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Tribute to” Black Wall Street”

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Tacoma Arts Commission  in partnership with Integrity Solutions will host a vibrant entrepreneur project as a Tribute to” Black Wall Street” (the robust Black Business community that was in Tulsa, Oklahoma) Our project will manufacture, distribute and curate African Spa products, Home Decor and Fashion accessories.  Participants will tour a arts heritage Center and take part in a lecture series on indigenous crafting, co-oping and urban possibilities.   We will conclude with a Marketplace and a Virtual Festival.   Our First cohort begins FEB.3, 2021.

Tacoma residents who live within” Tacoma s Equity Index” are invited to participant.   Due to Wa. State Co-vid phase 1 regulations, we will honor the guidelines and create a robust virtual experience as mandatory.

 

Please contact DFatimah  at dfatimah@comcast.net or 425 652-2386 for more information and registration.   Those interested in starting their  own business are encouraged.  There is NO COST to those selected.

This is a Tacoma Arts Commission funded project

 

Washington employers unite for racial equity: New report highlights inequities

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Nearly 60 Washington state employers have joined together to make a commitment to racial equity in conjunction with a new report outlining disparities faced by Black Washingtonians. The report—The Commitment to Progress: An Equitable Future for Washington—examines the experience of Black and white residents in five areas: education, healthcare, criminal justice, personal finance, and the corporate
workplace. Across the board, Black Washingtonians experience inequities that compound over time and cross generations. Action is needed to ensure equity and opportunity for all Washington residents.
The disadvantages start at birth, with higher rates of infant mortality and less access to prenatal care for Black mothers. In school, Black students are taught by less experienced teachers, are suspended twice as often as white peers, and are less frequently recommended for advanced coursework despite having
identical transcripts.
Disparities continue into adulthood and are not explained away by differences in socio-economic status or education. Black households earn $0.74 to every dollar earned by white households and the income gap between Black and white workers holding bachelor’s degree is larger than it is for those with a high school diploma. Further, Black households without a bachelor’s or advanced degree are less likely to own their home than white households without a high school diploma. The report is the result of six months of research, data analysis, and interviews with over 70 community and business leaders, diversity, equity and inclusion specialists, and those with lived experience. “The data and research are clear – Black Washingtonians have not received fair and equitable opportunities for generations,” said Chris Gregoire, CEO of Challenge Seattle and former governor of Washington state. “We have much work to do to support lasting change in both hearts and minds and across systems, structures, and policies.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic is only magnifying these inequities,” said Steve Mullin, president of the Washington Roundtable. “It will take a concerted effort from all of us to actively drive change and build an equitable future for Washington.”
Washington’s CEOs and corporate leaders have stepped forward to create a new coalition committed to action, Washington Employers for Racial Equity. The coalition’s goal is equity and opportunity for all. To begin, it will focus on advancing equity for Black Washingtonians in recognition of the long history of injustice and inequity experienced by this community. To date, nearly 60 employers – including companies large and small, local and global – have signed the coalition’s Commitment to Progress, which sets specific goals for 2030. Goals include fostering an inclusive workplace; achieving equity in hiring, pay, and promotion; increasing internship and learning opportunities for Black students; increasing diversity and racial equity among contractors, vendors, and supplier networks; and increasing support for Black-owned businesses.
Coalition members have set a goal to invest a combined $2 billion over five years to support racial equity through their companies’ internal and external corporate investments, and community and philanthropic efforts. The coalition is will publicly report on its collective progress.

“I am proud to be part of a coalition of employers joining forces to advance racial equity through clear action that will support change,” said Craig Dawson, president and CEO of Retail Lockbox, Inc. “Washington state leaders across industries – including financial services, healthcare, retail, construction, technology, and more – will work toward shared goals for a better, more equitable future.”
“This work cannot wait. We must strengthen our current efforts by listening, learning, and taking action to eliminate injustice and support racial equity,” said Susan Mullaney, president of Kaiser Permanente Health Plan of Washington.
The coalition was founded by Challenge Seattle and Washington Roundtable – two business associations whose members companies represent 300,000+ employees in Washington state. Additional sponsors include Bellevue Chamber, Economic Alliance Snohomish County, Greater Seattle Partners, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, and Washington Hospitality Association.
Washington Employers for Racial Equity.  Learn more at www.employers4equity.org.

