CHA Monthly Round-Up Newsletter

OMWBE, CAAA, CAPAA, CHA sent this bulletin at 03/03/2023 12:00 PM PST

Dolores Huerta & Cesar Chavez Celebration

Mark Your Calendars & Save the Date!

In partnership with the Latino Leadership Network and the offices of Senator Rebecca Saldaña and Representative Ortiz-Self, we will host a virtual celebration of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez. We will hear remarks from Governor Inslee, others and learn from a panel on how their work is inspired by these trailblazing leaders.

Please join us on April 10, 2023 at 12:00 pm! More information to come, visit cha.wa.gov for updates.

Civic Engagement and Education

Civic education is important in the lives of our youth. The Legislative Youth Homepage is an excellent resource for teaching kids, teens and college students how our government works. Our state also has other unique learning opportunities such as the House and Senate Page programs. Only six other states in the country have page programs.

What is a Page? Being a Page is an opportunity for students ages 14 to 16, to essentially 'work' for the Legislature for one week during the legislative session. Pages earn $35 dollars per day for their service. Pages perform a range of duties that are vital to the operation of the Legislature. Students also attend Page School that teaches the legislative process in a classroom setting.

To serve as a page, students are encouraged to apply early as possible. If planning to apply, students will need permission from a parent or guardian, and from school so don't wait to submit an application! Applications should be submitted in September, October and November as the slots fill quickly.

Legislative Bill Watch

Meet the Latine elected officials!

The proud daughter of Mexican immigrants, Sharlett Mena is a first-generation Mexican-American, and the first in her family to graduate from college. Sharlett was born and raised in the Tri-Cities. Her parents worked on farms and at a meat processing plant. Her working-class upbringing has informed her perspective and continues to drive her to empower working families through policy and change.

A graduate of Washington State University with degrees in Communications and Philosophy, Sharlett has over a decade of experience at various levels of government. She began her career in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Communications Manager and later a Communications Director. Returning to Washington, Sharlett worked in the Washington State Senate and for Washington Governor Jay Inslee. Currently, she works at the Washington State Department of Ecology advancing environmental justice, protecting clean air and water, and implementing climate action.

Rep. Julio Cortes’s family immigrated from Mexico to Washington when he was only five years old. After graduating from Wapato High School, Cortes started his college journey at Walla Walla Community College before finishing his four-year degree at Western Washington University.

After college, Rep. Cortes worked at Oasis teen Shelter and then at the Cocoon House for almost a decade, working directly with at-risk and homeless youth and their families. Most recently Cortes has been working for the City of Everett as the Communications and Marketing manager, with part of that work being in the Economic Development department as the small and medium business liaison.

Rep Alvarado is a longtime leader on housing, serving as director of the City of Seattle’s Office of Housing and as an executive with a national affordable housing nonprofit.

Her other legislative priorities include economic opportunity, quality public education and child care, and reproductive justice.

She started her career as an attorney and community organizer. The daughter of two public school educators, Emily lives in West Seattle with her husband, two children, and a rescue dog named Frazer.

Initially appointed, Alex Ybarra was later elected in 2019 as the state representative for the 13th District, which includes parts of Grant, Kittitas, and Yakima counties.

Alex's legislative priorities include protecting taxpayers, amply funding schools, creating more family-wage jobs, finding solutions to water issues, and supporting agriculture. He is a powerful advocate for economic growth and wants to see more doors of opportunity opened to the residents of the communities he serves.

Alex is the ranking member of the House Postsecondary Education Workforce Committee, assistant ranking on the Environment & Energy Committee, and a member of the Innovation, Community Economic Development and Veterans Committee. Although deeply committed to civil debate and willing to work across the aisle, he remains true to his conservative roots.

DOH launches Influenza Vaccination Dashboard

First time state-provided data used to surveil flu vaccinations

Washington State Department of Health’s (DOH) new Influenza (Flu) Vaccination Dashboard makes it easier to track flu vaccination rates across the state. This is the first time that state-provided data have been used to surveil flu vaccinations. The dashboard displays the number of flu vaccines administered in Washington facilities, as well as the percentage of Washingtonians who have received at least one flu vaccine. Dashboard users can also make vaccination rate comparisons between the current and previous flu seasons. The dashboard will be updated weekly between Sept. 1 and April 30.

Beware of financial aid myths!

Other Important Updates

Washington Legislators form First Latino Democratic Caucus OLYMPIA—Eight House and three Senate Democrats in the Washington State Legislature announced the creation of the first ever Latino caucus.

Washington Legislators form First Latino Democratic Caucus

OLYMPIA—Eight House and three Senate Democrats in the Washington State Legislature announced the creation of the first ever Latino caucus.

“I am not the first Latina to serve in the Legislature, but I was certainly the only one when I was elected to the House almost a decade ago. It felt a little lonely in that sense,” said Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, D-Mukilteo, who was elected chair of the Latino Democratic Caucus (LDC) when its members held their first meeting last week. “Over these years, seeing how we grew in numbers after every election was encouraging; we are finally beginning to catch up in representation with the diverse communities that we serve.”

The mission of the LDC is to ensure that the experiences, needs, and solutions of Latino people throughout Washington state are represented, prioritized, and realized in the legislative process.

With values centered on integrity, equity, and justice in their work, LDC members will advocate collectively for policy change that is firmly rooted in their diverse Latino history and culture.

LDC members envision a Washington where Latino individuals, families and communities no longer face discrimination and know they have the access, opportunity, and resources they need to truly thrive.

“Washington’s communities of color are growing, this is a clear indication that there’s a need for more representation and that’s what Democrats are all about,” said Rep. Bill Ramos, D-Issaquah, who was elected vice chair of the LDC. “We are excited to expand and coordinate our representation of Washington’s Latino communities in the Legislature. While we all identify as Latinos in the LDC, we have a good mix of people with a wide range of interests, but our shared goal is to empower the voices of all Latinos throughout the state.”

“It’s long overdue for Washington Latinos to have a formal, established caucus at the state level to work on legislation that levels the playing field through equity, and reflects the betterment of our community in all areas, including economic development, healthcare, education, civic engagement, and civil rights,” added Ortiz-Self.

The eleven members of the Latino Democratic Caucus are (as pictured):

Seated:

Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, 21^st Legislative District

Rep. Bill Ramos, 5^th Legislative District

Standing from left to right:

Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, 37^th Legislative District

Rep. Emily Alvarado, 34^th Legislative District

Rep. Tarra Simmons, 23^rd Legislative District

Sen. Javier Valdez, 46^th Legislative District

Rep. Monica Stonier, 49^th Legislative District

Rep. Julio Cortés, 38^th Legislative District

Rep. Sharlett Mena, 29^th Legislative District

Sen. Emily Randall, 26^th Legislative District

Rep. Kristine Reeves, 30^th Legislative District

The Working Families Tax Credit

New Tax Credit for WA Workers in 2023. The Working Families Tax Credit is a new program your employees may qualify for. The Working Families Tax Credit provides payments up to $1,200 to low-to-moderate income individuals and families. Amounts are based on income level and number of qualifying children (if any). Purpose is to stimulate the local economy, promote racial equity, and support the financial stability and well-being of Washington residents and their families. For more information and multilingual promotional materials, see the Department of Revenue's Working Families Tax Credit page

Financial Literacy Topic Spotlight: Savings

Saving is an essential component of good budgeting. Using a savings account allows you to prevent emergencies from draining the money you need for monthly bills and slowly build a reserve for making large future purchases. This reserve can be used for car repairs, apartment deposits, unplanned surgeries and other medical needs and even gathering funds for a home down payment.