Community News! June-July 2026
NEWS, STORIES, AND RECENT ARTICLES FROM AND ABOUT COO PARTNERS IN COMMUNITY
This is an online version of our monthly newsletter distributed July 9, 2026. Get all the news by signing up for the monthly newsletter.
Partners Talk About Collective Impact at Convening, June 5
Pictured: Graphic artist Mari Shubuya talks with one of our partners
More than 70 of our funded partners, Governance Group members, and staff came together for our Spring All-Partner Convening June 3.
We met in Savusa Hall of the beautiful White Center HUB, built by White Center Community Development Association -- a place that's especially meaningful for us at COO. The purpose was to talk about “Building Power and Telling the Story” of our collective impact since COO’s founding in 2014.
One of the highlights was a “fireside chat” between community partner Pat Thompson of YES! Foundation and COO Strategy Lead José Camacho Martinez. They discussed the story of the newly opened HUB and the White Center Partnership -- an early COO investment that led to the development of the HUB. José called the HUB “a model of what is possible when we invest in Community Power!”
Visit the Photo Gallery from the Convening
Our activities included group discussions about how our partners are building community power; a narrative power and data mapping exercise; and a graphic recording by Mari Shibuya. We also hosted a wellness area with arts and crafts activities, healing herbs, and a book fair. Our newest little COO baby even came by for a visit!
Many thanks to all our funded partners who attended; to Pat Thompson of YES! Foundation for telling the story of the HUB; and to La Roxay Productions/Roxana Pardo Garcia, Uncommon Bridges, and Cascadia Consulting Group for supporting the event.
Join Us for the Best Starts Road Show in South King County, July 15
Community partners at a previous Roadshow.
Partners, especially in South King County: We hope you'll join us at the next Best Starts for Kids Road Show in Renton, Wednesday, July 15, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.! The Best Starts Roadshow is all about bringing together our community partners, staff, and local city officials to build stronger connections and better serve our communities. This time, the co-host is the South King County Forum. Lunch will be served.
Learn more and RSVP for the Road Show today!
Co-Op Events Focus on Finance, Co-Housing, and More
May 29: Vashon Co-Housing Community
Community members at the May 29 event. Photo credit: Mark from the Vashon Cohousing Community
At our May 29 Cooperative Learning Series event with the Vashon Co-Housing Community, over 30 people gathered to hear about the different financing models for co-operative housing and employee ownership. Models range from land acquisition and financing to community co-governance and incubation of local social enterprises.
Speakers from Shared Capital, Salish Sea Co-Op, and Washingtonians for Public Banking spoke about their work and opportunities for different kinds of collective and public financing. They also discussed how strengthening co-operative relationships — co-ops supporting and investing in other co-ops— can strengthen a regional ecosystem of greater economic stability, equity, and solidarity.
Pictured Above: Co-op community members and COO staff at the May 29 event. Photo by Mark, Vashon Cohousing Community.
Pictured Above: Jane Lester points out features of the Crow Woods setting. Photo by COO.
June 30: Crow Woods co-housing, North Seattle
Our Cooperative Learning Series community next met at Crow Woods in North Seattle, June 30.
Retired physician Jane Lester described how she developed property into new homes for a co-owned community. Watch for a story to come!
Coming Up July 16: A Look at National Co-Op Opportunities
Our next Cooperative Learning Series event is about Connecting with the National Co-op Ecosystem on July 16, 5:50-7:30 p.m. on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. It’s free! Food will be served.
Learn More and Register for this co-op event today!
The Cooperative Learning Series is part of our Learning Community strategy, which hosts the series in partnership with the Seattle Cooperators Meetup.
“Why Does It Matter, Why Now?” - Veteran Journalist Advises COO’s Narrative Fellows
Pictured Above: Florangela shares her insights with the group. Photo by COO.
Veteran journalist and newsroom leader Florangela Davila, executive director of the South Seattle Emerald, recently shared some wisdom with the Powerful Narratives Work (PNW) Fellowship members. We gathered on May 28 at Métier Brewing Company in Seattle’s Central District. Florangela is serving as one of three Narrative Advisors for the Fellowship.
