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Community leaders kick off year-long census 2020 efforts

April 13, 2019 by Admin NW FACTS Leave a Comment

We’re one year away from the start of the 2020 census and leaders in Tacoma, Seattle, Pasco and other Washington cities are part of the all-out effort to deliver one crucial message: Fill out the census form because your voice counts.

Gov. Jay Inslee convened a Complete Count Committee in October 2018 to bring together partners from across the state to make sure every resident understands the importance of participating. While the Trump administration has proposed significant changes — such as limiting financial resources for the census and adding a question about citizenship status — that could discourage participation in low-income or underrepresented communities, the committee is working with state agencies and community leaders on strategies for reaching those households. And agencies such as the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction are partnering with schools and universities to develop student-centered outreach plans.

Offering childcare providers the support, tools, and research they need to help children thrive

April 13, 2019 by Admin NW FACTS Leave a Comment

A new initiative funded by King County Executive Dow Constantine’s Best Starts for Kids initiative offers health consultations to childcare providers, providing the latest research and best practices for healthy, safe environments.

The multidisciplinary teams of health experts visit childcare centers, family childcare providers, and informal family, friend, and neighbor caregivers to build trust and offer coaching and support. The partnerships will help King County achieve multiple outcomes, including more kids getting the vaccines they need, fewer days when kids are sick and can’t attend childcare, and fewer kids expelled from childcare.

“Childcare providers contribute to the health and well-being of kids throughout King County, and we are making sure they have the support, tools, and research they need to succeed,” said Executive Constantine. “By offering consultations with health experts, we are helping childcare providers offer the safest, healthiest experience possible for children throughout our region.”

Crowdrise campaign has raised over $10,000 of our $15,000 goal for Tiny Houses by April 12! Please share with friends and colleagues to get us over the top! Tiny House CrowdRise Campaign!

April 13, 2019 by Admin NW FACTS 1 Comment

LIHI is raising funds for our Tiny House Village program through the USA Today’s “A Community Thrives” CrowdRise campaign. Want to join us in making a difference? LIHI needs your help to support new and existing Tiny House Villages and provide case management for our residents to help them find permanent housing and connect to needed social services. Your donation will help us be eligible for a grant of up to $100,000 and other incentive prizes. Please visit our campaign site and donate todayand help LIHI combat homelessness!

2018 Spanaway Lake High School graduate wins prestigious fellowship to study abroad

March 27, 2019 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

SPANAWAY LAKE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE FREDERICK UY WINS PRESTIGIOUS FREDERICK DOUGLASS GLOBAL FELLOWSHIP TO STUDY ABROAD IN LONDON THIS SUMMER

Frederick Uy, a 2018 Spanaway Lake High School graduate, today was awarded a prestigious Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship (FDGF), which provides a full scholarship for the Claflin University freshman to attend a comprehensive study abroad program in London, England this summer.

The FDGF is operated jointly by the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), the nation’s largest non-profit facilitator of studying abroad, and the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions (CMSI). Each year, the Fellowship is awarded to 10 outstanding students that attend a Minority Serving Institution (MSI).

Uy, who was born in the Philippines and later moved to Tacoma, Washington, is pursuing a double major in Finance and Computer Science. After his undergraduate studies, Uy hopes to enroll in a joint MBA and Law program then become a financial lawyer who helps smaller companies thrive. “It has always been a dream of mine to study abroad and be in a learning environment outside of the standard classroom,” he said, noting that he looks forward to being forced to adapt outside his normal comfort zone.

“Studying abroad will push me to become a better person from networking and being engaged with different people and different cultures,” Uy said. “This opportunity is very important for my career because it will allow me to establish strong and solid connections and relationships with successful people in the business world.”

Uy said that he is honored to be a Frederick Douglass Global Fellow and immerse himself into different cultures. He is very excited to meet new people, form networks, and expand his horizons even more. Outside of school, Uy enjoys playing guitar and other instruments, exploring new places, doing photography, and watching the financial trends of different stocks.

The Fellows were nominated by their college presidents and selected during a national competition. The winners have demonstrated high academic achievement, possess exemplary communication skills, display the hallmarks of self-determination, exhibit characteristics of bold leadership, and have a history of service to others.

