Community News! September 2025
NEWS, STORIES, AND RECENT ARTICLES FROM AND ABOUT COO PARTNERS IN COMMUNITY
This is a condensed version of our monthly newsletter distributed Sept. 11, 2025. Get all the news by signing up for the monthly newsletter.
A message from our Director, Elsa Batres-Boni
Dear Partners,
Dear COO Partners,
Building meaningful community connections is essential for creating the infrastructure and the power to pursue healthy, self-determined, and thriving lives for our families and communities.
In this newsletter, among many other opportunities, COO invites you to attend our annual All-Partners Convening, which will take place on October 8–9 in a conference format. This thoughtfully curated two-day event will bring together current funded partners, local and regional leaders, and subject-matter experts. We will learn from one another, share challenges and lessons learned, and build skills that contribute to our collective capacity to create long-term change and impact in local policies and systems, to ensure better access to economic opportunities, health, quality affordable housing, and healthy environments.
Our 2025 All-Partner Convening is a powerful opportunity for our partners to connect, recognize each other's contributions to the larger movement we are creating, and strategize together. We know that more than ever, now, community gatherings are crucial.
Please see details below.
See you in October!
En Comunidad,
Elsa
All-Partner Convening Oct. 8-9 – “For Those Yet to Come”
Register Now!
Please join us for two days of connection and learning at our All-Partner Convening, Oct. 8-9 at Highline College. The Convening is free; meals are included; and you can attend for one or both days.
Our Fall convening is a participatory gathering rooted in care, imagination, and practice. We invite all COO network partners invested in sustainable, just, and intergenerational futures to come together in dialogue and creative exchange.
More information about the keynotes, speakers, workshops, and activities is coming soon. The Convening is open to current and former funded partners and aligned partners.
Cooperative Learning Series: New Videos to Share
Last month, COO’s Learning Community published videos of an event from the Cooperative Learning Series in June, Financing Cooperative Businesses. This month, we have another to share: Solar Energy Cooperatives.
Cooperative Solar is a way to increase access to renewable energy. At 9Zero in May, three experts – Amy Bettle, Alex Pentishawver, and Adam Powers – hosted a discussion on “Powering Community: Starting and Scaling Cooperative Solar.” They told us about how communities can collaboratively start, invest in, and sustainably manage cooperative solar.
Watch this short video for the Solar highlights, and the full hour on our YouTube channel.
The Cooperative Learning Series explores the regional cooperative ecosystem and models of cooperative housing, worker-owned enterprises, and cooperative infrastructure.
Coming Soon:
A recap from our “Solidarity Social” Aug. 24 at Seattle University, featuring two compelling documentary films about cooperatives, before the Northwest Cooperative Conference in Seattle.
Takeaways from the nonprofit leaders who attended the Hispanics in Philanthropy-Native Americans in Philanthropy conference this summer. They shared their reflections at an Aug. 25 webinar, “Voces del Tēpatl,” as well as an exciting announcement about an opportunity for Latine and Pueblo Originarios leaders in the Pacific Northwest.
Watch for these coming up on our blog!
Community News!
Burien Collaborative hosts their Back to School Night
Burien Collaborative partners, left-right: Athena Moag, Southwest Youth & Family Services; Pastor Lina Thompson, Lake Burien Presbyterian Church; Katie Russell, Burien Collaborative; Roxana Pardo Garcia, Alimentando al Pueblo; and Pat Thompson, YES! Foundation.
The Burien Collaborative hosted a community Back to School Bash Friday, Aug. 29 at Lake Burien Presbyterian Church. In addition to giving away hundreds of backpacks filled with school supplies, there was food, games, music, and lots more family fun.
There was also a bouncy house. How fun was that? “It was so fun a kiddo lost a shoe,” said Roxana Pardo Garcia of Alimentando al Pueblo in an Instagram post. You can join the fun without losing your shoe by watching the reels on the Alimentando Instagram page here, here, and here, and see photos here.
Funding Opportunity: NextCycle Seed Grants
Apply By Sept. 19
The NextCycle (NCWA) Seed Grants opportunity will provide funding for up to 15 circular economy projects in King County, up to $10,000 each. This is a partnership between King County’s Re+ program and NextCycle.
Projects must have an impact on King County’s waste system, which excludes Seattle and Milton. So, organizations in Seattle and Milton are not eligible - unless they can show their projects would impact the waste stream and develop circular economy project/business/outcome outside of those areas.
