Month: October 2012

Help Seattle Action Network Petition to declare Tuesday June 4, 2013 ‘Washington State Hiring Day”

Petition: Help us declare Tuesday June 4, 2013 ‘*Washington State Hiring Day’

*This is a grassroots effort seeking Washington State employers who are interested to simply volunteer job offers. This is not seeking a new state law, or permanent state calendar date. Nor are any taxpayer dollars being spent.

As the presidential election is upon us, one major issue is in the forefront: Jobs and the unemployed. Lets all do all that we can to help ourselves. As of August thru September Washington state added only 1,200 jobs. (An estimated 52,300 jobs have been added in the first nine months of 2012.)

The unemployment rate in the state is currently 8.5%.

More than 300,000 were unemployed as of August.

For Washington state youth the unemployment rate is over 30%.

The National unemployment rate is now 7.8%

The Seattle Action Network has started a petition at change.org and is proposing to City of Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire to announce Tuesday June 4, 2013 as ‘Washington State Hiring Day’ throughout the state of Washington.

We are working hard to encourage employers who are able, to hire even 1 person no matter if its only part-time to help lower the states unemployment rate and help our economy.

Please help out and sign this petition so that Washington will be able to perhaps hire more people in 1 day, than at any other time of the year! (we all may not be the president, but we all can work together to get the best results possible).

Your help is very important. The petition is at http://www.change.org

Here is the link:
http://www.change.org/petitions/national-hiring-day-throughout-the-state-of-washington-please-sign-this-petition-to-show-your-support-to-help-create-more-jobs?utm_campaign=petition_created_email&utm_medium=email&utm_source=guides

Thank you all,

Ron Williams – Executive Director

The Seattle Action Network
http://www.SeattleActionNetwork.com
seattleactionnetwork@gmail.com
206-538-9564

Mayor`s Media Availability: Seattle Jobs Plan Update

Date: 10/17/2012

Standing with business, labor and community leaders two years after the launch of the Seattle Jobs Plan, Mayor Mike McGinn updated the public on progress made and future efforts to support job creation in Seattle.

Time: 54:56. See Mayor Mike McGinn Jobs Plan speech full video here

FREE MICROSOFT E-LEARNING!


WorkSource customers throughout Washington have a unique opportunity to improve their computer skills – for FREE.

The Washington State Employment Security Department has contracted with Microsoft to offer more than 1,000 different online courses to WorkSource customers.

From first-timer to basic user to expert user to computer professional, you have the opportunity to go as far as you want.

Microsoft e-learning puts you in charge.

Do it at your own pace, on your own
schedule.

Take as many courses as you want,
as many times as you want.

Use e-learning to supplement classroom
courses.

FULL STORY

NWJobs: Investing in job seekers, both today and tomorrow


Reprinted from: blog.nwjobs.com –

Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.

As most of the candidates running for local and national office have stated during this long election season, something needs to be done to create jobs during this country’s painfully slow economic recovery. While some insist that this is solely the responsibility of private industry, others argue that government can provide vital assistance for job seekers by enhancing their skills and improving their chances in the job market.

This month, the Washington state Employment Security Department (ESD) did its part to bolster the latter position by announcing its annual distribution of nearly $49 million to the state’s 12 Workforce Development Councils (WDC), which provide counseling, skills assessments, job-search help and training to laid-off or low-income workers and disadvantaged young people.

FULL STORY

JOBS! thru WorkSource – Workforce Development Councils

Workforce Development Councils (WDCs) assure quality services to customers in the implementation of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).

The WDCs provide workforce development planning and promote coordination between education, training and employment efforts in their communities.

To inquire about services, contact one of the Workforce Development Councils below or a WorkSource Center or Affiliate.

