Community News! February/March 2026
NEWS, STORIES, AND RECENT ARTICLES FROM AND ABOUT COO PARTNERS IN COMMUNITY
This is a condensed version of our monthly newsletter distributed March 5, 2026. Get all the news by signing up for the monthly newsletter.
“A Full-Circle Moment”: COO Gathers Partners in Space that Community Built Together
Left – Community partners Aaron Garcia and Sili Savusa at White Center HUB groundbreaking, May 2024 (photo by Via Creative). Center – Community Partnerships Partner Pat Thompson at the HUB ribbon-cutting celebration. Right – José leads a group activity with Dan, Dairyona, David, Jas, and others at the Re-Orientation at White Center HUB.
When Communities of Opportunity hosted a partner gathering February 24, there was special meaning in the gathering place. “It was an amazing full-circle moment,” said José Camacho Martinez, Strategy Lead for COO’s Place-Based and Community Partnerships strategy. That’s because COO’s funding years ago supported the community coalition-building work that helped create the beautiful new White Center HUB (Hope, Unity, Belonging) and Canopy Apartments. The campus had just held its ribbon-cutting in January.
On this day, one month later, funded partners from the Community Partnerships strategy gathered in the HUB’s Savusa Hall – named for longtime COO Governance Group member Sili Savusa – for a Re-Orientation meeting. These partners recently received funding extensions through December 31, 2027, to continue their coalition and partnerships work that had started three years ago.
Along with José, Program Managers Dan Bernard and Sandy Centeno, Learning Community Strategy Lead Whitney Johnson, and other COO and Best Starts staff supported partners that day. Partners re-connected with each other, learned about capacity building resources available to them, talked about updates on contracting and evaluation, and dreamed together.
One of the highlights, said José, was hearing directly from Pat Thompson of the YES! Foundation, a member of the currently funded partner Burien Collaborative. Pat talked about “what it felt like from dreaming and visioning as part of the original COO-funded Place-Based Partners in White Center, to see the momentum shift of building collective power, to breaking ground, and now having a physical space to show up and do the work on the ground!”
José said he’s proud of the work COO does to contribute to these dreams and realities of their partners. “We look forward to the next two years as we support them in their work to build power and drive change.”
Apply for the Facilitating Creatively Cohort
Apply By:
March 9 for English-Language Cohort
April 1 for Spanish-Language Cohort
There’s still time to apply for the free two-part Facilitating Creatively training series. This opportunity is open to 12 participants only. It will be offered twice:
As an English-language cohort, April 9-10 (apply by March 9);
As a Spanish-language cohort, May 7-8 (apply by April 1). Leer en español
Learn More and Apply (English and Spanish)
Governance Group Is Recruiting Members – Apply Now!
We’re currently recruiting members for our COO-Best Starts for Kids Advisory Board/Governance Group (GG). We’re especially interested in King County residents who live in districts 1, 3, 4, and 9, and we welcome applications from across the county. Find your district here.
Some of the GG members at the White Center HUB ribbon cutting included (left-right) Cilia Jurdy, Sili Savusa, Elsa Batres-Boni, and Aaron Garcia.
If you’re interested, find out more about the importance of the GG and why members value the experience.
The Governance Group provides guidance on the implementation of COO strategy and activities, and serves in an advisory role for the COO elements of the Best Starts for Kids levy implementation plan.
Social Media Updates! Connect With Us
We hope you’ll follow us on our social media platforms, including Instagram and our LinkedIn page, where we share news and opportunities that happen between newsletters.
For job fairs, trainings and other career and professional development resources, you can join the list for our Workforce Development newsletter. You can also check out our Workforce Development Opportunities web page, for training and other opportunities that are open year round, with no imminent application due dates.
Community News!
Updates from Olympia
The 2026 legislative session is scheduled to end March 12, and our partners have been very active. Partners have been bringing together people from across the state to convene in Olympia this session, and using their community power to push for systems and policy change. Here are some updates about their legislative wins and their Advocacy Day experiences.
Coalition members celebrate the passage of the bill. Photo Credit: Casa Latina’s LinkedIn page.
Casa Latina and Partner Wins Historic Bill of Rights for Domestic Workers
Congratulations to our funded partner, Casa Latina, for successfully advocating for the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights!
With their coalition partners, including Fair Work Center, Casa Latina had pushed for years for this statewide version of the Seattle law that they had advocated for in 2018.
Both Casa Latina and Fair Work Center are funded partners of COO.
More Advocacy Day Recaps!
The cover of the most recent Mockingbird Times, with a photo of Youth Advocacy Day.
Last month, we previewed some of the then-upcoming Advocacy Days in Olympia, and shared coverage of Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network’s Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Day on Thursday, Jan. 22. Since then, partners hosted many more Advocacy Days; here are some highlights.
To start, Casa Latina wrote about their experience at the Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Day hosted by Washington Immigrant Support Network (WAISN).
Statewide Poverty Action Network (SPAN) shared their reflections on their MLK Lobby Day: Rejecting Silence in Olympia Rejecting silence in Olympia - Solid Ground
King County Play Equity Coalition called their Youth Sports Day “a historic ‘home run’ for kids across Washington!”