The winners will use their experiences to motivate other under-represented students to pursue opportunities to study abroad. Of the 332,727 US college students who studied abroad in 2017, less than 30% were students of color — 0.4% American Indian/Alaskan Native, 4.3% multiracial, 6.1% African American, 8.2%Asian/Pacific Islander and 10% Hispanic Americans, according to data from the Institute of International Education. The data shows that students of color largely miss out on international education experiences that can play a critical role in their personal growth, as well as academic and career success.

The Frederick Douglass Fellowship, which launched in 2017, is representative of efforts by CIEE and CMSI to increase diversity in study abroad by breaking down the barriers of cost, curriculum, and culture that prevent students from participating in international education experiences. Named for the African American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and international statesman Frederick Douglass, the Fellowship encourages students to use his life as a model to becoming bold, globally conscious and service-oriented leaders.

“The students selected for the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship are ten exemplary student leaders who demonstrate the iconic leadership, keen intellect, and natural change-agent attributes of Frederick Douglass,” said James P. Pellow, President and CEO of CIEE. “These students will be the next generation of leaders and I know that the intercultural competence and global perspective they will gain during the London program will benefit them throughout their lives.”

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About The Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions
The Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions brings together researchers and practitioners from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions. The Center’s goals include: elevating the educational contributions of MSIs; ensuring that they are a part of national conversations; bringing awareness to the vital role MSIs play in the nation’s economic development; increasing the rigorous scholarship of MSIs; connecting MSIs’ academic and administrative leadership to promote reform initiatives; and strengthening efforts to close educational achievement gaps among disadvantaged communities. For further information about the Center, please visit www.gse.upenn.edu/cmsi

About CIEE

CIEE, the country’s oldest and largest nonprofit study abroad and intercultural exchange organization, transforms lives and builds bridges by promoting the exchange of ideas and experiences. To help people develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world, CIEE sponsors a wide variety of opportunities for cultural exchange, including work exchange programs, teach abroad programs, and a worldwide portfolio of study abroad and internship programs for college and high school students. Visit www.ciee.org.

Public Defense launches post-conviction unit Attorneys will help people vacate convictions and expunge records

March 27, 2019 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Criminal records hinder a person’s ability to get a job, secure housing, obtain benefits and more. The Department of Public Defense’s new post-conviction relief unit will help people rebuild their lives by vacating convictions and expunging records as allowed under state law.

People with criminal convictions who are eligible to have those convictions vacated will get additional legal assistance to do so, thanks to a new post-conviction relief unit at the King County Department of Public Defense.

The department started its new unit this month, a pilot project funded by King County’s recently passed 2019-2020 operating budget. One paralegal and the equivalent of one full-time attorney will provide the legal help eligible clients need to get convictions vacated. The pilot project also provides funding to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to vacate convictions.

Under state law, many convictions can be vacated, provided enough time has passed. For certain non-violent Class B felonies, one can file a motion to vacate 10 years after completion of the sentence; for non-violent Class C felonies, the wait is five years, and for misdemeanors, three years.

Vacating a criminal record helps to end some of the collateral consequences of criminal legal system involvement. It means, for instance, that the person can state in job applications, housing applications and other forms that he or she has not been convicted of a crime. It also provides some protection in background checks.

“A criminal conviction is like a scarlet letter. It keeps someone entangled in the criminal legal system for years and years, long after they’ve completed their sentence,” said Anita Khandelwal, director of the Department of Public Defense (DPD).

“This kind of work is critical to equity and social justice,” she added. “A person who has completed a sentence should not be forced to carry that mark forever. An equitable and fair system is one that, at a minimum, allows a person to rebuild his or her life.”

DPD already provides some post-conviction work, but on a limited basis. The new unit will enable DPD to provide the service to many more people and to do so systematically, Khandelwal said. The department, for instance, will begin reaching out to people via community partners, social media, workshops and other avenues in an effort to let people know the service exists.

“We don’t know what the volume will be, but we know the need is great,” Khandelwal said.

The attorneys in the new unit will also help clients get their records expunged, which means removing an arrest record or criminal charge that was later dismissed. They can also help people get records sealed, a discretionary process that requires the individual to show his or her privacy needs outweigh the public interest in open access to the courts.

DPD provides high-quality legal advocacy in all areas of criminal law and some areas of civil law to people who cannot afford an attorney. The department employs attorneys, investigators, social workers, paralegals and administrators. In 2018, DPD represented nearly 20,000 individuals in courts throughout King County.

For information about DPD’s post-conviction unit, call the department at 206-296-7662.

