Executive Constantine tours major Cedar River restoration project 

King County Executive Dow Constantine toured a recently completed project that restored a nearly mile-long segment of the Cedar River to a more natural state, simultaneously improving salmon habitat and reducing flood risks for people, homes, and infrastructure.

The Riverbend project restored 52 acres of floodplain east of Renton while creating side channels that provide slow-water, shallow habitat that is ideal for native salmon. It builds on the progress King County and partners made upstream with the successful Rainbow Bend restoration project that was completed in 2013. Read more and watch the video here.

New Customer Service Center opens with easier in-person access for King County residents

The new Customer Service Center located on the second floor of King Street Center in Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood is designed to be a "one-stop shop" for many of the most-requested services offered by King County.

"The new Customer Service Center delivers on our promise to make every customer's experience with King County a positive one," said King County Executive Dow Constantine at the opening ceremony. "While the pandemic suspended in-person service, we used this time to re-imagine and improve on how we deliver many of our most-used services for the public, which are now in one convenient location.” Read more.

Deadline to enroll is Friday, April 21 for Identity-Based Affinity Spaces

King County employees are invited to participate in Identity-Based Affinity Spaces to engage and provide information and ideas on how King County can enhance its workplace culture, increase equity in workforce practices, and ensure inclusion and belonging for all employees.   

King County is particularly interested in hearing from on-site, customer-facing, and shift employees. Sign up by Friday, April 21 Read more.

Tim Anderson charting the future with Animal Services

Cross-posted from Executive Services Express

Tim Anderson recenlty began in a new official role as Assistant Operations Manager of Regional Animal Services (RASKC). The position expands Anderson’s supervisory role to include all of RASKC, adding veterinary clinic support and pet licensing.

“We’re extremely fortunate to have someone of Tim’s caliber to be one of the applicants and be successful,” said RASKC manager Gene Mueller. “He’s one of the best managers I’ve ever worked with in 30 years.” Read more.

Reminder: WA Cares Fund payroll deductions begin in July

Beginning July 1, 2023, almost all workers in Washington are required to contribute to the WA Cares Fund via mandatory payroll deduction.

The WA Cares Fund is a new state long-term care insurance program administered by the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Read more.

MLK Committee volunteers needed

The employee-led MLK Committee is seeking volunteers. The committee shares responsibility for organizing the annual MLK Celebration and designing the MLK Calendar for 2024.

There are many opportunities available for those who would like to participate. This includes serving as a Larry Gossett Award ambassador, helping decide speakers and performers, artwork selection for the calendar, and much more.

If you are interested, submit your information here by Monday, April 24. For questions, reach out to Jasmine Harbor in the Office of Equity, Racial, and Social Justice.

Wellness and Self-Care Challenge

Join Balanced You and fellow King County employees for a Wellness and Self-Care Challenge during the month of April. We will give attention to our wellness by incorporating three self-care habits a week. Follow along in Employee News and Wellness Wednesday each week for the challenge of the day or download the wellness challenge journal to track your progress and take notes.

• Today's Challenge: Start a journal

Writing down our thoughts can help release what may be bogging down our minds. Grab a notebook and pen to start journaling how you feel each day, things you look forward to or want to accomplish, future goals and ideas, and more.

Employee discount: National Geographic series with environmental filmmaker Alizé Carrère

Environmental anthropologist and filmmaker Alizé Carrère explores the remarkable ways people around the world are adapting to a changing climate. Through her work documenting these stories, Carrère offers a hopeful look at the resilience, perseverance, and innovation of humankind under even the most difficult of conditions.

The National Geographic Live speaker series is presented by the Seattle Symphony. The orchestra will not perform on these programs.

• Sunday, April 23 at 2 p.m.
• Monday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m.

Order tickets here and enter promo code BACH23 before selecting your seats for 15% off and no additional handling fees. Pricing will adjust in your shopping cart. Limit four tickets per household.

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150 Years of Rachmaninov

The Seattle Symphony is celebrating the 150th anniversary of Rachmaninov's birth by performing his full cycle of piano concertos over two nights amid the stunning acoustics of Benaroya Hall.

On April 27, pianists Dominic Cheli and Alexander Malofeev start the celebration with Rachmaninov’s piano concertos No. 1 and No. 2 

• Thursday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. Order tickets here.

On April 29, pianists Natasha Paremski and Albert Cano Smit complete the set with Rachmaninov’s piano concertos No. 3 and No. 4.

