Relaunching the True North and values that guide our work
King County Executive Dow Constantine today announced the relaunch of the Executive Branch values and True North: Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.
"Our True North captures the heart of our work and is a navigational point," Executive Constatine said, "Our values guide our work, our decision-making, the way we show up for one another and our customers." Read more.
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King County website rolled back to previous version
King County's public-facing website (kingcounty.gov) encountered unexpected issues during the transition to the new web platform.
To minimize disruptions for employees and customers, the website has been temporarily reverted to the previous version.
All previously published webpages should be fully operational. If you have questions, please contact your Web Content Manager(s).
In case other issues arise with the website, below are some links to enterprise systems that employees can access directly:
KCIT is working toward a plan to address the issues with the new web platform and will send an email when a resolution and updated timeline are established.
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Multiple wins in collaboration with Weld Works
A productive collaboration between King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) and local staffing organization Weld Works not only resulted in the successful disassembly and recycling of offices and cubes on the sixth floor of King Street Center, it provided jobs and training to a diverse labor pool in need.
Weld Works is a non-profit serving the construction, manufacturing, and retail industries with purpose and heart by bringing together companies hiring in construction, clean-up, and general labor with a pool of individuals interested and ready to work to get the job done. The program connects people in transition, often from incarceration, to a path of dignified, long-term employment. Read more.
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Metro receives national recognition for ‘first of its kind’ battery-bus software
Cross-posted from Metro Matters
Foundry’s CIO, a national publication that focuses on the use of technology in business, is recognizing a King County Metro program that is the first of its kind in North America. Software measuring the effectiveness of the infrastructure that powers our battery-electric bus fleet received the CIO 100 award from the publication. Read more.
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Join the Balanced You Wellness and Self-Care Challenge
Spring is here! What better time to pause and make sure we are taking care of ourselves. Join Balanced You and fellow King County employees for a Wellness & 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 and/or download the wellness challenge journal to track your progress and take notes.
Today’s Challenge: Take a mindfulness class
Mindfulness can help reduce stress and bring calm into your life. Balanced You provides free online Mindfulness Classes. Check out the mindfulness spring schedule on the Balanced You blog.
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Mental Health First Aid@Work
Balanced You partners with the National Council of Behavioral Health to offer Mental Health First Aid@Work (MHFA@Work) trainings. These trainings are available to all County employees, free of charge.
MHFA@Work is an interactive, skills-based training program that teaches you and your team how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges. You’ll build skills and confidence you need to reach out and provide initial support to a colleague who’s struggling. You’ll also learn how to help connect them to appropriate employee resources or reach out for emergency services when necessary.
View the full MHFA@Work training schedule for 2023.
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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.
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Annual Big Backyard 5k
Registration for the 13th Annual Big Backyard 5k is now open. Run, walk, or roll through Marymoor Park to support King County Parks. King County employees can enter an exclusive code KCP10 to receive a 10% registration discount.
Deadline to register is May 31. For more information click here.
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5th Avenue Theatre discounts for King County employees
5th Avenue Theatre is offering discounts to King County employees for the upcoming productions of Sweeney Todd and Les Misérables. Book directly through the website at www.5thavenue.org/seacity and use promo code SEACITY to purchase tickets.
- Sweeney Todd, April 21 through May 14. Discount is 25%.
- Les Misérables, May 24 through June 17. Discount is 20% and eligible only for Sunday through Thursday performances.
See all available discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
Training Spotlight:
American Sign Language Level I – Online – Through Seattle Central College, enhance your communication skills by learning American Sign Language (ASL) and get started in this interactive introductory course. Learn the manual alphabet for fingerspelling words and names as well as basic signs for simple communication and gain a basic understanding of ASL grammar principles. We will also discuss the history of the deaf community and its language.
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Saturdays, April 8 through June 17 from 9 to 11 a.m. Fees apply. Register here.
Brain-based time management – Online – Our busy world requires us to plan and prioritize, remember details, communicate effectively, and deal with never-ending interruptions. This hands-on three-hour online class shows you how to support your brain so you can be more efficient with time, more effective in planning, and experience less stress and feeling overwhelmed.
Secrets of powerful writing – Online – Good writing doesn't have to be hard if you know the secrets. Whatever you write, professional or personal, you'll benefit from being able to express yourself clearly. In this hands-on class you'll learn to clarify your message, communicate complex information, avoid common mistakes, edit, and proofread your writing, use proper grammar and punctuation, communicate on social and electronic media, and more.
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Mondays, April 10 through 24 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Fees apply. Register here.
Building gender inclusive spaces: Supporting trans and non-binary people in the workplace – Online – In this two-hour workshop, participants will learn about the long history of gender diverse peoples across the globe, foundational knowledge of gender and sexuality, and best practices to support a gender diverse workforce. Participants will have the opportunity to move through real-life scenarios, apply their understanding of pronoun use, and develop strategies to advance gender equity at King County.
Korean Level I – Online – Develop basic oral and written communication skills while exploring traditional and modern Korean culture. You will get acquainted with the essentials of Korean grammar and learn to read and write the Korean alphabet, Hangul.
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Tuesdays, April 11 through May 30 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Fees apply. Register here.
Chinese Level I – Online – Learn basic Chinese! In this weekly class, you will learn basic Chinese characters, vocabulary and expressions commonly used in everyday life. Practice pronunciation, tones, reading and writing as well as essential grammar. This class will prepare you to build basic Chinese conversational skills in familiar topics. You will also have the opportunity explore traditional and modern Chinese cultures. No prior knowledge and experience are required.
- Wednesdays, April 12 through June 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. Fees apply. Register here.
Please visit the King County Eventbrite website, Learning and Development website, and Career Support Services website for more learning opportunities. For more information, contact the Learning and Development Team at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov or visit Learning and Development at www.kingcounty.gov/learning.
Parks Operations Section Manager - Special Duty Assignment
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King County Headlines
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