The Mockingbird Society published a five-page recap of their Youth Advocacy Day. They also shared the latest issue of The Mockingbird Times, featuring a photo from Advocacy Day on the cover (at right). And, welcome to their new Executive Director Yvonne-Monique Aviva!
Casa Latina, SPAN, and WAISN are COO funded partners. King County Play Equity Coalition is a Best Starts for Kids funded partner, in the Healthy and Safe Environments strategy.
WAISN Talks about ICE Rapid Response & More on CityCast
Screenshot from the podcast with (left-right) Nedra Rivera, Jane Hu, and Débora Oliveira.
The CityCast podcast recently featured Nedra Rivera and Débora Oliveira, M. Ed. from the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN). They talked with host Jane Hu about ICE rapid response trainings in Seattle, the increase in violence they’re seeing by ICE officers in King County, and why WAISN doesn’t use whistles for rapid response.
WAISN is a funded partner of COO. CityCast is a daily local podcast & newsletter to help people feel more connected to Seattle.
Listen or watch CityCast with WAISN
NAAPR Wins HEAL Grant from State of Washington
Congratulations to our funded partner New Americans Alliance for Policy and Research. They were among the 6 awardees of the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Community Capacity Grant from the Washington State Department of Health.
A community advisory committee selected these community-based organizations through a competitive process. These organizations are expected to receive a total of $1.4 million.
The Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act was passed in 2021. The HEAL Act helps to reduce environmental and health disparities and improve the health of all people in Washington state.
South Seattle Emerald Covers the HUB Ribbon Cutting
White Center CDA staff and friends — including Aaron Garcia, far right — gather to cut the ribbon on the HUB. Photo by COO staff.
“White Center deserves these nice things, and it shouldn't come at the cost of displacing the community that's been here for so long.” Aaron Garcia, executive director of White Center Community Development Association, talked about the new HUB and the Canopy Apartments in a recent South Seattle Emerald story.
The story also looks at some of the other White Center CDA and COO partners who are making a home there, including Southwest Youth and Family Services, FEEST, and the Yes! Foundation. Congratulations to our partners for all the well deserved attention they‘ve been getting for this achievement.
Chief Seattle Club’s Belgarde Meets with Senator Murray & Other Housing Leaders
Chief Seattle Club CEO Derrick Belgarde was invited to meet with Senator Patty Murray at an Affordable Housing Roundtable hosted at the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) in mid-February. During this meeting, Senator Murray announced $1.8 million in funding for the future Thunderbird Nest Family Housing, a joint project between Bellwether Housing and Chief Seattle Club.
BLKBRY Invited to UK Conference on Maternal Health
Jazmin Williams, founder of BLKBRY, will speak at the Black Maternal Health Conference UK 2026, March 20 in London. The conference is hosted by The Motherhood Group. Jazmin described them as “an incredible organization that has been doing the werk to combat the Black Maternal Health Crisis in the UK for 10 years.”
BLKBRY has been a member of two COO funded partnerships: Burien Collaborative and Surge Reproductive Justice’s Doulas for All Coalition. Congratulations Jasmin!
Housing Development Consortium Launches Sustainability Newsletter
Housing Development Consortium has launched its newest newsletter, the Sustainability Update. The newsletter shares newly released opportunities directly related to the affordable housing sector’s work in going beyond code to exemplary green buildings. The first issue included funding opportunities, technical assistance, trainings, and more.
Visit their Sustainable Buildings Initiative page to learn more about this work and to sign up for the newsletter.
HDC is a member of the Eastside Housing Equity Coalition, a partnership between Indian American Community Services (IACS), Muslim Community Network Association, Eastside for All, and HDC. COO funds IACS for this partnership work.
Open Doors Starts Construction on Multicultural Village
Open Doors for Multicultural Families said they are “OVER THE MOON to share that construction is officially starting on our future home, The Multicultural Village, in Kent!” This new project with Mercy Housing, near Kent Des Moines Station, will build new affordable homes with new retail, daycare, and office/community space — designed with accessibility and inclusivity in mind.
Open Doors invites people to keep track of the project by signing up for their newsletter. Open Doors is a funded partner of COO.
Tubman Health is Honored for “Doing The Impossible”
Screenshot of the video from the ceremony as Paula Houston of UW Medicine (right) presents the award to Danisha Jefferson-Abye.
Tubman Center for Health and Freedom in January was honored with the MLK Tribute Distributed Service Award from UW Medicine and UW Health Sciences, for the Distinguished Service Award. Founder and COO Danisha Jefferson-Abye accepted the award, which honors organizations committed to improving the health of the public with equity at the forefront. Danisha said that when they first started, people said that what they were trying to do was not possible. “Now we’ve been around for six years and we’re doing the impossible.”
Congratulations to Tubman Health! Watch the ceremony and see the list of recipients for other awards.
Overcoming Restrictive Covenants: HomeSight Shares Tools
More than 37,000 homes in King County still have racially restrictive covenants in their deeds – a tool of institutional racism that segregates neighborhoods. But they can be easily removed, says HomeSight, who recently shared some simple steps to do it.
