Employee News - March 14

A service of the King County Department of Human Resources

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King County Employee News

March 14, 2023

Highlights

Employee Giving Program logo vertical

Now is the time to invite nonprofits to participate in the Annual Giving Drive

Nominate a nonprofit for inclusion in the Annual Giving Drive, and they will be contacted when the application cycle opens later this spring.

All nonprofits must apply and meet eligibility requirements annually in order to be included in the Annual Giving Drive. Read more.


michelle alison

Moving forward together: A shared vision for Metro’s future

"Transit must lead with equity and provide world-class service." 

Michelle Allison, the new King County Metro General Manager, recently posted her perspective on the current state of the agency is and the vision for where it is headed. 

Allison shared three main priorities of the agency and those they serve to move forward together. Each priority is informed by deep and ongoing engagement with the community, a partnership that will continue every step of the way. Read more.


Deadline is March 15 for supporting people affected by earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria 

On Feb. 6, a massive earthquake struck Türkiye and Syria, flattening entire cities and communities. Tens of thousands of people lost their lives and many more were injured. Hundreds of thousands of people have been left homeless in freezing temperatures, without access to basic needs such as shelter, health care, sanitation, food, and water.

Now through March 15, King County employees can give support through a special Employee Giving Program by making donations to organizations that are providing humanitarian aid and support for the people impacted by the earthquake. Read more.


Employee Spotlights

BEES training

BEES patrol flies at street level

For nearly 20 years, there has been a King County Sheriff Patrol that focuses on Metro transit stops and the surrounding areas.

Unlike the typical deputy in a vehicle driving around a specific district, responding to calls sometimes miles away, the Bicycle Emphasis and Enforcement Squad – known as BEES - can be found pedaling between the central business district and the International District (ID). Their presence makes a significant impact. Read more.


GIS

GIS is everywhere (and everything, all at once)

Cross-posted from GIS & You

So...what is GIS? In short, it's a Geographic Information System that creates, manages, analyzes, and maps all types of data. GIS connects data to a map, integrating location data (where things are) with all types of descriptive information (what things are like there). 

According to Lisa Owen, from the King County GIS Center, it's "data that knows where it lives." Lisa recently had the opportunity to contribute to a discussion on Women in IT, with a spotlight on GIS. Read her entertaining blog post telling about her experience as a woman in the GIS profession. 

For more stories about women in the King County GIS Center, click here


Announcements

metro transit appreciation week 2023

Transit Appreciation Week is March 12–18

Metro thanks everyone that makes it the best transit agency in the world, from the hundreds of thousands of riders to its thousands of employees. 

Click here for ideas on how to show your thanks and to learn more about all the programs at Metro.


Disability Equity Network logo

March 13–19 is Neurodiversity Celebration Week

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. It aims to transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported by providing schools, universities, and organizations with the opportunity to recognize the many talents and advantages of being neurodivergent, while creating more inclusive and equitable cultures that celebrate differences and empower every individual.

To learn about how you can support people with neurodiverse conditions at home, at work, and in your community, click here.


RASKC full house

Dog adoption for $50 in March

Cross-posted from Tails from RASKC

Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) has a full house - all aces, no jokers - and that means a dog-gone good deal for you. During the month of March, you can ante up just $50 to adopt an adult dog - a savings of 50% or more off the regular adoption fee. Read more.


VMAG logo

V-MAG monthly meeting: Brigadoon Service Dogs and UW master's program in Executive Public Administration 

The King County Veterans and Military Affinity Group (V-MAG) monthly meeting will feature a presentation by Brigadoon Service Dogs in Bellingham, as well as a brief presentation on the UW’s master's program in Executive Public Administration.

  • Wednesday, March 15 at noon. Join via Teams.

The meeting will be held on Teams and is open to all employees who are currently serving or are former members of the military and their allies, as well as their family members and partners. To be added to the meeting invite send an email to: vet.milag@kingcounty.gov.


Lotus flower

Attend an upcoming mindfulness class

Balanced You partners with Mindfulness Northwest to offer free mindfulness classes and workshops to King County employees. Register for an upcoming class below or view the full schedule here.

Mindful Relationships 1: How do you relate?

How do we cultivate the feelings of safety, security, and well-being we need to feel connected? Mindfulness can help. We feel it, and neuroscience proves it: human beings need connection to thrive in all relationships–at home, at work, and in the world. By bringing mindfulness to our interactions, we can enrich all our relationships through the cultivation of safety, security, and well-being. In this session, participants will get to the root of harmful relationship patterns such as blame, defensiveness, avoiding conflict, and shutting down in this workshop on bringing mindfulness to how you relate to others.

Mindful Self-Compassion at Work

Learn to befriend yourself, especially when things are tough. This nourishing workshop combines the skills of mindfulness and self-compassion, providing a powerful tool for greater resilience and deeper self-kindness.


women on stairs

You self-care webinars: Wellness tips for women

For Women's History Month, Balanced You is hosting a special webinar to honor the women here at King County. Join a discussion with a panel of experts who will talk about women’s nutrition, mental health, physical health, and managing perimenopause and menopause.  


Featured job

Strategic Development Analyst

Salary: $114,167.25 - $144,713.92 Annually (Depends on Qualifications) 

Location: King Street Center

Job Type: 2 Career Service positions and 1 Term-Limited Temporary position

Department: DLS - Local Services

Job Number: 2023MR18172

Division: Road Services Division – Director’s Office

Closes: 3/30/2023 at 11:59 p.m.

King County Road Services Division – Director’s Office, has an excellent opportunity for you to be part of local government! We are looking for dynamic Strategic Development Analysts to fill two Career Service positions and one Term-Limited Temporary position. These positions will utilize their highly specialized knowledge and professional technical expertise in various areas to manage and complete significant division projects. These are exciting opportunities to contribute the ongoing growth and infrastructure of King County and make a difference in our community.

Learn more about this position or view all available positions


King County Headlines

Metro Matters: King County Metro to launch RapidRide H Line as part of spring service change

King County Parks: New artworks at Skyway Park

Public Health Insider: COVID-19 media briefing with Dr. Eric Chow (video and transcript)

Contact us

Interested in sharing a news story, or have a news tip? Click here to submit an item to Employee News. For questions or suggestions, please contact KCEmployees@kingcounty.gov.

Back issues of the newsletter

Click here for previous editions of the Employee News e-newsletter going back to 2019.