Honored to Serve as King County Council Chair Again in 2024

Dear Neighbor,

Youth Voices Needed: Become a Member of the SaFE Equity Workgroup

King County Metro is looking for young people aged 15-19 to help shape the future of transit safety in King County.

Metro’s Safety, Security, and Fare Enforcement (SaFE) Initiative wants to ensure the voices of youth are part of our SaFE Equity Workgroup, the panel that works with Metro to plan, prioritize, and evaluate projects to improve transit safety.

In 2021, Metro launched the Safety, Security, and Fare Enforcement (SaFE) reform initiative in response to the King County Executive’s declaration of racism as a public health crisis. Metro partnered with community members, riders, and Metro employees to develop a set of strategies and recommendations to improve transit safety, which included the development of the SaFE Equity Workgroup.

You can apply if you:

• Are between the ages of 15-19.
• Live, work, or attend school in King County.
• Currently use public transportation or are interested in using it.
• Believe in safe, equitable access to transit.
• Are part of a diverse community in King County and understand the challenges faced by people who are often excluded or treated unfairly.

If you are interested in applying for the open positions, fill out this brief application by February 16th to be considered: online application.

You can learn more about SaFE's work at Metro’s blog.

Best Starts for Kids Funding Opportunity Closes on February 7th

We are excited to share that the Best Starts for Kids Promoting First Relationship – Agency Training Project request for applications (RFA) is now open! This funding opportunity closes on Wednesday, February 7 at 5PM, please submit your application by then.

Click HERE to view the full funding opportunity details and to apply.

At Best Starts, we want healthy babies to grow up with a strong foundation for lifelong health and well-being. Promoting First Relationships (PFR) – Agency Training is an evidence-based curriculum that trains service providers in the use of practical, in depth, effective strategies for promoting secure and healthy relationships between caregivers and young children ages birth to five.

This RFA seeks community-based agency staff to participate in the PFR Train-the-Learner training model or Train-the-Trainer training model.

Read more about this funding opportunity and how to apply on the Best Starts blog.

King County Parks Grants Now Open!

Have a program or project that increases access to sports or the outdoors?

King County Parks is now accepting applications for the following grant programs:

• Youth and Amateur Sports Grants: Supports projects that increase access to sports, play, and the outdoors.

• Healthy Communities and Parks Fund - Tier 1 and Tier 2: Supports projects that increase access to parks, open space, and recreation in underserved communities.

Applications must be submitted by Monday March 4, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. via the Parks Grant Portal. Visit the Parks Grants website, download the 2024 Parks Grants Guide, or sign up for an information session below to get details about available funding, award amounts, eligibility, applying, and the evaluation process for these grants.

As always, I value your thoughts, ideas, and input. Please feel welcome to contact me via email at Dave.Upthegrove@kingcounty.gov.

You can watch Council meetings via livestream on the Council's website or on KCTV channel 22. We take general public comment on the 4^th Tuesday of every month.

To learn more about testifying before Council go to: https://www.kingcounty.gov/council/committees/full_council.aspx

Sincerely,

Dave Upthegrove

King County Councilmember
District 5

Councilmember Dave Upthegrove

King County Council - District 5

dave.upthegrove@kingcounty.gov  |  (206) 477-1005

www.kingcounty.gov/upthegrove

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