Olympic Workforce Development Area
Serving Jefferson, Clallam, and Kitsap Counties
Steve Frazier, Director
Workforce Development Council
614 Division Street, MS-23
Port Orchard, WA 98366
Phone (360) 337-7185
FAX (360) 337-7187
Email sfrazier@co.kitsap.wa.us Margaret Hess, WorkSource Area Director
1300 Sylvan Way
Bremerton, WA 98310
(360) 337-4747

Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Area
Serving Grays Harbor, Mason, Thurston, Pacific and Lewis Counties
Cheryl Fambles
Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council
150 Technology Way, Suite 160
Elma, WA 98541
Phone: 360-482-1700
Fax: 360-482-1715
Email: Cheryl@pacmtn.org

Todd Dixon, WorkSource Area Director
1570 Irving St SW
Tumwater, WA 98512
Phone: (360) 570-4231

Northwest Workforce Development Area
Serving Whatcom, Skagit San Juan and Island Counties
Gay Dubigk, Northwest Workforce Council Executive Director
P.O.Box 2009
Bellingham, WA 98227
Phone (360) 676-1521
FAX (360) 671-4948
Email gdubigk@nwpic.bellingham.wa.us Carole Jean “CJ” Seitz, WorkSource Area Director
P.O. Box 938
Bellingham WA 98227
(360) 676-3204

Snohomish County Workforce Development Area
Serving Snohomish County
Sue Ambler, President and CEO
Workforce Development Council
728 134th Street SW Suite 128
Everett, WA 98204
Phone (425) 921-3477
FAX (425) 921-3484
Email sue.ambler@wdcsc.org Julie Lord, WorkSource Area Director
3201 Smith Ave. Suite 114
Everett WA 98201
(425) 258-6360

Seattle-King County Workforce Development Area
Serving King County
Marléna Sessions, Chief Executive Officer
Workforce Development Council
Market Place One, Suite 250
2003 Western Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121-2162
Phone (206) 448-0474
FAX (206) 448-0484
Greta Kaas-Lent, WorkSource Area Director
2707 I Street NE
Auburn WA 98002
(253) 804-1157

Tacoma-Pierce County Workforce Development Area
Serving Pierce County
Linda Nguyen, Executive Director
Workforce Development Council
3650 S. Cedar St
Tacoma, WA 98409
Phone (253) 254-7607
FAX (253) 830-5227
Email lnguyen@workforce-central.org Carmen Cook, WorkSource Area Director
1305 Tacoma Ave South #201
Tacoma WA 98402
(253) 680-2888

Southwest Washington Workforce Development Area
Serving Wahkiakum, Cowlitz and Clark Counties
Jeanne Bennett, Executive Director
Workforce Development Council
805 Broadway Street, Suite 412
Vancouver, WA 98660
Phone (360) 567-1070
FAX (360) 567-1054
Email jbennett@swwdc.org Robert Brown, WorkSource Area Director
5411 East Mill Plain Blvd. Suite 15
Vancouver WA 98661
(360) 735-4950

North Central Workforce Development Area
Serving Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas, Adams and Grant Counties
Dave Petersen, Director
Workforce Development Council
P.O. Box 2360
234 N. Mission Avenue
Wenatchee, WA 98807-2360
Phone (509) 663-3091
FAX (509) 667-1562
Email Dave@SkillSource.org Marcia Henkle, WorkSource Area Director
P.O. Box 1927
Wenatchee WA 98807-1927
(509) 665-3733

South Central Workforce Development Area
Serving Yakima, Kittitas, Klickitat and Skamania Counties
Patrick Baldoz, Director
Workforce Development Council
120 So. 3rd, Suite 200-A
Yakima, WA 98901
Phone (509) 574-1950
FAX (509) 574-1951
Email patrickb@co.yakima.wa.us Ignacio Marquez, WorkSource Area Director
306 Division
Yakima WA 98902
(509) 574-0123

Eastern Washington Partnership Workforce Development Area
Serving Ferry, Pend Oreille, Garfield, Stevens, Lincoln Whitman, Columbia, Walla Walla and Asotin Counties
Tom O’Brien, Director, Workforce Development Council
Rural Resources Community Action
956 S. Main, Ste. B
Colville, WA 99114
Phone (509) 684-8421
FAX (509) 685-6094
Email tobrien@ruralresources.org Jennie Weber, WorkSource Area Director
1530 Stevens
Walla Walla WA 99362
(509) 527-1801

