Community News! May/June 2025
NEWS, STORIES, AND RECENT ARTICLES FROM AND ABOUT COO PARTNERS IN COMMUNITY
This is a condensed version of our monthly newsletter distributed May 29. Get all the news by signing up for the monthly newsletter.
Exciting Announcements, Essential Resources: A message from our Director, Elsa Batres-Boni
Dear Partners,
We are already halfway through this year, and we are just wrapping up the season when so many of our community partners host galas and events to bring their communities together. I’ve been attending a few of these events, not just to show my personal support but also to learn and gain inspiration from how our communities are pushing back. It’s amazing to feel the resilience of those who have been leading the change for many years. While these are undoubtedly challenging times, they are certainly not the first challenges we have faced.
In this newsletter, you'll find a range of resources, stories, and opportunities handpicked by our team for our funded and aligned community partners. These selections are designed to help build capacity, share insights, create new connections, and explore innovative models that continue to build community power in King County.
Some of those stories include our exciting announcement of the launch of the sustainability and wellness grants in partnership with the BIPOC ED Coalition — be sure to check out the blog post for all the details.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into alternative governance practices, don’t forget to register for the LC Liberatory Governance series.
We've shared some essential resources on digital security in our latest blog post.
We are happy to share that COO’s Governance Group is recruiting new members. We’ve got a blog post filled with information for those interested in applying.
There’s so much happening, and we can’t wait to share more with you.
For trainings that have a fee, COO's Learning Community can offer support (as resources are available) to any King County based group or organization working to build community power for greater equity in health, housing, economic opportunity, and/or civic engagement.
As always, please feel free to reach out to me and our team for ideas.
En Comunidad,
Elsa
Announcing the Awardees of Our First Grants for Wellness and Sustainability
15 of our current and former funded partners have been awarded $5,000 grants they can use for wellness and sustainability activities. The grants are from a pilot partnership between Communities of Opportunity and the BIPOC ED Coalition of Washington.
The grants are intended to build capacity for wellness or sustainability, and work toward the organization’s larger dream of a thriving organizational culture of wellness and sustainability.
Learn more about this pilot project and who the awardees are.
Join the Liberatory Governance & Leadership Learning Circle
Register by June 4
The Communities of Opportunity (COO) Learning Community invites you to participate in a *free* four-month virtual learning circle series designed to help community leaders, staff, and board members shift from extractive models of governance to liberatory, community-rooted practices. Register by June 4!
This interactive series blends power analysis, collective learning, and practical tools you can use right away. Hosted by Communities of Opportunity Learning Community and facilitated by alterNative consulting.
Governance Group Members Share Why They Serve
Communities of Opportunity has been recruiting new members to fill up to 6 positions on our Governance Group (GG), also known as the COO-Best Starts for Kids Advisory Group, this summer. As part of our recruitment process, we asked current members to share why they believe it’s important to serve.
We invite you to read their reflections, see some photos from their retreat earlier this year, and consider whether you might be interested in applying. We accept applications on a rolling basis and we encourage partners who live in King County to consider applying.
New Workshop Series: What if? Leading in Times of Uncertainty
Workshop #1 - June 12, 2025, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; In person in Renton; lunch provided
Sponsored by Best Starts for Kids and open to all Best Starts and COO grantee partners.
Join Betsey Archambault and Sandra Amolo of local capacity builder RHL Consulting for a short series of workshops for organizational leaders on planning for the future when funding and circumstances are uncertain. This workshop series (4 sessions, three of which will be in-person) will help organizational leaders evaluate risks, see opportunities, develop contingency plans, build relationships and network with other organizations doing similar work.
Learn More and Register Here for the Workshop Series!
Cooperative Learning Series: Spotlight on Solar Energy, May 13
Our Learning Community continued its Cooperative Learning Series May 13 with a conversation about community owned solar power at 9Zero in downtown Seattle. With the Seattle Cooperator Meet-up, we welcomed Alex Porteshawver, Adam Powers, and Amy Bettle to explore how communities can collaboratively start, invest in, and sustainably manage cooperative solar gardens. We’ll be sharing videos from the event soon.
To hear about the next Cooperative Learning Series event, make sure you’re on our Learning Community mailing list.
Pictured Above: Alex Porteshawver (left) and Mike Seo (right) talking about solar power cooperatives.
Keep Your Data and Systems Safe: Digital Security Resources for Partners
Partners asked us for resources on digital security. Our Learning Community compiled a list of free and low-cost trainings, consulting services, and publications that can help organizations stay safe.
For trainings that have a fee: The COO Learning Community can offer support (as resources are available) to any King County based group or organization working to build community power for greater equity in health, housing, economic opportunity, and/or civic engagement.
Find out how to get support – read the Digital Security story on our blog.
Community News!
10th Annual Affordable Housing Week Highlights
The 10th annual Affordable Housing Week, hosted by Housing Development Consortium, celebrated affordable housing around King County with more than 20 different events.