For I Shall Not Pass This Way Again : Remembering Fitzgerald Beaver

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Fitzgerald Beaver – Founder The Pacific Northwest Facts Newspaper was honored by Graffiti and Community Mural Artist Desmond Hansen. ( 2765 E. Cherry Seattle WA )
I shall not pass this way but once, there for any good that I can do or any kindness that I can show let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again.
I’m extremely proud of my community for looking back and honoring those who STOOD UP for  the community until they had No Legs To Even Stand On… AND Yet There Still Standing .
I’m proud of The Facts Newspaper and the ability to remain a vehicle to inform, educate and advocate as a voice for the African American Community.
I’m so proud of Elizabeth Beaver (my mother) who works everyday , open to close , you can’t find anyone more Dedicated to the Dream and Legacy of Fitzgerald Beaver .
Im proud of Marla Beaver publisher of The Facts Newspaper , for her drive and tenacity . Fitzgerald would be proud of you for who you are in business and even more the individual you are as his daughter.
Marla what an amazing job having this Central District Community Landmarked remembered by mural and honoring our Father and Community Icon .
I Shall Pass This Way But Once, was a life mission statement of  Fitzgerald Redd Beaver and yet his spirit continues to past this way still today even more  …
The good and kindness that you showed for the Seattle Central District Community and the people in it , continues to live , love and grows … and that’s just THE FACTS .
As for me, I have a crown above my head that I’ve yet to grow into, footprints yet to fill, journeys and destinations yet to reach, victories and failures to experience and endure . More kindness to show .
Thank you for setting a path that has made my travels comfortable, even during uncomfortable terrain.
Congratulations Dad, you have past this way more then once …
The Community Still Honors, Loves and Respects, Fitzgerald Beaver .
The Journey –

KCLS expands K-12 student resources with Study Zone Plus Study Zone Plus provides free online access to tutors, homework help and social activities

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The King County Library System (KCLS) has expanded its Study Zone program to help students and parents navigate remote learning environments during the pandemic. The free service is accessible online or by phone, and is open to students in grades K-12, and residents up to age 21 who are studying for their GED. Learn more about Study Zone Plus at kcls.org/studyzone. Residents may contact Ask KCLS or call 425.462.9600 or 800.462.9600 for assistance.

The expanded Study Zone Plus program allows students to practice their math and reading skills, exercise ESL/ELL conversation skills, study with peers in a relaxed virtual space, and boost energy and lower stress with fun social activities. Tech tutors are available to help students understand how to use remote learning software, and KCLS librarians can help students make the most of KCLS’ digital resources and databases. Tutors work with one to three students in a group setting, and students can select tutors by language skills or specialty.

“We know families are facing extra pressure with remote learning right now, and parents and students need as much support as possible,” stated KCLS Executive Director Lisa Rosenblum. “Study Zone Plus helps fill learning gaps, and keeps students active and engaged in core math and reading subjects during this time.”

“KCLS has offered the Study Zone program for 20 years,” added KCLS Public Services Specialist Annie Holloman-Poyner. “We have expanded upon this popular service to create a safe and positive online format that will feel familiar to students who have used Study Zone in the past, and is easy to use for newcomers.”

Study Zone Plus sessions are separated by grades K-5 and 6-12. Students can drop in any time during the following Study Zone Plus hours; no registration is required.

Grades K-5

  • Tuesday and Wednesday, 3:00-5:00pm
  • Thursday and Friday, 10:00am-12:00pm and 3:00-5:00pm

Grades 6-12

  • Tuesday and Wednesday, 5:30-7:30pm
  • Thursday and Friday, 12:30-2:30pm

About King County Library System:

Founded in 1942, the King County Library System (KCLS) is one of the busiest public library systems in the country. Serving the communities of King County (outside the City of Seattle), KCLS currently has 50 libraries and more than 700,000 cardholders. In 2019, residents checked out more than 5.6 million digital eBooks and audiobooks through Rakuten OverDrive, making KCLS the No. 3 digital circulating library in the world. In 2011, KCLS was named Library of the Year by Gale/Library Journal.

