Credited with breaking down racial barriers in modeling is Helen Marie Jackson. The world renowned African American fashion model was the first to crossover into mainstream advertisments.
A lover of fashion from an early age, Jackson made her own garments and worked as a stylist for a photography studio. Spotted by Sammy Davis Jr. and Lena Horne, she began her modeling career exclusively for Ebony and Jet magazines. In America, her skin tone was considered 'too dark'. Relocating to France in 1960, she found success modeling for couture designers such as Christian Dior and Jean Dessès. Returning to the U.S., Jackson still faced difficulty, but with the help of a few influential journalists, challenged the industry and became the face of major ad campaigns for Budweiser and Sears. Jackson was one of the first clients of Ophelia DeVore's Grace De Marco, the first Black-owned modeling agency that launched the careers of iconic superstars Diahann Carrol, Richard Roundtree, Cicely Tyson and others.
Applications for Cohort 11 of the WA Health Care Authorities’ DBHR Prevention Fellowship Program, beginning in November 2023, are now open! Applications are due 11:59 PM PST on October 1st, 2023. Apply using the links below:
For the past three years, the Washington State Health Care Authority’s Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery – Prevention (DBHR-Px), in partnership with Washington State University’s IMPACT Lab, has welcomed 28 passionate, inquisitive, and hardworking undergraduate and graduate students into the DBHR Prevention Fellowship Program.
The DBHR Prevention Fellowship is a paid 11-month opportunity that grants unparalleled access to Washington State's leaders in behavioral health prevention, treatment, and recovery. Fellows play a pivotal role in the DBHR team, helping solve real world problems in prevention science, substance use prevention, and mental health promotion. Through these meaningful interactions, Fellows gain invaluable insights into state, local, and community initiatives that profoundly impact the well-being of children, youth, and families across Washington State.
All applicants with a Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent years of relevant experience, are encouraged to apply! Whether your academic focus lies in Social Work, Public Health, Public Policy, Communication, Public Administration, or any other related discipline, DBHR Px provides an inclusive environment where your aspirations can thrive. Take the Challenge! Make a Change! Apply Today!
To learn more about the Fellowship Program, review the attached Frequently Asked Question document, visit the Fellowship website (https://hd.wsu.edu/about-the-cpwi-fellowship/), and attend an upcoming informational session:
For any questions please contact: Endalkachew Abebaw, Washington Health Care Authority DBHR (Endalkachew.abebaw@hca.wa.gov) and Clara Hill, Washington State University (clara.hill@wsu.edu)
FAFSA and WASFA Financial Aid Changes
Looking for this year's FAFSA? The 2024-25 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) will not be available until December 2023. The WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) will also be delayed until the FAFSA opens. Applications usually open October 1 of a student’s senior year, so this is a major shift in the college planning process.
The good news is that this delay is due to positive changes in the financial aid application process:
The FAFSA form will be shorter and less complex, more students will be eligible for federal Pell Grants, and the average Pell award will be larger.
School counselors and other advocates should adjust financial aid outreach messaging and timelines to address the changes because the U.S. Department of Education has not yet announced the exact date applications will open.
Parents can find updated financial aid news and updates on the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) website. This newsletter will also report the new application date as soon as it becomes available.
Be a Big! Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentors Needed!
Spokane Volunteers Needed! Apply to be a Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor for a Shadle Park high school student! Apply here!
Mentors are needed statewide: Apply to be a Big in your local community - all the details at BBBS.org
Do You Qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program?
You may qualify for discounted internet service! A household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if the household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if a member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:
Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year
Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income internet program;
Participates in one of these assistance programs:
Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, including at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Eligibility Provision schools.
SNAP
Medicaid (Medicaid eligibility may be up for renewal. Learn more about how to renew.)
Federal Housing Assistance, including:
Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program (Section 8 Vouchers)
Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations or Tribal Head Start (income based)
To apply, go to GetInternet.gov to submit an application or print out a mail-in application
Community Events
YES Farm Volunteer Day!
Yes Farm, a farm co-op, builds community and models sustainable urban agriculture centered around the needs of the communities of color whom are likely to experience the impacts of health disparities as a result of food apartheid, redlining and gentrification, and systemic oppression.
Growing food and share growing space with Black urban farmers from around Seattle, produce helps supply BIPOC-led and owned organizations, businesses, and mutual aid efforts to feed our community and support economic development.
Lend a hand on volunteer day!
715 Yesler Way Seattle WA, 98104 Not ADA accessible/ Incline walking down/ No stairs Parking: Street Parking & Near Public Transit Comfy shoes, Comfy Clothes, Long sleeves (recommended)
Walk the Block
Walk The Block is Wa Na Wari’s annual outdoor visual and performing arts festival that transforms Central District homes, businesses, parks, porches, and other common spaces into art installations and performance sites. Participants enjoy visual 2d and sculptural art, video installations, live music, dance parties, community stories, and more as they stroll the neighborhood with family and friends. Experience a slice of African American culture only found in Seattle's historical Central District. Walk the Block brings visibility to a community that continues to adapt and grow in place, while creating a bridge to new residents who have recently arrived.
Walk the Block is also an important player in the revitalization of Seattle’s cultural community and economy at large. Development led to the displacement of working class people across the city, artists in particular. For a city whose international renown is partly anchored in the contributions of its artists, this continues to be a local challenge. Re-seeding the cultural landscape with opportunities for artists to live, work, and present is increasingly a public policy priority. Participants can arrive and begin the walk anytime between 2pm and 6pm. Dress warm and wear comfortable shoes.
Saturday, September 30, 2023 - 2pm to 6pm. Tickets available via Eventbrite
The 33rd Annual Youth & Law Forum
Theme: Journey to Justice II: Discovering and Using YOUR Inner Power. The Forum will be held at the Tukwila Community Center on Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 10am - 3pm. Participating youth and adults can again look forward to another chance to win prizes, learn about legal rights and responsibilities, network with justice system professionals, and have fun. It’s all free.
Office of the Insurance Commissioner One permanent Actuary 2position in the Rates, Forms and Provider Networks Division. This recruitment is open continuous.