You can also link to the interactive map created by the University of Washington to see what neighborhoods are still affected.
HomeSight also noted that if you or your ancestors were directly impacted (displaced or barred) by these covenants, you may be eligible for down payment assistance or closing cost support through the Covenant Homeownership Account Act administered by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission and HomeSight.
Partner Events
Melanin and Medicine, March 31-April 2: “It’s In Me”
Build 2 Lead invites middle- and high-school students (grades 7–12) to the Melanin and Medicine event, March 31-April 2 in South King County. First hosted in 2023, Melanin and Medicine is expanding to three days this year. Build 2 Lead hopes to attract 150 students interested in healthcare, wellness, STEM, or community leadership. They’re also seeking speakers, volunteers, and other supporters.
The event focuses on closing gaps in access, representation, and economic opportunity within healthcare career pathways. It brings together students, healthcare professionals, educators, and community partners to provide youth with exposure to entry-level, professional, and executive-level healthcare careers through mentorship, workshops, and networking.
The schedule includes:
March 31 (Tuesday): “It’s In Me” Documentary Reveal, 5-7 p.m.
April 1 (Wednesday): Melanin & Medicine Mixer, 6-9 p.m.
April 2 (Thursday): Youth Experience Day, 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Register, Volunteer, or Submit a Speaker Proposal for Melanin and Medicine
For questions or partnership coordination, contact Jimmy Brown or Shylene Vang.
Find more partner and other community events on the Community Events calendar on our website. You can now view it as a calendar layout or the new list format.
Visit our Community Events Calendar for COO and partner events!
Other Opportunities
King County’s Language Access Program Seeks Community Language Service Providers
Apply by 2 p.m. March 12
To Community Language Service Providers: Here's a new Request for Applications opportunity. These services include translation, community review, interpretation, voice-over, and video development.
More Information: Language Access Program: Community Language Services - King County, Washington
Funding Opportunities
Apply for Grants More Easily -- Create an Agiloft Account Now
If you’re interested, in applying for Best Starts for Kids funding, please plan to set up an Agiloft account first. Agiloft is the contract and invoice management software that includes solicitations, also known as funding opportunities. The Department of Community & Human Services (DCHS) is expanding the use of Agiloft.
To make your future application process as easy as possible, review this announcement from DCHS to get ready. Learn more!
For existing Best Starts partners:
Apply for the Capacity Building Small Grants
Apply By 2:00 p.m. Thursday, April 23, 2026
The purpose of this Request for Application (RFA) is to support community-based organizations (CBOs) that are current awardees of Best Starts funds (who have a Best Starts contract on April 23, 2026). The small grants will support the infrastructure needed to enhance Best Starts partner CBOs’ capacity to provide services and programming. This includes the equipment, systems, resources, and processes that sustain the key functions of an organization. A new focus for this round of Best Starts’ capacity building small grant is prioritization of projects that support the fiscal management capacity. Applicants may request up to $9,999 in their proposed budget.
Learn More about the Capacity Building Small Grants
Best Starts for Kids Prenatal to Five (P-5) Innovation Fund RFP, Round 3
Apply by May 15, 2026 at 2 p.m.
Best Starts for Kids P-5 Innovation Funds aim to build up the power of community-driven Innovation to meet the emergent needs of families in King County. We seek community leaders to design, develop, test, and build the potential of innovative Anti-racist approaches such as policies, programs, products, media, places, and services) centering Black families, Indigenous families, families of color, immigrant and refugee families, LGBTQ+ families, families with disabilities, families involved in the child welfare system, low-income families, and those geographically isolated.
Learn More about P-5 Innovation Funds and the Information Session March 17
For upcoming Best Starts Opportunities, visit the Best Starts Funding Opportunities calendar
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 and see the February-April opportunities!
COO’s List: See funding opportunities from many other funders on our Funding Opportunities page.
Job Opportunities
A Supportive Community For All: Case Manager – apply by March 22
API Chaya: Executive Director
Pike Place Market Foundation: Executive Director
Seattle Indian Services Commission: Executive Director – open till filled
SouthEast Effective Development: Fund Development Manager – open till filled
Solid Ground: Community Policy & Engagement Manager - Solid Ground -- open till filled
United Way of King County: Engagement Officer
Working Washington: Strategic Communications Director – apply by March 13
Best Starts for Kids: Strategy Leads (3 positions) -- Transitions to Adulthood, Stopping the School to Prison Pipeline and Liberation and Healing from Systemic Racism – apply by March 14
King County Metro: Numerous positions including Communications Specialist III - Language Equity Lead and Communications Specialist III - Community Engagement Planner – apply by March 4 for both
King County Parks Department: Construction & Demolition Technical Specialist, Solid Waste Division – apply by March 12
Washington State Department of Commerce: Clean Buildings Performance Standard Compliance Specialist – apply by March 5
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
National Council of Nonprofits searchable list
If you have a job to share in next month's issue, please send it to us by March 22. Thanks!