Benton-Franklin Workforce Development Area
Serving Benton and Franklin Counties
Cos Edwards, Executive Director
Workforce Development Council
815 North Kellogg Street, Suite C
Kennewick, WA 99336
Phone (509) 734-5984
FAX (509) 734-5999
Email cxedwards@bf-wdc.org Michelle Mann, WorkSource Area Director
815 North Kellogg Suite D
Kennewick WA 99336
(509) 734-5945

Spokane Workforce Development Area
Serving Spokane County
Mark Mattke, Workforce Strategy & Planning Director
Workforce Development Council
808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.
Room 606, City Hall
Spokane, WA 99201
Phone (509) 625-6210
FAX (509) 625-6929
Email mmattke@wdcspokane.com John Dickson, WorkSource Area Director
130 S. Arthur Street
Spokane, WA 99202
Phone: (509) 532-3030

Source: WorkSource

From Concerned Eckstein Parents

Urgent Call To Action:

We are writing to urge, implore, BEG you to write to all members of the School Board THIS WEEKEND! The Superintendent and District Staff put their BEX levy proposal before the school board on Wednesday. The proposal includes a new middle school at Wilson-Pacific and repurposing the Jane Addams building for a 1000 seat comprehensive, attendance area middle school.

The Board has NOT reached consensus on this topic, and the second middle school at Jane Addams is at risk. PLEASE WRITE TO THE SCHOOL BOARD TODAY—THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU RIGHT AWAY.
Here’s how things stand:

· Eckstein already has some of the WORST OVERCROWDING in the district.
· Eckstein currently has 25% portables, most of which are extremely old.
· Eckstein’s Capacity is 950, they are currently enrolled at 1300.
· NOT putting a comprehensive attendance area middle school at the Jane Addams building would likely cause Eckstein’s enrollment to surge over 1500 in two years. By 2017 that number is likely to surge past 2000.

· Jane Addams K-8 has been offered a home at the Pinehurst building, which is slated for expansion.

A key recommendation of this proposal is that two additional comprehensive, attendance area middle schools are needed urgently in the North Region to address current overcrowding and anticipated enrollment demands, particularly for Eckstein and Whitman middle schools. Together, a new Wilson Pacific Middle School and the repurposing of Jane Addams offer some hope of relief from the unacceptable overcrowding at Eckstein.

There is an alternative proposal from the community to grow Jane Addams K-8 to a “mushroom” model, where there are three classes at each of the K-5 grades and five classes at each of the 6-8 grades. This will NOT solve the overcrowding issues at Eckstein or address the predicted enrollment growth in the North East. IT IS NOT A VIABLE SOLUTION.

The School Board needs to hear from our community about what is fair and equitable for our children. Overcrowding—and all the resulting problems it creates—is not conducive to learning.
Share your concerns with your school board members TODAY!

sharon.peaslee@seattleschools.org
sherry.carr@seattleschools.org
harium.martin-morris@seattleschools.org
michael.debell@seattleschools.org
kay.smith-blum@seattleschools.org
martha.mclaren@seattleschools.org
betty.patu@seattleschools.org
capacity@seattleschools.org

FULL STORY

Family Symposium scheduled for Oct. 20 at Chief Sealth International High School

Families, students, staff and community members of Seattle Public Schools are invited to participate in the annual Family Symposium scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 20 at Chief Sealth International High School.

The goal of the symposium is to support families as fundamental partners in their student’s academic success. SPS will offer workshops and other resources for families and community partners to help support student academic achievement at home and in the community.

The symposium, which runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., includes a resource fair with community booths and activities for children ages 4 and up. Families will learn how to support their children in the areas of early learning, math, reading and writing, college and career readiness, special education, essay writing for college entrance, graduation requirements and four-year planning, and financial planning. A light continental breakfast and lunch will also be provided.