• Saturday, April 29 at 8 p.m. Order tickets here. 

Enter promo code BACH23 before selecting your seats for discounts.

See all available discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.

 Anti-Racist White Action Group meeting April 25

You’re invited to the monthly Anti-Racist White Action Group (ARWAG) meeting on April 25 to learn more about this affinity group and get involved.

The agenda for this meeting will include:

• Recognition of Arab American Heritage Month;
• Watch and discuss a short video on the King County Auditor’s report about the county’s progress toward becoming a pro-equity organization.
• Spend time in workgroups (Education and Training, Partnerships and Community, and Human Resources and Data) to continue making progress together

A new member meet and greet will start off the event.

• Tuesday, April 25 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. via Zoom: https://kingcounty.zoom.us/j/99393466862

ARWAG is one of the county’s Affinity Groups (also called Employee Resource Groups) that addresses racism and other forms of oppression to advance the county’s equity and social justice goals. Email arwag@kingcounty.gov to join this group, get the meeting notices or for any questions.

APP Presents: Administrative Professionals Day

Please join us the annual Administrative Professionals Day event to celebrat this year’s theme, “The Power of You.”

Speakers from various King County departments will come together to recognize and appreciate the administrative professionals who keep the County running smoothly. Visit the King County Administrative Professionals Program website to learn more.

• Wednesday, April 26 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Join via Teams. Meeting ID: 294 988 539 325; passcode: NXaSkn

Administrative Professional’s Day Afterwork Social

All are invited to meet up and socialize with other King County Administrative Professionals. This is an optional, no-host bar event powered by King County Administrative Professional Partners.

•  Wednesday, April 26 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Trophy Pizza, 121 S. King St. in Seattle

If you have any questions, please contact administrativeprofessionals@kingcounty.gov. 

Attend an upcoming mindfulness class

Mindful Parenting: Being present as a parent

Parenting through mindfulness isn’t about applying techniques or becoming the “perfect parent.” It’s about encountering our children with awareness and presence, starting with awareness of our own experience. Learn how to be more present and self-aware with yourself and your kids. Explore what gets in the way of a loving connected presence with our children and how to meet the stress of parenting with increased self-awareness and more kindness.

• Monday, May 1 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Register here.

Mindful Leadership: Self-aware leaders are better leaders

Leadership isn't just what you say and do, it's who you are and how you relate to others. Explore how blind spots and bias interfere with good leadership and how mindfulness tools like embodiment help protect against assumptions. And shift self-care from the last thing on your to do list to the first as no one leads well when they are depleted.

• Thursday, May 4 from 10 a.m. to noon. Register here.

 View the full mindfulness schedule here.

King County annual Conference on Substance Use Disorders is May 11

All are invited to join people from across King County including Public Health - Seattle & King County, the King County Recovery Coalition, the King County Council, King County Department of Community and Human Services, King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn, and recovery peers for King County's Third Annual Conference on Substance Use Disorders. During this conference we will be coming together to better understand how to better meet people where they are on their journey to recovery. Keynote Speaker, Presenter Topics, and more will be announced soon. For more information and to reserve your spot, visit our Eventbrite page or email Jon.Cantalini@kingcounty.gov

• Thursday, May 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This is a hybrid event, being held at Bellevue College and on Zoom. It is free and open to everyone. For more information and reservations, click here. 

Career Support Services Strategic Interviewing Skills Q and A

Preparing for a job interview can be a daunting task. Your Career Support Services (CSS) team provides valuable training that strengthens your skills to master tricky interview questions with confidence.

With the recent launch of the Strategic Interviewing Skills eLearning course, CSS is hosting a virtual hour-long open forum Q and A session to answer questions from those who completed a live CSS Strategic Interviewing Skills workshop or eLearning. This is your opportunity to ask additional questions about the STAR-LA interview response method, types of interview questions, or get clarification on other topics covered in the training.

• Thursday, May 11 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Register here.

Pet of the Week: Caesar

Hi, I'm Caesar, a six-year-old Anatolian Shepherd looking for a new home. I'm a big lad, at almost 100 pounds, but I'm very affectionate and loving. I like toys and treats, but mostly I like to be petted. 

You can find out more about me and my friends on our website at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) has moved back to walk-in services. Find out more information about our adoption process on our website. If you have more questions, contact RASKC via phone at 206-296-7387 (PETS) or email pets@kingcounty.gov.

Psychiatric Evaluation Specialist