Content to Navigate School During the Pandemic – Make Virtual Learning Fun and Easier

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Learning remotely from home is now the norm for many families across the country. Kids and caregivers alike have settled into a routine, though keeping children engaged can still be challenging. These ideas can help infuse more fun and moments of inspiration into school days to keep kids engaged and excited about learning.

Content to Navigate School During the Pandemic – Building Children’s Emotional Resilience Amid Uncertainty

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For parents facing uncertain school schedules, new ways of working and concerns about the health and safety of their families, life in a pandemic is stressful enough. Add in the potential for children to feel overwhelmed or unable to cope with the unfamiliar and many families feel they are in no-win situations. When it comes to selecting the best option for your family, keep these considerations in mind.

Clean Energy Employed 85,000 in WA Pre-COVID, More Than Software Developers and Engineers

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  • 55% of energy sector jobs are in clean energy; 1 in 4 construction jobs
  • 17,000 jobs lost since COVID-19, wiping out over 19% of industry’s workforce
  • Clean energy paid a $25.40 median hourly wage in 2019; 11% higher than WA median, 32% higher than U.S. median

Led by strong growth in clean energy storage, clean fuels, and energy efficiency, Washington state’s clean energy economy employed over 85,000 workers for the first time after adding 1,300 jobs in 2019. This continued a years-long trend of steady growth for the state’s clean energy sector employment before the COVID-19 health and economic crises, according to a new report from E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs), CleanTech Alliance, Low Carbon Prosperity Institute, and Renewable Northwest.

 

85,035 Washingtonians worked in energy efficiency, solar, wind, clean energy storage, clean vehicles and other clean energy occupations at the end of 2019, according to the new report Clean Jobs Washington 2020. In 2019, Washington’s clean energy industries provided over 11 times more jobs than the fossil fuel industry and over 55% of employment across the energy sector. Nationwide, Washington state had the 13th most clean energy jobs in 2019, accounting for nearly five out of every 200 jobs in Washington and employing more Washingtonians than worked as software developers or architects and engineers.

 

Washington state’s clean energy economy also provides high-quality jobs, according to a separate recent report from E2, the American Council on Renewable Energy, and the Clean Energy Leadership Institute. The sector’s median wage in 2019 ($25.40) was nearly 11% higher than the statewide median wage and more than 32% higher than the nationwide median. Jobs in clean energy were also found to be more likely to include health care and retirement benefits. The sector’s 10.5% unionization rate was second only to New York state for clean energy workers, and well above the nation’s economywide average.

 

But this increasingly central pillar of Washington state’s economy has been temporarily upended due to the COVID-19-driven economic downturn. While some jobs have been recovered since May, Washington state’s clean energy industries remain down some 17,100 jobs since the pandemic began in March—more than five times the entire sector’s job growth since 2017. The losses represent over 19% of the sector’s total workforce.

 

Clean Jobs Washington 2020 comes at a critical juncture in the State’s efforts to recover from the COVID-19 health and economic crises. With the Washington State Legislature set to reconvene in January, policymakers will have the opportunity to leverage clean energy as an engine for broader economy recovery by enacting policies to get clean energy back on its growth trajectory. Policies such as a clean fuels program, clean truck standards, a state-wide limit on carbon pollution, and carbon pricing can drive investments in climate solutions and bring robust economic growth across the state.

 

Zach Amittay, Washington Advocate of E2, said:

“With the economic impacts from COVID-19 driving significant unemployment across Washington state, investments in the clean energy sector have proven potential to stimulate a recovery. With a focus on smart clean energy policy, lawmakers have the opportunity to generate thousands of new clean energy jobs and millions of dollars in investment to rebuild and strengthen our economy for the long haul.”

 

Mark Liffman, Founder & CEO of Seattle-based Omnidian Inc. and E2 Member, said:

“Omnidian is proud to be part of Washington’s growing clean energy economy. While these are challenging times for many in the sector, this report’s findings are still clear: our state’s present and future is increasingly being powered by clean energy, and that’s good news for our environment, our economy, and our workforce.”

