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In June 2021, Congress passed a resolution establishing Juneteenth as a national holiday, signed into law by President Biden on June 17, 2021. Most recognized as “Juneteenth”, the day also is also known as “Freedom Day”, “Emancipation Day”, and “Black Emancipation Day” which began as a celebration of the freeing of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. As African Americans began to leave Texas during the Great Migration, they carried their traditions with them, and Juneteenth was spread to other areas of the country.
In honor of Juneteenth, we invite community members to join the Office of Social Justice (OSJ) at a Juneteenth Flag-Raising Celebration on Tuesday, June 18! We will raise the Juneteenth flag, hear from incredible local leaders, and enjoy delicious lunch for purchase from a local Black-owned small business: Avery’s Chicken and Waffles.
Snohomish County Juneteenth Flag-Raising
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When: Tuesday, June 18, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Flag-raising and speaking portion will take place at 11:15 a.m.
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Where: Snohomish County Campus, 3000 Rockefeller Ave, Everett, WA, 98201. The flag-raising will take place on the Oakes Avenue side of the campus.
- More Info: https://fb.me/e/3xZuNeE4E
Additionally, our partners at Snohomish County NAACP are hosting a Juneteenth Celebration Saturday, June 22, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Willis Tucker Park. Learn more at https://naacp-snoco.org/.
Anyone interested can find a more comprehensive list of Juneteenth events across Snohomish County here: https://www.seattlenorthcountry.com/blog/juneteenth-events-in-snohomish-county/.
Executive Dave Somers recently announced that the first cohort of the new Youth Early Childhood Education Career Pathways program is graduating, and the program will expand to four additional school districts in the fall. The program provides high school students with hands-on, in-classroom experience to become early childhood education providers. The program is funded by the County’s federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation and is operated in partnership with Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center.
“High-quality, accessible child care is vital for the health and success of our communities and economy. But right now, Snohomish County – like so many places across the country – is facing a critical lack of child care facilities and providers. That’s why we’re using these generational investments from the federal government to increase child care facilities and help connect communities – like young people – with careers in early childhood education,” said Executive Somers.
The program focuses on preparing high school students for careers in Early Childhood Education and Para Educator roles. Students complete 120 classroom hours in courses aligned with Everett Community College Early Childhood Education Initial Certification curriculum to support dual enrollment and ensure that students are meeting the requirements for the Washington State Early Childhood Education Initial Certificate.
Students interested in learning more about the program – and potentially enrolling – can learn more and on this website.
Snohomish County Parks reopened the day-use area of Kayak Point Regional Park two weeks earlier than originally planned. The park re-opened on June 14, 2024, after being closed for construction since July 5, 2023.
The pier (usually used for fishing and crabbing) will remain closed the entire summer, due to in-water construction for the new pier that is required to occur during the summer months, when work is least likely to impact aquatic life.
“From its 3,300-foot shoreline to its evergreen forest and yurt village, Kayak Point Regional Park provides a rich setting for a variety of outdoor activities that both residents and visitors enjoy, including camping, picnicking, and hiking,” said Executive Somers. “Kayak Point is a well-loved park, and I’m glad we are able to open early and make design improvements that will increase accessibility, safety, and sustainability.”
For more information about the renovation project, annual pass information, frequently asked questions and more, visit the project page here.
Residents of rural communities are invited to be part of a community conversation about substance use disorder and stigma.
Free community events in Darrington and Monroe the last week of June will bring people together to talk. Topics include stigma in our communities, how we support people with substance use disorder and their families, and how to work together on reducing stigma. These interactive discussions will be facilitated by Tedra Cobb, a consultant with the University of Rochester Medicine Recovery Center of Excellence.
 Community Conversations:
- Wednesday, June 26, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at the Darrington Library, 1005 Cascade St., Darrington
- Thursday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Monroe Community Center, 17150 W Main St. Suite B
Train the Trainer*
- Thursday, June 27, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management Training Facility, 720 80th Street SW, Bldg A, Everett
*This session aims to train a group of facilitators focused on continuing these conversations. Participants must attend one community conversation before attending train the trainer.
Registration is encouraged by not required. People can register online at https://bit.ly/StigmaConvo.
Anyone interested can find more information here.
Washington state is getting ready for what is likely to be a hotter and drier summer than normal. These conditions can lead to more wildfires, exposing millions of residents to wildfire smoke and worsening people’s health.
To help protect people from wildfire smoke, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) joined a coalition of local and regional agencies and departments for this year’s Smoke Ready Week. From June 10-14, they shared information and resources to help people prepare for smoke plumes and poor air quality caused by wildfires.
Smoke from fires can lead to dangerous air quality levels, especially for people with chronic health conditions like asthma or COPD, infants, the elderly, low-income or marginalized communities, and more. Exposure to fine particulate matter from wildlife smoke can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat, and lead to fatigue, headaches, wheezing, and other symptoms.
The WA Smoke Blog is the best tool to stay up to date on wildfires and air quality. DOH also offers practical tips to protect yourself, such as how to select a portable air cleaner, build a box fan filter, and prepare your home, on the Smoke from Fires webpage.
AJAC (Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeships) has joined forces with Snohomish County and Bridgeways to introduce an innovative initiative—a 10-week training program designed to equip adults aged 18 and above with foundational manufacturing skills at zero cost, commencing July 2 at Bridgeways’ manufacturing facility in Everett, Washington. The new program is funded by Snohomish County’s federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation.
“Snohomish County is committed to connecting community members with high-paying, rewarding, and sustainable local jobs as we continue to build a gold-standard workforce and grow our economy,” said Executive Somers. “The Manufacturing Academy is a great opportunity for county residents to get the foundational skills needed to access in-demand careers in aerospace and manufacturing. I’m grateful to our partners at AJAC and Bridgeways for their commitment to bringing this innovative new program to life.”
For more information or to apply for the free 10-week program visit ajactraining.org/programs/manufacturing-academy/snohomish.
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