At Town Hall, community members gathered for the kickoff event May 12. It featured a keynote from Rep. Emily Alvarado, a presentation on pro-housing messaging, and a conversation about legislative successes this year. You can read our brief recap and see photos on LinkedIn.
Pictured Above: Barista Bezuneh Aytenfisu at the newly opened coffee shop at Ethiopian Community Village.
Housing Justice Panel, May 16
At one of the final events of the week, our director, Elsa Batres-Boni, joined community partners at the “Housing Justice and Community Power” event hosted by Ethiopian Community of Seattle (ECS), at their Ethiopian Community Village in Rainier Valley, May 16.
The morning started with messages from local elected officials, followed by a panel on Housing and Community Resilience featuring local housing providers ECS, Indian American Community Services, and El Centro de la Raza. These partners talked about the strides they’re making to develop community-driven, culturally relevant affordable housing and community gathering places in our local communities.
L-R: Moderator Lydia Assefa-Dawson; Sophia Benalfew, Ethiopian Community of Seattle; Lalita Uppala, Indian American Community Services; Miguel Maestas, El Centro.
Tsega Desta from ECS hosted a discussion with community members they serve, including a mother living in a tiny home village with her child, who talked about the need for affordable housing suited for families.
Next, people from local government shared thoughts about government and public investment partnerships. Our director, Elsa, talked about the importance of community input and the involvement of community members, like our Governance Group member Lydia Assefa-Dawson, who moderated this panel. Elsa explained COO’s role in community development projects: While COO doesn’t have the “big bucks” needed for capital projects, she said, “we invest in the first phase, bringing community members together so they can go after the big bucks.” An example is the White Center HUB, scheduled to start leasing homes this summer, with community partner organizations moving into office and communal space soon after.
L-R: Moderator Lydia Assefa-Dawson; COO Director Elsa Batres-Boni; Yasmeen Perez from King County Equitable Development Program; Jenifer Chao, Seattle Dept of Neighborhoods; Giulia Pasciuto and Jena Franklin from Seattle’s Equitable Development Initiative; Sean Harrington, Washington State Department of Commerce.
Washington Women’s Foundation Meets “Extraordinary Moment,” Announces Awards
Earlier this year, Washington Women’s Foundation (WaWF) members overwhelmingly decided to address the situation nonprofits are facing by moving funding dollars into the community faster. And so, they’ve just announced their 2025 Collective Grants. These unrestricted grants total $319,500 to 28 Washington organizations, including some of our funded partners, with 15 $20,000 Collective Grants and 13 $1,500 Merit Awards.
WaWF said these “amazing organizations” work to increase equity in Washington State in our 2025 priorities: Adult Educational Opportunities, Youth Mental Health, and Mitigating the Impact of Climate Change.
Congratulations to all the awardees, especially our partners!
Pride Is Here: What It Means Year Round
Taylor Farley, executive director of Queer Power Alliance, wrote an op-ed about the true meaning of Pride for South Seattle Emerald, published May 14: Pride Is a Year-Round Call to Action — Not a Corporate Celebration.
Queer Power Alliance is the lead organization for our funded partnership LGBTQIA+ South King Collaborative.
Open Doors Secures $12 Million for Inclusive Housing in State Budget
Open Doors for Multicultural Families has secured $12 million from Washington state to help fund the Kent Multicultural Village. The groundbreaking initiative will provide inclusive housing, critical family resources, and early learning opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The Kent Multicultural Village is being developed in partnership with Mercy Housing Northwest.
Read more about the Kent Multicultural Village
More good news for ODMF: Their Executive Director, Ginger Kwan, was honored as Community Champion at the Affordable Housing Week kickoff. Congratulations, Ginger!
UW School of Public Health Visits Alums at Tubman Health
Four staff members at Tubman Center for Health and Freedom – all alums of the University of Washington School of Public Health – were featured in the school’s online magazine.
In the story, Tubman Health brings community-owned healthcare to Seattle, the four shared the strength of their UW connections and how community shaped the societal and personal healing that Tubman Health offers.
Insights Into Snoqualmie Valley in New Community Needs Assessment
In April, A Supportive Community For All released the 2025 Snoqualmie Valley Community Needs Assessment, completed by BERK Consulting on behalf of A Supportive Community For All and the Snoqualmie Valley Human Services Coalition. This comprehensive report provides critical insights into the needs of our community, highlighting key areas where support is most needed to foster a healthier, more equitable future for all residents.
Read the report on the A Supportive Community for All website.