 

David Giuliani, Founder & Chief Engineer of Low Carbon Prosperity Institute, said:

“Clean energy will power Washington state past this pandemic caused pause. Replacing fossil fuel combustion with clean alternatives, notably electrification, will also reduce waste and save wasted money going up in tailpipe emissions. The money we then spend will primarily be in our home state, amplifying prosperity by the velocity of money.  New industries and businesses will continue to burst forth as our storied northwest entrepreneurialism takes on these fascinating challenges.  We can have both a clean and highly prosperous fairly-shared economy, and put an end to the false question – what are you for, a clean economy or a prosperous economy?”

 

Mel Clark, President & CEO of CleanTech Alliance, said:

“The CleanTech Alliance is a strong proponent of the great work E2 does, including compiling this report.   The CleanTech industry has faced tremendous setbacks in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  This snapshot of jobs in the sector will be an important planning tool for the year ahead.  We now have the opportunity to prioritize a green economic recovery that will lead to a more diverse and equitable clean technology ecosystem, and I look forward to E2’s efforts to continue to inform that recovery.”

 

In addition to detailing sector-by-sector employment, Clean Jobs Washington 2020 also breaks down jobs at the city, county, legislative and congressional district levels. See more details here.

 

More details by sector:

  • Energy efficiency is the biggest sector of the state’s clean energy economy, employing 64,900 workers at year-end 2019;
  • Renewable energy employed nearly 11,200 workers, including more than 5,000 in solar energy;
  • Jobs related to clean vehicles, including hybrid-electric and electric vehicles, employed over 3,300;
  • Clean fuels companies employed over 1,900 and had the fastest growth rate of any clean energy occupation, growing 6.8% in 2019.

 

Other key findings:

  • Small businesses are the backbone of Washington’s clean energy economy. More than two out of every three (69%) clean energy workers were employed at companies with fewer than 20 workers;
  • 1 in 4 construction jobs in Washington are in clean energy occupations, from solar installers and site workers to electricians, HVAC technicians, lighting technicians, carpenters and others who work in energy efficiency;
  • Washington ranked in the top 15 for jobs in 12 sectors and subsectors in 2019 – helping the state diversify jobs growth across the clean energy economy;
  • Clean energy accounts for 55% of all energy sector jobs in Washington and made up 74% of the sector’s total job growth in 2019;

 

Background:

Clean Jobs Washington 2020 is the third iteration of the annual employment analysis. The report expands on data from the 2020 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) produced by the Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) in partnership with the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), using data collected and analyzed by the BW Research Partnership. The report was released in March 2020 and is available at www.usenergyjobs.org. E2 and Clean Energy Trust are partners on the USEER, the fifth installment of the energy survey first released by the Department of Energy in 2016 and subsequently abandoned under the Trump administration. 

 

Additional Resources:

Previous E2 Clean Jobs Washington Reports:

 

Previous E2 Clean Energy Unemployment Reports

 

King County Elections hearing reports of ballot drop boxes filling up

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Officials with King County Elections said on Saturday that they were hearing of ballot drop boxes filling up from people voting.

The county has assured voters its ballot collection teams are out emptying boxes at least once a day and in busy locations, twice a day.

“Ballard Library, for example, tends to be our busiest box. Others in that top tier include Crossroads in Bellevue, Redmond City Hall, our box at Elections HQ and more.” officials said.

Officials said that the ballot drop box bins hold about 5,000 ballots and could “theoretically hold more.” However, what they see more often “than a truly full box is the ballots stacked up a little funky and that makes it hard to get more in there. But we’re expecting to break records this weekend.”

The pandemic has more places across the nation following Washington’s lead, offering mail-in options.

 

Decriminalize Seattle and King County Equity Now Statement on Introduction of Bill Gutting Efforts to Divest from Policing and Invest in Black Community

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Decriminalize Seattle and King County Equity Now Statement on Introduction of Bill Gutting Efforts to Divest from Policing and Invest in Black Community

Coalitions Urge Council Members to Reject Surrender to Durkan and Defend Black Lives

Seattle City Council President Lorena González will introduce a bill that guts efforts to divest from policing and invest in the Black community. This is unacceptable. This is anti-Black.