House leaders unveil bill to help U.S. meet Paris Climate Agreement goals

March 27, 2019 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives today announced the introduction this week of H.R. 9 “The Climate Action Now”. This legislation is aimed at keeping the United States on track to achieve benchmarks set by the Paris Climate Agreement, which President Donald Trump has vowed to quit. The legislation would ensure that the United States meets its international commitment to cut carbon emissions by at least 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.

Bruce Speight, Environment Washington Director, issued the following statement:

“We applaud the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Energy and Commerce Chair Frank Pallone, Foreign Affairs Chair Eliot Engel, and Select Committee on Climate Crisis Chair Kathy Castor for sending the message to the world that America still has the will to be a strong global leader on the climate crisis.

“One hundred and eighty-five countries have ratified the Paris Agreement with the understanding that concerted global action is necessary ‘to combat climate change and to accelerate and intensify the actions and investments needed for a sustainable low carbon future,’ according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

“The United States is uniquely capable of developing and implementing the solutions we need — transitioning to a society completely powered by clean energy, electrifying our cars, and expanding mass transit and bike lanes. We have the research universities and institutions, the renewable energy technology, and most of all, the indomitable spirit of innovation that has powered America for more than 200 years. All we need is the political will to make it happen.

“This bill is just a first step in solving the climate crisis and maintaining our global standing. We sincerely hope this is a building block on our road to a 100 percent carbon-neutral future, which is what science tells us is crucial to stave off the worst impacts of climate change. Environment Washington looks forward to working with our congressional leaders and anybody — no matter their political party or where they’re from — who wants to join the effort.”

Community invited to participate in South Park Community Center Site Redevelopment Project

March 27, 2019 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites the community to provide input on spray park features, playground equipment, cultural themes and field usability for the new site wide design at the South Park Community Center. Please join us on Friday, March 29, 2019 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the South Park Community Center’s multipurpose room at 8319 8^th Ave. S., 98108. Children’s activities and refreshments will be provided.

This meeting is an opportunity for the community to learn about the South Park Community Center Site Redevelopment Project and provide input on specific features. In spring 2018, SPR finalized a concept design to install and relocate a play area, install a spray park, create a full-size multi-sport synthetic turf field with a circular walking trail, and add features including an outdoor fitness zone, LED lighting, ADA accessibility, sport court, off-leash area and a renovated parking lot.

This community driven project is funded by Seattle Park District and includes the Major Projects Challenge Fund, state grants and a partnership with Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences through the Seattle Parks Foundation. SPR hired Broadview Planning in 2017 and MIG/SvR in 2018 to lead the planning and design with an emphasis on providing strategies for mitigating negative health impacts resulting from the site’s proximity to a major transportation corridor. The project incorporates the principles of crime prevention through environmental design and a race and social justice lens with a strong focus on engaging underrepresented communities.

For more information about this project please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/south-park-community-center-play-area-renovation or contact Karimah Edwards at Karimah.edwards@seattle.gov or 206-233-0063.

Celebrate Earth Month with Seattle Parks and Recreation

March 27, 2019 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Seattle Parks and Recreation is all about connecting community members with nature any time of year, but each April the theme is even more important. April is Earth Month, an annual celebration and appreciation of our beautiful planet, and a chance to have fun and give back while getting some fresh spring air.

This Earth Month, join Seattle Parks and Recreation and our partners at one of the many volunteer Earth Month events happening across Seattle. You can get your hands dirty and help revitalize a much-loved park or look for wildlife along trails bursting with new growth. Volunteer activities include nature walks, gardening, trail repair, mulching, cleanup, planting, weeding, invasive species removal, nature exploration, and much more. Whatever you do, Earth Month is a great time to practice active gratitude for the bounty around us.

More volunteer opportunities can be found on the Green Seattle Partnership’s event calendar here.

Earth Month volunteer events:

April 6: English Ivy Crush at Frink Park

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Help Green Seattle Partnership and Friends of Frink Park protect open spaces from the threat of English ivy, an invasive plant that covers trees and results in a loss of native habitat. Register Here

April 7: Bird Walk on the Burke-Gilman Trail with Woody Wheeler

8 – 11 a.m. Join Friends of the Burke-Gilman Trail for our monthly Bird Walk and Citizen Science project. All ages and experience levels welcome. Woody, Wheeler, Master Birder and author will lead our walk.