Previous Seed grant and circular economy grant awardees include Wasat, Vashon Care Network, South King Tool Library, Refugee Artisan Initiative, Restaurant 2 Garden and DVSA.
Learn More and Apply for the Seed Grants [note: this opportunity closed Sept. 19]
Tubman Health Releases DREAM Study
The Tubman Center for Health and Freedom recently released their newest research report: The DREAM Study (Designing Responsive, Equitable, and Accountable Models of Care). The report includes five key learnings from the community. Read the report here.
More news: The Seattle Medium recently wrote about Tubman Health’s care model, in Tubman Health Launches Values-Driven Alternative To Profit-Based Medicine
Chief Seattle Club’s Belgarde Talks About Homelessness in Magazine and at Sept. 25 Event
Derrick Belgarde, CEO of Chief Seattle Club, shared his personal healing journey and insights about homelessness in ICT (formerly Indian Country Today). He emphasized the importance of securing housing first, then providing the support that relatives need to transition out of homelessness. Read Derrick’s reflection, First comes housing, then comes healing - ICT
On Sept. 25, Derrick will join two other experts for “Cruel and ineffective: A conversation about the increased criminalization of homelessness in our city, state, and country.” Co-presenting with Derrick at this free event – 7-8:30 p.m. at the Seattle Central Library -- are Prof. Josephine Ensign of University of Washington and Prof. Sara Rankin of Seattle University’s Homeless Rights Advocacy Project. Learn more and register for the event here
COO PNW Fellow Is International Examiner Youth Award Winner
When the International Examiner honors its Community Voice Award winners next month, Nurhaliza Mohamath will be among them. Nurhaliza is being honored with the Tatsuo Nakata Youth Award.
Read about why Nurhaliza was chosen for the CVA and her work on food justice. Congratulations to Nurhaliza, who also recently completed COO’s Powerful Narratives Work (PNW) fellowship. And watch for reflections on the PNW Fellowship coming soon.
KCPEC Hosts Burien Women’s Coach Symposium
King County Play Equity Coalition partnered with Burien Parks & Recreation and Positive Coaching Alliance on Aug. 17 for a Burien Women’s Coach Symposium. The purpose of this training event for BIPOC and majority Spanish-speaking women was to encourage them to step into the world of coaching. You can see their event recap and photos on their Instagram post.
Cham Refugees Community Breaks Ground on New Center
Cham Refugees Community celebrated a milestone in August when they broke ground on their new 13,000-square-foot Community Center in South Seattle. They called it “a day filled with excitement, hope, and unity.” The organization, founded in 1982, expects to complete the project by early 2027. Visit their photo gallery from the groundbreaking on their Instagram post.
Civic Commons Shares Learnings for Scaling Starter Home Production
Civic Commons Black Home Initiative recently released the products of their strategic framework process for scaling the production of "starter" homes affordable to households 50-120% AMI (area median income). Three foundational documents from the process are now available: Starter Home Production Plan; Ecosystem Playbook; Demonstration Program Playbook. You can download them at The Comprehensive and Scalable Starter Home Production Plan — Civic Commons
Partner Helps Shape Ethical Storytelling Guide for Documentaries
Sherri Shuster, documentary filmmaker, is featured in this ethics guide for documentary filmmaking, “Centering Survivor Stories,” from Video Consortium. Sherri until recently was on staff at Disability Rights Washington and was a member of the COO Evaluation Advisory Group; she’s now at Hedgebrook. The guide focuses on trauma-informed and community-centered practices for working with survivors.
Listen Up: Partners on Podcasts
Two of our partners recently dropped by some community podcasts to share their work.
Gregory Jamiel of SnoValley Pride talked with “The Valley Voice with Jessica Self” about building connection and inclusivity in Snoqualmie Valley. Listen to the episode and see Gregory’s reflection on the experience on their Instagram post.
Jayanna Volle of CHOOSE 180 visited United Way of King County’s The Hourglass podcast to talk about CHOOSE 180’s expansion into Pierce County.
Passive House and Seattle Social Housing Featured in The Urbanist
Seattle Social Housing was featured in an Urbanist article about passive house standards – the world’s most rigorous green building benchmark. Read about how they plan to use passive house design to build homes that are healthier, climate-ready, and designed for generations to come. Seattle Social Housing Developer Strives for High Sustainability and Affordability Standards » The Urbanist
Partner Events: Election Edition!