In addition, SPS enrollment specialists will be available to help parents complete early enrollment paperwork for the 2013-14 school year, and interpreters will be provided.

For more information, call Bernardo Ruiz at (206) 252-0693.

FULL STORY

‘Career Bridge’ project & Peace for the Street Kids Needs Funds!

News, Updates, and Information
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

‘Career Bridge’ project will support job seekers who face barriers to employment.

Mayor McGinn detailed support for the Career Bridge pilot project, an innovative partnership among the City of Seattle, the Seattle Jobs Initiative, and grassroots community groups to help individuals who face significant barriers to employment begin on a pathway to a living-wage job and career. The program is included in the mayor’s proposed 2013-14 budget.


Thomas Turner, Seattle Jobs Initiative graduate and supervisor at Alaskan Copper.

“We are committed to building a city where everyone in our community has the opportunity to prosper,” said Mayor McGinn. “Career Bridge will work with community partners to provide personal support and mentoring, needed services, job search skills, and career development to help low-income adults find good jobs and become self-sufficient.”

Because of the complexity of barriers, these populations are in need of a range of comprehensive services and support to prepare for and access good paying jobs with long-term career pathways. Without this support, they may be unable to access the existing employment and training system, which is primarily focused on post-secondary education.

The project is being piloted this year, and over the next two years, this partnership will serve an estimated 360 individuals, providing them with training, wrap-around supports, and job placement services help them find meaningful, good-paying jobs that are in demand in our growing economy. In 2013 and 2014, Career Bridge will be expanded to serve individuals whose limited English language skills are themselves a significant barrier to training and employment.

The Mayor’s Proposed Budget includes $60,000 of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) resources in 2013 and $800,000 in 2014 to implement the Career Bridge pilot program. The program is anticipated to support 240 people in 2014. The 2013 CDBG amount of $60,000 is supplemented by $150,000 of redirected General Fund in OED’s budget for the Seattle Jobs Initiative to provide support to this program. The total funding level for 2013 is $210,000.

Pilot is Part of Pathways to Careers Initiative

The Career Bridge pilot project is part of the Pathways to Careers Initiative a partnership among the City (OED in the lead), the Seattle Community College District, business, labor, nonprofit organizations and philanthropy to create a world-class system of professional educational and training that allows all working or unemployed adults, regardless of income, to obtain the skills necessary to fill the jobs openings in demand by our employers.

Over the next three years, Pathways to Careers will reach 1,500 students and double student completion rates within four sectors: health care; manufacturing and industrial skills; international trade, transportation and logistics; and business information technology.

Source: http://mayormcginn.seattle.gov

FULL STORY

IMPORTANT NOTICE! ITS A DAY LATE, BUT YOU CAN STILL HELP OUT!


A Capitol Hill nonprofit that has served the community for nearly twenty years is in the midst of an “emergency financial crisis,” organizers say. Peace for the Streets by Kids from the Streets board will meet Thursday to discuss the situation — a fundraiser is already planned for Friday:

Please help us continue to provide services at Peace for the Streets by Kids on the Streets by attending a fundraising art show this Friday from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. PSKS is in an emergency financial crisis and needs your help! Every dollar you donate will be applied to current debt. We are meeting as a Board of Directors on Thursday- October 11th, 2012 to discuss the future of PSKS.

There will be free music, food, live poetry reading, baked goods and an art auction! PSKS has been providing valuable services to the Capitol Hill community since 1995. They provide a day drop in center(child and dog friendly) which has free hot meals, social services, and school aid. We are the last homeless service center on Capitol Hill, and have a continuum of care model we follow from homelessness to life off the streets.

We are asking for a $5 suggested donation at the door. Hope to see you all there, 1814 Summit Avenue (Denny/ Summit), Seattle, WA, 98122, (206) 726-8500. Photos proceeds from the silent auctions of Daniel Glyn and Alex Garland will be donated to PSKS as well!

If anyone has art work they want to donate for the silent auction please drop them off at PSKS between now and Friday noon-4 PM.

Peace for the Street Kids

FULL STORY