Contact mailto:jim.corson@comcast.netfor more information.

April 7: Warren G. Magnuson Park Reforestation

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Help create and improve thriving forest habitat on what was once a denuded and sterile navy airfield. Enjoy nature and learn a bit about native plants while doing satisfying work! Contactmailto:tpaulkelly@hotmail.comfor more info and to join.

April 12: Help the forest grow at Me-kwa-mooks

1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Help the birds, butterflies, bees, rabbits and other creatures thrive by removing invasive species such as ivy and blackberry at Me-Kwa-Mooks park in West Seattle. Contactmailto:psocoupeville@gmail.comfor more information.

April 12 and 19: Wetlands Restoration and Community Lunch

10 a.m. – noon at Rainier Beach Urban Farm & Wetland. Join Tilth Alliance staff, neighbors and a longtime community crew of East African seniors. We’ll enjoy a healthy and delicious community lunch at noon, so please bring a small donation or a dish to share. Children, youth and families welcome! Contactmailto:chrishoffer@tilthalliance.orgfor more info.

April 13: Golden Gardens Park Work Party

9 a.m. – noon. Remove invasive weeds and plant native species that return the forest to a more natural ecosystem. We provide tools and training, so we only need your enthusiasm to help restore this beautiful park! Contact mailto:doug@greshamenvironmental.comfor more info.

April 13, 20, and 27: Wildlife Walks/Bird Tours

8 – 10 a.m. at Discovery Park. Join experienced leaders as we explore for migrants and year-round residents within Discovery Park’s varied habitats. Please dress for the weather and bring binoculars if you have them. $5 for ages 8 and older. Visit this page for more info on registration.

April 14: Lewis Park Restoration Event

10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Spring’s warmer weather brings out the flowers, but also the weeds! We need your held to thin out the invaders to make room for mulching, among other tasks. Contactmailto:rickpaulsen@earthlink.netfor more info.

April 14: Martha Washington Park Restoration

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. We’ll work to restore this Native American site and its historic white oaks by removing invasive plants, tending new plantings, watering and/or doing whatever is needed. Contactmailto:perasso@cruzio.comfor more info.

April 20: Carkeek S.T.A.R.S. Work Party

9 a.m. – 12 p.m. A fun morning of forest restoration and trails maintenance in one of Seattle’s most beautiful parks! Contact mailto:carkeekstars@gmail.comfor more info.

April 20: Duwamish Alive! Orca Earth Day

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Herrings House Park (Tulaltx). Orca populations are struggling because of the lack of their main food source – salmon, especially Chinook. Herrings House Park provides critical salmon habitat for juvenile salmon before they enter Puget Sound. Please join us in maintaining this habitat! Conacts.leishman@comcast.net for more info.

April 20: Student Conservation Association at Washington Park Arboretum

9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The SCA and Washington Park Arboretum on work to restore Washington Park Arboretum, gathering members, alumni, friends and partners to weed, remove invasives, and add mulch. Meet at Crabapple Meadow, just South of the Visitor Center. More info here.

Matching grants help preserve Pierce County landmarks

March 27, 2019 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

The Pierce County Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission is now accepting applications for the 2020 Preservation Matching Grant Program. These grants assist in funding preservation efforts in Pierce County.

The program’s goal is to distribute small, yet meaningful, matching grants to help promote historic preservation throughout the county. Grant requests can be made for two types of proposals:

• Historic preservation (maximum request of $20,000) for stabilization, restoration or rehabilitation of properties listed on national, state and local historic registers.

• History-related projects (maximum request of $5,000) include photograph or document preservation, historic markers, history research and public events and programs.

Nonprofit organizations, public agencies and owners of properties listed on local historic registers are eligible to apply. Recipients must provide matching funds.

Applications will be accepted until 3 p.m. May 10, 2019. Project activities must be completed by Nov. 10, 2020.

The grant guidelines and application form are available atpiercecountywa.gov/historicpreservation.

Applications are evaluated by the Pierce County Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission, which administers the grant program. The commission forwards project and funding recommendations to the Pierce County Council for approval.

The fight for Medicare for All is just getting started.

March 27, 2019 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

The fight for Medicare for All is just getting started. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (a Washington CAN member!) has introduced the Medicare for All Act of 2019. It’s the most ambitious Improved Medicare for All proposal to date, so we’re extending an invite for a special event where members can join the congresswoman in a discussion about the bill and the path forward.