branch, 11:00 AM – Noon
  • August 12: Application closes
  • October 5: Tree pick up workshop. Center for Urban Horticulture (Montlake neighborhood)
  • October 12: Tree pick up workshop. Georgetown Campus South Seattle College (limited availability)
  • October 27: Tree pick up workshop. Center for Urban Horticulture (Montlake neighborhood)

Your Responsibilities

  • Choose trees appropriate for the space (Read the Planting Considerationspage for more information)
  • On your application, indicate if the tree will be planted on the street
  • Pickup your trees and attend an onsite planting & care workshop
  • Only plant trees in approved locations- trees must be planted at the address on the application. Street trees must be planted in approved and marked locations.
  • Properly plant trees in the ground (no pots!)
  • Assume all future maintenance & responsibility (summer watering, raking, pruning, mulching, etc.)

 

Planting Street Trees

What is a street tree? In Seattle, street trees are regulated by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT). A street tree is planted in the public right-of-way, usually in the planting strip (space between sidewalk and road) or in the absence of sidewalks, in the space approximately 10 feet from the curb or roadside. If the greenspace adjacent to your property is an unimproved right of way (an area originally set aside for alleys, streets, or paths that has not been developed), then a tree planted there would be considered a street tree. Trees in greenspaces owned by Seattle Parks and Recreation are not considered street trees.

To make sure street trees are planted in locations where they will not interfere with underground sewer, water, and gas lines or overhead power lines, residents must get a free permit from the Seattle Department of Transportation. When you participate in Trees for Neighborhoods, we will submit a planting permit application on your behalf. Yard trees do not require a planting permit.

What Past Participants Say about Trees for Neighborhoods

Nearly 100% of Trees for Neighborhoods participants tell us that they would recommend the program to a friend or neighbor. Around 85% of participants tell us they learned something new about tree planting or care.

“This was the first time we planted a tree, and the first time we’ve had a yard in which to plant anything, so everything was new, helpful information for us.”

“Everything was very organized and every person was very helpful. I enjoyed the whole process and love seeing the tree planted in my yard!”

“This was the first time we participated and absolutely loved the experience. Our tree is doing great!”

“I didn’t realize how much the trees I plant on my own property could benefit the city/environment. I also had NO idea how to plant one properly.”

Contact Us

Email: TreesForNeighborhoods@Seattle.gov
Call: 206-684-3979

Check out the most Frequently Asked Questions.

Further Information & Links

Tree Planting
Tree Care
Street Tree Planting
SDOT’s Approved Street Tree List

Night Out – Heighten crime prevention awareness, increase neighborhood support in anti-crime efforts, and unite our communities.

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Night Out is a national event promoted in Seattle by Seattle Police Department Crime Prevention. It is designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, increase neighborhood support in anti-crime efforts, and unite our communities.

Night Out is August 6, 2019

Get Ready for Night Out!

    1. Register for the event
      To participate in Night Out and to have your street closed for the event, you must officially register your Night Out event with the City of Seattle.

      Registration is open until 5:00PM Sunday August 5, 2019

    2. Put your event on the map
      Using this form will place your event on a citywide map that other people can view to see the Night Out events around town. Adding your event to the map does not mean you are registered. It may take up to 24 hours for your event to appear on the map. Please keep in mind:

      • Information you provide on the map will be public, including your contact information.
      • Adding your event to the map may increase the amount of media coverage and third party representatives of groups, elected officials and organizations visiting your event.

    3. View the map
      Even if you don’t put your own party on the map, you can see where other Night Out parties are going on around town.
    4. Download Materials
      The Night Out website has Invites, Street Closure signs and Night Out logos you can download and use for your event.

Frequently Asked Questions