PACE E-Newsletter: March 2026

In advance of People's Academy for Community Engagement (PACE) cohort opportunities opening up this year, we want to keep sharing out information on other civic engagement programs, learning opportunities, and ways to get involved.

Please see items under these topics below:

• Learning Opportunities, Resources, and Community Events
• Commission, Panel, and Volunteer Opportunities
• Input Opportunities and Surveys
• Funding, Art Opportunities, and Free Resources

If you have any questions, please contact PACE@seattle.gov.

A New Season for Seattle’s Neighborhoods: Welcome our New Director Quynh Pham: "In 2012, Quynh Pham joined the very first cohort of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ People’s Academy for Community Engagement (PACE)...More than a decade later, she returns to the department in a new role: Director."

Learning Opportunities, Resources, and Community Events

• Town Hall Seattle and the Office of Mayor Wilson present: A Town Hall on Security and Surveillance - March 27
  • Mayor Wilson announces next steps on surveillance pilot project
• Celebrate the new Link Light Rail Crosslake Connection! - Opening Day on March 28
• Now Recruiting: Leadership Tomorrow Impact Class of 2027 – deadline March 31
  • Please complete this form to nominate yourself or someone else.
  • This program is not affiliated with the City of Seattle.
• Youth Transportation Summit: Transportation Safety - April 25
  • A free event specifically for youth and young adults ages 14-22. Register by Friday, April 17 to attend!
• Interested in becoming a community leader? Applications are open for Puget Sound Sage’s Community Leadership Institute – deadline April 30
  • Puget Sound Sage’s Community Leadership Institute (CLI) is a fellowship program which resources, educates, and places emerging leaders from communities of color and low-income communities to serve on strategic municipal boards and commissions.
  • This program is not affiliated with the City of Seattle.
• Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Summer Internships youth applications open - deadline May 4
• The Washington Institute for Parent Leadership Fall 2026 Interest Form
  • This program is not affiliated with the City of Seattle.
• Seattle Department of Neighborhoods hosts community office hours at The Seattle Public Library

Commission, Panel, and Volunteer Opportunities

• Seattle transportation advisory board and committee applications open - deadline March 30
• New Commissioners Sought for the Seattle Planning Commission - deadline to apply April 6
• Opportunity to Serve: King County Citizens’ Elections Oversight Committee – application deadline April 7
  • The following positions are open for application:
    • One representative from the Korean-speaking community.
    • One representative sponsored by either a junior taxing district or a city with a population of under twenty thousand.
• Get Engaged program is now accepting applications from 18-29 year-olds to serve on City of Seattle Boards and Commissions - deadline April 24
• Now Recruiting: Seattle Women's Commission and Seattle Human Rights Commission
  • To be considered to serve, submit an application, resume, and cover letter through the City of Seattle Boards and Commissions webpage.
  • Alternatively, as an accommodation, applicants may email a video to sebastian.wilson@seattle.gov that details their resume and interest.  Additional accommodations for the application process are also available upon request.
• Sound Transit Community Oversight Panel is seeking interested volunteers
  • There is currently one position available for the Snohomish County subarea, one position in the East King County subarea and two positions in the South King County subarea.
• PACE Partner Volunteer Opportunities
  • UTOPIA Washington
    • Ways to get involved: Event support, outreach & advocacy, civic engagement, intergenerational organizing, youth programming, Advocacy Days & Pride
    • Sign up to volunteer here
    • Questions? Call 206-906-8600 or email volunteer@utopiawa.org
• Join a Community Cleanup! Upcoming events listed here
• Sign up to join the Seattle Shelter Acceleration Community Action Team

Input Opportunities and Surveys

• Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss Ballard Town Hall - March 25
• Representative Adam Smith Hosting a Virtual Town Hall on March 26 at 6pm

• Station Area Planning Survey for West Seattle and Delridge – deadline March 27
• Stormwater Code and Manual Update Directors’ Rule Public Review Draft - Final Public Comment Period open through April 1
• Office of Planning and Community Development - Regional Centers Planning
  • Northgate Regional Center Plan Survey - deadline April 10
  • South Lake Union (SLU) Regional Center Planning Survey – deadline April 15
  • Uptown Regional Center Planning Survey – deadline April 15
• Landmarks Preservation Board to consider nomination of The People’s Wall - Public Written Comment Deadline April 14, Meeting April 15
• Take to survey to shape recommendations for a potential Washington State Department of Housing – deadline April 26
• Connecting With Community: Join Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) For Continued Families, Education, Preschool & Promise Levy (FEPP) Levy Engagement Opportunities
• Online survey
• Ongoing
  • Before the Badge: Community Police Dialogues – ongoing throughout 2026
  • Our City, Our Safety Conversations
    • April 14 from 6-7:30pm at Miller Community Center
  • Seattle Parks and Recreation Projects
  • Cheasty Mountain Bike/Pedestrian Trail Pilot Project
  • East Queen Anne Play Area Renovation
  • Jackson Park Disc Golf Project
  • Kubota Garden Visitor Center

Funding, Art Opportunities, and Free Resources

• 2026 Pioneer Square Inspiration Fund – deadline March 31
• HEAL Capacity Grant Program - Round 1 deadline April 30
  • This program is not affiliated with the City of Seattle.
• Get Free Tax Help
• 2026 Arts Grants and Funding Opportunities - various deadlines