The Disability Inclusion Network (DIN), a fellow statewide business resource group, is excited to announce the availability of an Inclusive Virtual Meeting Planning guide and checklist published on their website.

The following is reprinted with permission from the author, John Vassall, MD.

Black Americans are reluctant to take the coronavirus vaccine. When the Pfizer vaccine became available at Howard University Hospital on December 14, only 600 of approximately 1,900 employees had signed up for the 725 doses received. Howard University is one of the oldest and finest historically Black colleges, reverently referred to as “The Mecca” by Te-Nehisi Coates. Anita Jenkins, CEO had her shot administered publicly in an effort to change the minds of the 70% of workers in a November hospital survey who either did not want to take the vaccine or did not want it immediately. If you find yourself hesitating to take the vaccine, you are not alone. I offer information to help you make your decision. 

A message from the Washington Immigrant Network - www.washingtonimmigrantnetwork.org:

The Washington Immigrant Network needs your help making the Food for Diversity-Cultural Recipe Book. We need your recipe as well as volunteers to help collect the recipes, publish, and distribute the book.  If you have recipes to share and or interested in joining the Food for Diversity committee, please email us at win@ofm.wa.gov

We have the following main ideas about the project:

"The term disability justice was coined out of conversations between disabled queer women of color activists in 2005, including Patty Berne of Sins Invalid (and Mia Mingus & Stacy Milbern, who eventually united with Leroy Moore, Eli Clare, and Sebastian Margaret) seeking to challenge radical and progressive movements to more fully address ableism."

Read more at their site.

BUILD supports accessible video calls.

​Accessible meetings are effective meetings. Whether you’re catching up with a friend or discussing the latest project at work, accessibility ensures that everyone can fully engage and participate.

Funded by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Wastewater Treatment Division and the Coal Creek Sewer Upgrade Project.

More info is at rootedinrights.org

This and more info is on BUILD's resource page. 

Featuring experts and self-advocates on disability and race, this panel will explore life at the center of multiple oppressed identities.

The Reduced Cost Services Guide, published by DSHS, highlights a variety of products and services available in or near Washington state that are offered at reduced cost for people meeting certain income levels. 

Governor Inslee’s Poverty Reduction Work Group (PRWG) was created via Directive in November 2017. PRWG is co-led by the state departments of Commerce, Employment Security, and Social & Health Services, in partnership with tribal and urban Indians, state racial and ethnic commissions, employers, community-based organizations, legislators, advocates, and philanthropy. A steering committee made up of 22 people reflecting the demographic and geographic experience of poverty provides critical oversight to PRWG and contributed substantially to the development and prioritization of recommendations. The groups have met monthly since their inception. Full documentation of all PRWG meetings can be found on Governor Inslee’s PRWG issues page.

Read more on the Dismantling Poverty in Washington site.
Read the executive summary and the 10-year plan. 

Kelsey McGarry of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs and Monique Brown of FOB Hope organized and co-led four Racial Caucus Affinity groups with King County providers within homeless and veteran services. The focus of the conversation was to discuss racial disparities, racial bias, the killing of Black people by police, White supremacy, and the actions steps we can take to make changes in King County. 

The African American Studies Institute at PGCC presents: Black Culture Matters : A virtual lecture-discussion series.

Black Culture Matters is a series hosted by the African American Studies Institute (AASI) at Prince George's Community College, revolving around this year’s theme: Resisting De-humanization through the Humanities.

An opportunity provided through the Washington State Department of Commerce:An opportunity provided through the Washington State Department of Commerce...

​Created July 2020 by Theresa Slusher, Housing Stability Manager, DSHS, ESA.

Read the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance June Report.

Unemployment is available to employees whose employer has been closed by a public health official, the employer has closed due to a slow down or lack of demand, or the employer reduces hours of employees due to a lack of demand or because of a slowdown. It is also available if the employee has contracted a mild case of COVID-19 or if the employee was potentially exposed and is quarantined.

​​Find more information about local services.

New COVID-19 reports show concerning patterns of inequity, rise in cases among younger people.

The University of Washington and Washington State University, with support from Tacoma Community College, have created the Washington State Food Security Survey to gain a better understanding of how the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has impacted economic security and food access for Washington State residents. The survey is both computer and smart phone-capable. All Washington State residents who are 18 years or older are invited to participate! 

More info below.

Poverty Reduction Work Group: "We want your feedback on the 10-year Plan to Reduce Poverty and Inequality. Join us to learn about the 8 strategies." More info below.