Read more about Florangela’s advice on changing the narrative, some behind-the-scenes stories from the Emerald, and what’s happening with the Fellowships in our new story, “Why Does It Matter, Why Now.”
Pictured Above: Rinku Sen advises the Fellows about narrative change. Photo by COO.
“I Have A Deep Bias Toward Action” – Narrative Advisor Rinku Sen, June 5
In the second session with a Narrative Advisor, this year’s Powerful Narratives Work (PNW) Fellowship cohort met with Rinku Sen on June 25.
Rinku is an Indian-American author, activist, political strategist, and the executive director of Narrative Initiative.
At Made Space Seattle in Seattle’s Central District, she shared with the Fellows her perspective on using narrative to drive action. We hope to share that story later this summer!
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!
New LGBTQ+ SKC Report Reveals Challenges, Cultural Pride, and More
LGBTQ+ South King County Collaborative recently released their community data key findings and recommendations for community action. Community members reported challenges with housing, income, healthcare access, and safety, due to systems designed to serve the majority rather than address the needs of those most impacted. They also highlighted resilience, mutual aid, and cultural pride as their strengths.
The partners have been working on this project since 2024.
Read More and Download The Report
LGBTQ+ South King Collaborative is a COO funded partner in the Community Partnerships strategy.
Partners Join No Hate in Washington State Campaign
As of late June, more than 150 organizations in Washington state, including many of our funded partners, had signed on to the No Hate in WA State Campaign. This coalition is opposing IL26-001 and IL26-638, two initiatives on the 2026 November ballot in Washington state. Partners who have joined the coalition include Queer Power Alliance, The Mockingbird Society, WAISN, Entre Hermanos, Disability Rights Washington, and King County Play Equity Coalition.
For more information, visit the No Hate in Washington State website or read this KUOW story.
Queer Power Alliance and Entre Hermanos are members of our funded partner LGBTQ+ South King County Collaborative in the Community Partnerships strategy. The Mockingbird Society, Disability Rights Washington, and WAISN are COO funded partners in the Systems & Policy Change strategy. King County Play Equity Coalition is funded by the Best Starts for Kids Healthy & Safe Environments strategy.
Look2Justice Hosts National Conference on Prison Journalism
Pictured Above: One of the Bridging the Gap keynote speakers, Jessica Schulberg of HuffPost (screenshot of YouTube video).
Look2Justice recently co-organized its first-ever conference about journalism in and about prisons, Bridging the Gap, May 29-30 in Chicago. More than 200 people attended the two-day conference. L2J’s co-founder and executive director, Christopher Blackwell, gave opening remarks from his Washington state prison cell. L2J has just published videos from the conference on their YouTube channel.
The Objective, a nonprofit newsroom, previewed the conference and its many offerings. Read The Objective’s article. Look 2 Justice is a COO funded partner in the Systems & Policy Change strategy.
Coming up for Look2Justice: Their annual CommUNITY Barbeque in Burien, Saturday afternoon, July 25, with food, games, and entertainment. L2J co-hosts this event with ACLU of Washington. Learn more about the barbeque and RSVP.
Look2Justice is a COO funded partner in the Systems & Policy Change strategy.
Tubman Health Turns Soil for New Health Center
Congratulations to Tubman Center for Health and Freedom, who celebrated their soil turning for their future Tubman Health Center in South Seattle on June 5.
In addition to LinkedIn posts by Tubman Health, Washington State Office of Equity, you can revisit the day via these stories from Converge Media and The Urbanist.
Tubman Health is a COO funded partner in our Systems & Policy Change strategy.
“No Family Should Live in Fear”: Entre Hermanos ED Speaks at Immigrant Heritage Month Celebration
Entre Hermanos Executive Director Edgar Longoria was invited to speak at the City of Seattle’s June celebration of Immigrant Heritage Month and announcement of continued support for their immigrant legal defense efforts. This includes a $4 million investment in the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) Legal Defense Network. Congratulations, Edgar! Read his remarks, “No Family Should Live in Fear.”