Partner Events
Visit our Community Events Calendar for these events and many more:
Black Wall Street, Africatown Community Land Trust, May 31
Skyway Resource Center Grand Opening, May 31
Tubman Health Therapeutic Community Garden Work Party, June 1
First Friday Art Walk, Central District, Friday, June 6
Beacon Hill Festival, June 7
Sno Valley Pride Picnic, Sunday, June 8
Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle Block Party, Friday, June 13
Juneteenth Events from Multiple Partner Organizations:
Skyway Juneteenth Celebration and Festival (June 14)
Skate to Freedom Party, Northwest African American Museum (June 19)
Summer of Soul Juneteenth Celebration, Africatown Community Land Trust (June 19)
Juneteenth Freedom Day, Creative Justice (June 19)
Rat City Art Walk, Thursday, June 19
CommUNITY Barbeque, Look 2 Justice, Sunday, June 29
Farmers Markets:
SeaTac – Wednesdays, 4-7 p.m.
Delridge – Saturdays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Skyway – Every 2nd and Last Sunday of the month, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Do you have an event you’d like us to share? Please send it to us!
We also share dozens of Instagram stories from partners every day on our Instagram page.
To learn more about these and other community events, please visit our Community Events Calendar.
Other Opportunities
Apply for Regional West Native Leadership Institute Training
Apply By June 27
Advance Native Political Leadership, Native Action Network, and California Native Vote Project will host their first-ever Regional West Native Leadership Institute training from September 5–10 in Seattle. This one-of-a-kind opportunity is for Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian leaders based in Washington and California who are ready to step into civic leadership.
To be considered, applicants must complete the application process by June 27, 2025. You can also nominate someone.
Learn More about the Native Leadership Institute Training
Take the Pride Survey
LGBTQ+/2S and living in Washington State? You’re eligible to take the annual Pride Survey plus a chance to win 1 of 10 brand new iPads!
The drawing for iPads will take place at the end of August and winners will be contacted via email by August 31, 2025.
Learn More and Take the Survey (English and Spanish)
For Young People: Register for Public Health Camp by July 1
Registration for the free annual Public Health Camp for teens is now open to all young people aged 16 and older.
August 4–8th, 9 a.m. –3:30 p.m. (day camp, no overnights)
Lunch and snacks provided each day
Camp address: King County Chinook building – 401 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
Financial enrichment provided for participants who complete THE Public Health Camp ambassador program.
If you are interested in attending, but experience barriers or challenges that you believe may prevent you from doing so, please reach out to the team.
Reminder: King County Human and Civil Rights Commission Seeks Members
Apply by June 3
King County has launched a new Human and Civil Rights Commission. The commission will advise county government on implementing policies that advance human and civil rights.
Commission members who are not government employed receive a $75 stipend provided for each monthly commission meeting and reimbursements for transportation costs.
Funding Opportunities
Best Starts for Kids Investing Early Together RFP
Apply by June 20!
The Best Starts for Kids Investing Early Together: Community-Based Parenting Supports, Home-Based Services, and Universal Developmental Screening & Promotion request for proposals (RFP) is now open. This funding opportunity closes on Friday, June 20, at 2 p.m.; please submit your application by then.
We recognize that prenatal to five services are interconnected and complementary. In response to extensive community feedback, we are releasing this joint RFP to streamline the application process, reduce administrative burden, and provide organizations with a full and clear picture of funding to support sustainable staffing and community services.
Use the following links to view the full funding opportunity details and apply:
More Funding Opportunities
See funding opportunities from Best Starts for Kids and many others on our Funding Opportunities page.
Non-Best Starts Opportunities: You can also check out funding opportunities from other agencies and organizations that support groups that promote the health and well-being of our babies, children, and young people on the list maintained by Best Starts for Kids. Read more!
Job Opportunities
API Chaya: Executive Director
ArtsFund: Engagement Coordinator
Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area: Community Safety Manager (priority application by June 6)
Coyote Central: Program Manager and Program Coordinator
Northwest Justice Project: Staff Attorney, Native American Unit – apply by June 2
Seattle Heart Association: Community Advocacy Director
Seattle Indian Services Commission: Administrative Coordinator – open till filled
Seattle Parks Foundation: Manager of Grants and Institutional Engagement – apply by June 29
Skyway Coalition: Community Business Engagement Coordinator (part-time, temporary)
Vision Change Win: Executive Director – priority application by June 5
Washington Power-Building Table: Coordinator (part-time)
King County Best Starts for Kids: Prenatal to Five Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Program Manager (PPM III) – apply by June 7
See more job listings on these sites that collect multiple opportunities:
Housing Development Consortium’s job listings from housing organizations
Philanthropy Northwest’s searchable list of positions in development, communications and more
King County, City of Seattle, State of Washington, and other government jobs at www.governmentjobs.com
About This List: These job announcements were current as of May 29, 2025. Please check the employer's site for the most current information. We also share job opportunities every day on our LinkedIn page.
If you have a job to share in next month's issue, please send it to us by mid-June. Thanks!
A Note to Our Readers: Next month, the newsletter may be delayed while we test a new delivery platform, and because of some time out of office for staff. Thank you for your work, and for reading!