Candidate Forums: Prepare for our General Election
Our community partners are again hosting a series of candidate forums for elected office around King County. These discussions will help you make some important decisions for the Nov. 4 general election. There are already too many to include in this newsletter, so we listed them on our blog.
So far, we know that coalitions like Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) and Eastside Housing Equity Coalition (EHEC) are hosting multiple forums in East King County, while Build 2 Lead is hosting a special forum for youth in South King County. The South Seattle Emerald is hosting a forum for the Seattle mayoral candidates. If your community organization is hosting a candidate forum, please send the information to us!
Here's one coming up quickly! TONIGHT -- Thursday, Sept. 11: King County Executive Candidate Forum hosted by APIC
The Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) is hosting this online forum with our County Executive candidates. Register to get the link to the forum. The Coalition includes CISC, Eastside for All, Indian American Community Services, and NAMI Eastside.
If your community organization is hosting a candidate forum, please send the information to us!
More Partner Events
Sept. 13 and 14: Journey to Justice Tour in Seattle, from Look 2 Justice
September 13th, join Look 2 Justice for a night of storytelling as they share first-hand experiences from survivors of solitary confinement at Town Hall in Seattle. Register for the Town Hall event. The next day, the tour moves to the Faith Community Event at Rainier Avenue Church, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Register for the Faith Community Event.
The events are part of the journey To Justice Bus Tour, which blends artivism, public education, and immersive experiences to fuel the movement to end solitary confinement. More information about the tour: Journey to Justice Bus Tour – Solitary Confinement is Torture
Week Without Driving, Disability Rights Washington and partners
Sept. 29 – Oct. 5, nationwide
If you can drive or afford a car, you may not understand what it’s like to rely on walking, rolling, transit and asking for rides. But for nearly a third of people living in the United States – people with disabilities, young people, seniors and people who can’t afford cars or gas – this is our every day.
Disability Rights Washington created the Week Without Driving experience in 2021 so that those who have the option to drive can learn firsthand about the barriers and challenges that nondrivers face and work with nondrivers to create more accessible communities for all. The experience expanded to nationwide in 2023. Learn More about Week Without Driving
Visit our Community Events Calendar for many more events!
Other Opportunities
Communities Count Data Roadshow
Wednesday, September 24, 10-11 a.m., Zoom
Communities Count will share new and updated data resources that highlight the social, economic, and health experiences of King County communities.
Whether you’re a data expert, a community advocate, or simply curious about local trends, this session is an opportunity to:
Learn more about publicly available data tools that support community planning, program development, and equity efforts
Share your feedback to help us make these resources more accessible and relevant
Questions? Contact us at communitiescount@kingcounty.gov.
Vision 2045 Open House – King County International Airport
Thursday, Sept. 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The Vision 2045 Airport Plan will evaluate how King County International Airport/Boeing Field can evolve and adapt to meet future aviation demand and become a world-class airport. This open house will focus on gathering public input on the airport plan’s draft alternatives.
This planning process will result in an airport plan that will serve airport users and members of the surrounding communities for the next 20 years. The open house will be at the Flight Service Station, 6526 Ellis Avenue S in Seattle. Learn more on the project website.
Other Opportunities
King County Office of Law Enforcement Oversight Seeks Advocates
The Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (OLEO) represents the interests of the public in its efforts to hold the King County Sheriff’s Office accountable for providing fair and just police services. OLEO is looking for community members for its Community Advisory Committee for Law Enforcement Oversight who want to serve as advocates for the interests of the diverse communities across King County. Learn more and apply here.
Funding Opportunities
Visit the Best Starts Funding Opportunities page
See funding opportunities from 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
City of Seattle Office of Housing: Senior Affordable Housing Program Analyst – apply by Sept. 9; Asset Manager – apply by Sept. 16
Communities Rise: Lawyer
Global Perinatal Services: Doula
Hedgebrook: Impact and Evaluation Officer – apply by Sept. 30
Housing Connector: Chief Operating Officer
KEXP: Director of Leadership Giving – apply by Sept. 15
Solid Ground: Senior Director of Philanthropy and Communications – open till filled
Washington Low Income Housing Alliance: Development and Events Manager – priority application by Sept. 14
WAISN: Campaigns Manager; Language Justice Organizer – open till filled
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 Sept. 11, 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 Sept. 25. Thanks!