Entre Hermanos is a member of LGBTQ+ South King County Collaborative, a COO funded Community Partnership.
Flip Through the Latest Mockingbird Times
The cover of the June 2026 Mockingbird Times.
The June 2026 issue of The Mockingbird Times, published by The Mockingbird Society, is here!
This quarterly publication aims to amplify the voices of youth and young adults with lived experience in foster care and/or homelessness. Read the June issue of Mockingbird Times, featuring a story from young advocate Nathan (pictured on the cover) and more stories, art and poems from more than a dozen young people around the state!
The Mockingbird Society is a COO funded partner in our Systems & Policy Change strategy.
New SVHSC Video Shows the Impact of Collaboration
Screenshot from the opening frames of the new video.
“No single organization can solve these problems alone,” says Snoqualmie Valley Human Services Coalition in their new video. Take a couple minutes to learn more about how they’re building community power among SnoValley human services providers. Original Studios produced the video.
The Snoqualmie Valley Human Services Coalition, led by A Supportive Community for All, is a COO funded partner in the Community Partnerships strategy.
Partners In the News
A sampling of recent news coverage of our funded partners
Pictured Above: Myesha Mitchell (left) and Jackie Vaughn (right) with host Trae Holiday (center) on Converge Media’s “The Day with Trae.”
Chief Seattle Club: On KUOW–Puget Sound Public radio, Derrick Belgarde of Chief Seattle Club challenged the results of the recent Point in Time Count of homelessness, saying that Native people are undercounted. KUOW - Why one Seattle organization says new data doesn't measure Native homelessness accurately — again (17 minutes) Other interviews with Derrick: KOMO-TV and The Stranger. Chief Seattle Club is a COO funded partner in the Systems & Policy Change strategy.
Friends of Little Sài Gòn: This Seattle Times article featured the community-building work of Friends of Little Sài Gòn. Little Saigon Creative is a hive of activity, lab for big plans in Seattle | The Seattle Times (paywall) Friends of Little Sài Gòn is a member of the COO funded partnership Crescent Collaborative in the Systems & Policy Change strategy.
MPOP: The organizing work of Massage Parlor Outreach Project (MPOP) was praised in a Northwest Asian Weekly interview with UW Professor Anita Ramasastry, who helped to create the academic field that studies the intersection of business and human rights: As World Cup nears, UW professor assesses human rights preparations. MPOP is a member of the COO funded partnership Chinatown-International District ID Worker and Organizing Center, in the Community Partnerships strategy.
More MPOP: The organizers also worked with the International Examiner to share a story from an Asian massage worker who’s among those fighting for culturally relevant, accessible, legal pathways to work. Read her story: Chinese massage worker and organizer speaks about police raids, trafficking, and barriers to obtaining a license - International Examiner. In the story, MPOP said this work is “following in the footsteps of other fights for accessible certification and workplace protections, namely the successful Doulas For All legislation and Strippers Bill of Rights.” Doulas For All Coalition is led by Surge Reproductive Justice, another COO funded partner, from our Systems & Policy Change strategy.
Seattle Indian Health Board: Abigail Echo-Hawk of Seattle Indian Health Board was one of eight local leaders chosen by the Seattle Times to answer “What lessons should we learn from the past 250 years? What are your hopes for the next 250?” Seattle-area civic leaders reflect on America’s 250th anniversary | The Seattle Times (paywall) SIHB is a COO funded partner in the Systems & Policy Change strategy.
Surge Reproductive Justice: Jackie Vaughn of Surge Reproductive Justice, a member of our Governance Group, recently joined The Day with Trae on Converge Media to talk about the new “Black and Worthy of Wellness” collaborative initiative, which addresses the systemic challenges of medical racism and chronic stress through grassroots policy and intentional community care. Surge Reproductive Justice is a COO funded partner in our Systems & Policy Change strategy.
Congratulations to all these partners on these stories that spotlight their community power building!
