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Newsletter - March 7, 2022

Long before pro sports and internationally recognized athletes, Eddie Gardner proved he was one of the Northwest's best distance runners -- and one of the nation's toughest. He was one of only five African Americans to participate in The Bunion Derby – a 3,422 mile foot race from Los Angeles to New York City. One hundred ninety-nine runners entered the race, running on mostly unpaved U.S. Route 66, for a $25,000 prize.

Shortly after his birth in 1898, the Gardner family moved from Alabama to Seattle. After attending Tuskegee Institute, Gardner was living in Seattle and began competing in the annual Ten Mile Washington State Championship sponsored by the Seattle P-I newspaper. He won the race three times, setting course records along the way, and besting notable amateur and military runners. He became known as “the Sheik” of Seattle for his all white outfit and a towel fashioned around his head that resembled a turban.

Runners in the 1928 Bunion Derby endured harsh conditions; 100 degree temps and sandstorms in the Mojave Desert, running through snow and thin air in the mountain passes, and painful leg and foot injuries - one runner was hit by a car. Moreover, when the race proceeded through the Jim Crow South, the African American runners faced angry mobs and death threats from viewers who objected to them competing against Whites. They ran through “sundown towns” – in Oklahoma, Gardner was threatened with a rifle if he were to pass a White runner. He was one of the top 10 runners in the race averaging between 40 an 60 miles a day and on his longest day of the marathon, Gardner ran 84 miles. He finished the 84-day race in 8^th place.

Later that year, Gardner set the U.S. record for a 50-mile run in under 6.5 hours. In 1938, he won a 52-mile walking competition around Lake Washington beating the previous record

Sources: Blackpast.org; Blurredbylines.com; Seattlepi.com; Wikipedia.org

Avoid COVID- 19 Scams:

Don't Give Out Your Medicare Number!

Robobocalls, text messages, or emails offering COVID-19 tests in exchange for your Medicare Number are scams! Scammers are selling fake and unauthorized at-home COVID-19 test kits in exchange for your personal or medical information.

Do not give out your Medicare Number for COVID-19 test kits!

Make sure to purchase FDA-approved COVID-19 test kits from legitimate providers. Over-the-counter or at-home tests are available for sale around the U.S. at many reputable and trustworthy retailers and pharmacies.

Remember, each household in the U.S. can also have four free COVID-19 at-home tests shipped directly to their home at no cost. Visit COVIDtests.gov to order tests or learn more about testing. The Washington State Department of Health also offers free Covid-19 rapid tests shipped to your door. Visit https://sayyescovidhometest.org to order your free test.

If you suspect fraud, call 1-800-MEDICARE to report it.

BIPOC Job Fair 

RSVP Required: Click to Register

March 15, 2022 | 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm

7100 Fort Dent Way, Tukwila WA 98188

Open call for Black and Indigenous artists in Washington State, the Pacific Northwest, South Africa and Uganda

Fred Hutch is putting out a call for interested Black and Indigenous visual artists from now until Tuesday, March 22, 2022. The selected artists will each create commissioned artwork informed by our Community Dialogues to be displayed across the Fred Hutch Seattle campus and featured in public and community program materials. Selected artists will receive $5,000 for their commission and participation in the program

Please share news of this open call broadly

CAREER INFORMATION

Featured here are a few of the state agencies seeking applicants. Many more opportunities can be found by searching www.careers.wa.gov or www.caa.wa.gov/employmentopportunities

The Employment Security Department (ESD) seeks a strategic policy, people, and systems leader who centers equity, diversity, and inclusion as they provide guidance for the Leave and Care Division (LCD) that administers two key Washington State first in the nation programs; Paid Family and Medical Leave and WA Cares.

This unique opportunity to contributes to building the Washington State social safety net alongside a dedicated team of professionals and devoted stakeholders. If you have a reputation for expert problem solving, stakeholder engagement, accurate and strategic advice, and leading with the principles of inclusion, equity, and respect, please apply for the Leave and Care Director position. Compensation is $86,640 - $149,292 annually.

Pierce County's Internship Program is designed to provide a meaningful and educational work experience, honing your skills and expanding your professional network along the way. Internships are full-time, paid positions for the summer.

Positions are now open for the County Council, District Court, Juvenile Court, Communications, Emergency Management, Human Services and more! See the list of internships here.