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Director's Note—February 2025
February is Black History Month
The Association for the Study of African American Life and History has themed the 2025 Black History Month "African Americans and Labor," highlighting the vital contributions of African Americans to our country's history. From both voluntary and involuntary labor to skilled and unskilled work, labor has been central to the Black American experience.
One shining example recognized this year is the 100th anniversary of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP), founded by labor organizer and civil rights activist A. Philip Randolph. BSCP was the first African-American union to receive a charter in the American Federation of Labor (now AFL-CIO), setting a precedent for labor rights and economic justice. "African Americans and Labor" invites us to reflect on the impact of Black workers and the fight for fair wages and dignity.
I proudly honor Black History Month and the brilliance of our colleagues and community of Black/African descent.
Senior Lobby Day – February 20
The Washington State Senior Citizens’ Lobby will host its annual 2025 Senior Lobby Day on February 20. This virtual event offers seniors and advocates a chance to connect with legislators, discuss issues, and explore policies that impact older adults and our broader community. Historically held in Olympia, this accessible online format allows for deeper participation to help shape policies that affect everything from aging to economic security. Share this important event with the seniors in your community.
Day of Remembrance – February 19
On February 19, we observe the Day of Remembrance, marking the solemn anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which led to the forced removal of 120,000 Japanese Americans from their homes, jobs, and communities during World War II. While this day reminds us of past injustices, it’s also a testament to the strength and resilience of Japanese Americans, many of whom rebuilt their lives, fought for civil rights, and fought for a better country.
This month let’s take the opportunity to recognize the interconnected stories of our nation’s history and our collective path forward toward justice for all.
In community,
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Support for students with disabilities in higher education
Did you know there are programs to help students with disabilities succeed in higher education?
Explore financial aid, grants, and other resources that can make a difference in your educational journey.
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 Civic Coffee Recap: Transportation Options
Age Friendly Seattle's Civic Coffee recently discussed and highlighted transportation options for older adults in Seattle and King County. The event featured an engaging discussion with ‘Ohu Kane, South King County Mobility Coordinator at Hopelink, and Lilliya Shiktel, Transportation Access Program Coordinator for the City of Seattle.
Watch the video from November and mark your calendar to join the next event on Tuesday, February 25, at 11:00 a.m. at Northgate Community Center (10510 5th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98125).
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 Employee Spotlight: Kerr Bacchus
As a Human Resources Business Partner with HSD for almost four years, Kerr Bacchus focuses on onboarding new hires, administering employee benefits, and maintaining department employee records. She loves getting to interact with most HSD employees and leaders at some point in some way. Visit humaninterests.seattle.gov to learn more about Kerr and her impact on our community.
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 Community Corner: Organization for Prostitution Survivors
The Organization for Prostitution Survivors (OPS) plays a critical role in empowering individuals affected by commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) and gender-based violence (GBV). By offering trauma-informed care, survivor-led advocacy, and holistic support, OPS creates pathways to immediate safety and long-term stability. Visit humaninterests.seattle.gov to learn more about how they advocate for a world where individuals can live free from exploitation and violence.
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Exciting Opportunities Await with the SYEP Internship Program!
Celebrating over 50 years of success, the Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is excited to once again provide youth and young adults with valuable early career development and professional growth opportunities. Interns will receive up to 150 hours of paid work, gaining hands-on experience in government agencies, nonprofits, and local businesses. The program will run this summer from July 9, 2025 – August 26, 2025.
To qualify, intern applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be between 16 and 24 years old at the start of the Internship program.
- Reside within the Seattle city limits or attend Seattle Public Schools or Seattle Colleges (Seattle Central, South Seattle or North Seattle College).
- Live in a household with an income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income.
Learn more about the program and apply for a summer youth internship today.
Employer Hosts – Learn More
SYEP is also seeking employers and experienced mentors to host interns. This is your chance to offer impactful experiences that help prepare youth for a promising career. In addition to our long-standing internship partnerships throughout the city, recent intern cohorts have requested real estate, information technology, healthcare, and business administration experiences.
Join a virtual information session hosted each Wednesday from 2:00pm – 3:00pm at tinyurl.com/3jpvkd6t to learn more.
The application deadline for youth and businesses to apply is March 21, 2025.
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Sign up to volunteer at the 2025 Seattle/King County Clinic happening April 24-27!
Want to do more to connect with your community? Sign up to volunteer for Seattle/King County Clinic, happening April 24-27, 2025, and help provide healthcare to thousands of your neighbors who struggle to afford and/or access healthcare.
Volunteers are the backbone of the Clinic. Over nine years, the time, expertise, and care of 31,000+ volunteers have helped to save 30,000 patients more than $26 million in out-of-pocket healthcare costs.
A project of Seattle Center and Seattle Center Foundation, it is the nation’s largest community-driven free clinic of its kind, offering a wide range of dental, vision, medical, and social services to people in need. Clinical and non-clinical volunteer roles are available. Learn more and sign up at: seattlecenter.org/volunteers.
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WIC Mobile App Now Available In 22 Languages
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is pleased to announce that WICShopper, the free smartphone application for families in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program, is now available in 22 language options for Washington state participants. This expansion provides a better shopping experience for non-English speaking families enrolled in the program by offering real-time translations of WIC benefits, along with other resources like recipes, lists of participating retailers, and more.
Since its 2018 launch in Washington, the WICShopper app has been a valuable tool for WIC participants, offering a range of benefits including:
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Shopping Assistance: The app helps participants identify WIC-eligible foods and locate nearby stores, farmers markets, and farm stores that accept WIC.
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Convenient Access to Benefits: Participants can easily check their WIC benefits and balance at any time.
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Educational Resources: The app provides nutrition education and healthy recipes using WIC foods.
The languages selected for the Washington WICShopper app expansion were based on the state’s population demographics, and include Amharic, Arabic, Burmese, Chinese (traditional), Chinese (Simplified), Dari, English, French, Haitian Creole, Kiswahili, Korean, Lingala, Nepalese, Oromo, Pashto, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya (Eritrean dialect), Ukranian, and Vietnamese.
The WIC program improves the health and nutrition of pregnant people, new parents, infants, and children under five by providing access to healthy foods like milk, fruits, and vegetables. WIC also offers health screenings, nutrition education, breast and chest feeding support, and other health and social services referrals.
To apply for WIC, Washington families can contact their local WIC clinic, submit a WIC interest form, and learn more about eligibility online.
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