Partner Events
In addition to the events mentioned above, you can find a collection of summer festivities and other partner and community events on the Community Events calendar of the COO website. You can now view events in a calendar layout or the new list format.
Visit our Community Events Calendar for COO and partner events!
Other Opportunities
Knock on Doors for “Stay Rooted Summer”
Join Skyway Coalition, White Center CDA, Duwamish Valley Affordable Housing Coalition, and the whole King County Equitable Development Initiative Coalition (led by Puget Sound Sage and the Multicultural Community Coalition) as they get out into neighborhoods and talk to people about housing, affordability, and how we can build power to stay rooted. Upcoming kickoffs and door-knocking shifts include Saturday, July 19, in White Center; Saturday, July 26, South Park; and Tuesday, July 30, in Skyway.
Learn More and Sign up for Doorknocking
White Center CDA is a COO funded partner in the Systems & Policy Change strategy, and KC Equitable Development Initiative Coalition is a new funded partner in the Community Partnerships strategy. Puget Sound Sage is also a member of the Crescent Collaborative funded partnership in the Systems & Policy Change strategy.
Join King County Board of Health
The King County Board of Health is recruiting for a public health provider alternate. Applications to join the Board are welcome from King County residents who share a commitment to public health principles and addressing racism as a public health crisis. The Board is currently considering applications for one vacant position to join in 2027. This vacancy is for the public health, facilities and providers alternate seat.
Learn More and Apply for Board of Health
Parents and Caregivers: Join the Best Starts Health Survey
The Best Starts for Kids Health Survey is now open to all parents and caregivers in King County with children in elementary school and younger. Best Starts conducts this survey every two or three years to help understand how children and families are doing, learn about their greatest strengths and needs, evaluate the changing conditions in King County, and guide the activities of the Best Starts initiative.
The survey is available in multiple languages. Everyone who completes the survey will have a chance to win a $150 check (chance is 1 in 100). The deadline to complete the survey is October 1, 2026.
Learn More About the Best Starts Survey or Complete the Best Starts survey
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!
Youth Healing Project RFP
Apply By July 21, 5 p.m.
The Best Starts for Kids Youth Healing Project request for proposal (RFP) is now open! This funding opportunity closes on July 21, 2026 at 5:00 PM, please submit your application by then.
Review the funding opportunities details here.
Please be sure to set up a Agiloft account; see the previous item for more information on how to do that.
Other Opportunities:
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 July-September opportunities!
COO’s List: See funding opportunities from many other funders on our Funding Opportunities page.
Job Opportunities
Because of the timing of this month’s newsletter, some of our listings expired before we could publish. We invite you to follow us on LinkedIn, where we frequently share job opportunities.
Food Lifeline: Multiple opportunities including Senior Advancement Officer
Puget Sound Sage: Executive Director
Seattle Social Housing Developer: Communications Engagement Specialist
Washington State Department of Commerce: Federal Project Management Supervisor – apply by July 12
King County: Check out YouthWorks, a new workforce development program that provides paid summer internships and volunteer opportunities for King County residents ages 16-24. Applications are now open for eligible residents.
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
King County YouthWorks, a new workforce development program that provides paid summer internships and volunteer opportunities for King County residents ages 16-24.
About This List: These job announcements were current as of Thursday morning, July 9, 2026. Please check the employer's site for the most current information.
If you have a job to share in next month's issue, please send it to us by July 25. Thanks!
Partner Quiz! Last month, Stacy from Open Doors for Multicultural Families and Liz from Southeast Seattle Education Coalition correctly identified that Massage Parlor Outreach Project (MPOP) was the most-named partner in the May newsletter. They won coffee cards from their local coffee places, donated by a supporter. Congratulations, Stacy and Liz, and thanks for playing along!
This month, we invite our readers to answer this question for a chance to win a coffee card: Name three COO funded partners from our Systems & Policy Change strategy who are mentioned in this month’s newsletter. Reply to us here for your chance for a coffee card. (Although MPOP is mentioned again several times this month for some excellent work, they are not the answer this time; and previous winners can participate but will not win this month.)