The gutted bill follows a pattern of the Executive branch bleeding into the Legislative branch, with Mayor Durkan reshaping legislation that Council has already passed. This new bill represents an utter capitulation to the Mayor, who has shamelessly not moved from her anti-Black, pro-police position. The bill does not get us closer to creating true community safety. We reject this approach and question the motives behind it. We urge Council members to override the Mayor’s veto outright. For the first time in their careers, we urge them to stand on the right side of history, stand for Black lives, and against the Mayor’s anti-Black obstructionism.

This summer’s historic uprising in defense of Black lives—following the police murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Manny Ellis and too many others—inspired millions across the country to demand a rethinking of our reliance on racist policing. These movements compelled our Council members to heed the calls for an end to the era of bloated police budgets and failed models of “public safety,” an era that resulted in the police murders of Charleena Lyles, John T Williams, and many others. Council members voted for the first time to minimally cut a police budget, rather than grow it. They voted for a modest $3 million to fund a Black-community led research process to let those most impacted by policing lead the planning of a new world beyond it. They voted for $14 million to fund community interventions to generate safety that do not rely on policing, including $4 million to urgently address gun violence needs in the Black community.

These bills passed with a veto-proof majority. Mayor Durkan’s August 21st veto was anti-Black. It was offensive to all those who stand with Black lives and against racist policing. But it was not unexpected. In fact, this was her fifth veto of a council bill—more than any of the previous five mayors had during their tenure. Council members knew when they voted that they were signing up for an override vote. Nothing has changed except for the Mayor’s public relations machine going into overdrive to justify a veto of a cut to a tiny fraction of SPD’s overall budget, as well as a veto of an investment that pales next to SPD’s overtime budget. That brings us to this moment, to a so-called compromise that reflects a Mayor who continues to attempt to strong-arm the City Council into doing her will.

We reject the new bill, a bill which reflects the Mayor’s contempt for Black people and nothing more. We reject a bill that does not reduce the size of SPD, that keeps the failed Navigation Team mostly in place, along with budget lines for mounted police, police officers in school, and more. We reject a bill that offers $200,000 in bonuses to cops hired in 2020, even as essential city workers face layoffs. We reject a bill that outright slashes community investments in true public safety to $2.5 million down from $14 million. As these investments are needed to address substantial gun violence happening in the Black community right now, this gutted proposal is straight anti-Black. We reject a bill that locks thousands of Black community members (especially elders, youth, and those without political connections to the Mayor) out of the process of reimagining public safety.

Our council members were elected to serve their constituents. This summer, we saw them begin the process of creating true community safety. We saw them vote for Black lives. We urge them to override the veto and reject surrender to the Mayor’s pro-police agenda. We urge them to stand for Black lives and restore badly-needed balance to the legislative/executive relationship. We ask them not to flip-flop on one of the most important votes of their careers. Nothing has changed—our city is still in urgent need of rethinking our approach to public safety. The material conditions for most Black people haven’t changed. They won’t change without the City Council standing in defense of Black lives and avoiding capitulation to the Mayor’s defense of the status quo. We urge Council members to stay the course, follow through on their public commitments, and vote to override.

The Auburn Area CONNECT Chamber of Commerce will host a second PPE Distribution for Small Businesses

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PPE Distribution for Small Businesses
Monday, August 17th | 11 am – 2 pm
Auburn Area CONNECT Offices
The Auburn Area CONNECT Chamber of Commerce will host a second PPE distribution on August 17th, open to businesses in Auburn, Algona and Pacific. Face masks, hand sanitizer and other items will be available as supplies last.
The pickup location is the Auburn Area CONNECT offices in downtown Auburn. You must provide a business card or business contact information prior to receiving supplies. At this time, only one PPE supply package is available per business. If you received supplies during our July distribution, you will not be eligible to receive supplies on August 17th. Thank you to our community partners: City of Auburn and Pete von Reichbauer, King County Councilmember. Click here for more information.