Welcome Back Bash to celebrate King County and City of Seattle employees

It is time to celebrate your great work in support of our residents and communities.

Thank you for all you have done to serve the people of Seattle and King County during a time of significant challenge. We were the first in the nation to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, but because you stepped up with courage, dedication, and hard work – even while lives and livelihoods were upended – our region is recovering and reopening.

To celebrate you, and all public employees, during these unprecedented times we are throwing a party.

• Tuesday, June 21 on the 4th Avenue Plaza of Seattle City Hall from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

There will be live music from King Youngblood and Black Tones, celebrations, and a free lunch from local food trucks for city and county government employees.

To receive a free lunch coupon for one entrée and one beverage, please show employee identification (badge, pay stub, etc.) on June 21 at the tables inside the Red Room adjacent to the plaza. Only 400 coupons are available, so get yours early. Read more. 

Local Food Initiative supports farmers, protects land, and increases access to healthy foods

King County strives to be a healthy community, where residents can access opportunities and receive the support needed to succeed. One way it does this is through the Local Food Initiative. This program was started in 2014 and aims to make the local food economy more equitable and resilient to climate impacts.

The initiative is overseen by Mike Lufkin, Food Economy Manager in the Department of Natural Resources and Parks. Mike has been with King County since 2015. His work includes growing the food and farm sectors, increasing access to healthy nutritious foods in low-income communities, and working with both the public and private sectors to develop projects and programs that help achieve those goals. Read more.

Jennifer Hills receives Fred Jarrett Award

The recipient of the Fred Jarrett Leadership Excellence Award is Jennifer Hills, Director of the Office of Risk Management, Department of Executive Services. This award is named for former Deputy Executive Fred Jarrett and honors a senior leader of a department or division.

Under Jennifer’s guidance, King County has adopted a more progressive view of risk. Where it once avoided risk, the county now uses a more balanced approach and takes risks when it can add value, drive change, and deliver results. Watch the video to learn how Jennifer led the Office of Risk Management to modernize its tort claims handling process to be more transparent, electronic, and timely – and how she forges partnerships with other agencies, factors equity into decision-making, and prioritizes employee engagement and belonging. Watch the award presentation here.

Juneteenth events for King County employees and families through June 20

King County employees are invited to participate in a week full of celebrations featuring events, speakers, and opportunities to build community while commemorating Juneteenth.

Enjoy online events featuring authors Shawn D. Rochester and Dr. Joy DeGruy, as well as community events for employees and their families. See the full schedule here.   

Pride Parade is back, and King County is marching

Mark your calendars for Sunday, June 26 at 11 a.m. to join with colleagues to represent King County in the 2022 Seattle Pride Parade. Participants will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to participate.

Further details about when and where to meet for the Parade will be sent out once it is available. To stay up to date on all things related to the Pride Parade, email leah.holland@kingcounty.gov with the subject line "PRIDE Info." 

Metro celebrates Pride: TRANSforming Transportation 

Employees are invited to a discussion with Raffi Freedman-Gurspan, Deputy Director of Public Engagement at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

She will share her experience working in government as an out transgender woman of color, her role with the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the DOT’s vision of delivering a more equitable transportation system. 

• Thursday, June 16 from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom, meeting ID: 861 6669 3965 and use password: 206206. For one tap mobile: +12532158782,,86166693965#, and dial in: +1 253-215-8782 U.S.

Balanced You Celebrates Pride Month 2022

Every June, Balanced You celebrates Pride Month, a celebration of visibility, connection, and self-affirmation for the LGBTQ+ community.

This year, Balanced You is focusing on the importance a sense of community plays in employee well-being by amplifying the King County LGBTQ+ Affinity Group.

Visit the Balanced You blog for more information on the Affinity Group, their June 16 TRANSforming Transportation event, and a list of mental health resources.

Correction: Update your mail stop

An Important Reminder from Mail Services Team: As you return to work, or if you are continuing to telework but  may receive interoffice mail, please check your global address entry (in Outlook/Microsoft Teams/M365) to ensure that the proper mail stop is reflected. If it is not, contact your agency’s Human Resources team to update your mail stop (“Mail Drop ID”) record in PeopleSoft, which will update your mail stop in Outlook/M365.

Also, make sure the King County Online Directory is correct. The Online Directory is organized by department and can be found here: Online Directory (kingcounty.gov). The online directory updates are performed by someone assigned within your organization. If you do not know who that is, reach out through your administrative services staff or supervisor to find out how to request an update to the Online Directory.

Likewise, if you are not sure which mail stop to use, especially if you are teleworking, check in with your workgroup’s management or administrative services staff. Thank you for your help to ensure that Mail Services can get your interoffice mail to you at the right location promptly! Mail Services staff can be reached at mail.room@kingcounty.gov.

Veterans and Military Affinity Group meeting is Wednesday, June 15

The King County Veterans and Military Affinity Group (V-MAG) will hold their monthly meeting and pay homage to Pride Month and the Juneteenth holiday.

The Zoom meeting is open to all employees who currently serve 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.

• Wednesday, June 15 at noon via Zoom, meeting ID: 821 2711 7975, use passcode: 179426. 

Mental Health First Aid@Work

Mental Health First Aid@Work is designed for all audiences and covers how to: 

• Identify the impact of mental health challenges and recovery on the well-being of adults in the workplace. 
• Recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges and how they impact the workplace. 
• Explain and practice the five-step Mental Health First Aid Action Plan (ALGEE). 
• Discuss appropriate methods of self-care for individuals in the workplace. 
• Friday, June 17 from 8 a.m. to noon. Register here.

View the full training schedule here.

Balanced You Coffee Connections: Pet Meet and Greet 

Would you like to introduce your furry friends to colleagues and share some laughs? Join Balanced You virtually for “Coffee Connections: Pet Meet and Greet V!” If you have joined us in the past, then you know how fun this is, and if you are joining us for the first time, then you are in for a treat!

• Wednesday, June 22 from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Register here.

Dreaming of Retirement webinars June 23

How can you be confident about sustaining the retirement lifestyle you envision? My Secure Advantage provides the tools to help ensure your retirement dreams are realistic.

• Thursday, June 23, from 9 to 10 a.m., register here; from noon to 1 p.m., register here.

Mindfulness classes

Meeting Anxiety with Mindfulness: Learn some simple practices that help reduce stress, depression, and anxiety.

• Tuesday, June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon.  Register here.

 Mindful Relationships: Explore how to get to the root of harmful relationship patterns such as blame, defensiveness, avoiding conflict, and shutting down. Discover how mindfulness can help bring awareness to feelings and needs and enrich relationships.

• Wednesday, June 22 from 3 to 5 p.m. Register here.

Introduction to Mindfulness: Receive simple practices to use at work and home in this hands-on workshop.

• Tuesday, June 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. Register here.

Administrative Professionals event: Optimizing LinkedIn to link to your career and goals 

Enhance your career with super user and KCIT Digital Engagement Manager, Warren Kagarise. Warren will share peer-to-peer insights on getting started with LinkedIn, managing a proficient profile, developing a brand page that gets views, and so much more.

• Tuesday, June 28 from noon to 1 p.m. Register here. 

June is National Pet Preparedness Month

Cross-posted from Executive Services Express

Is your pet prepared? June is National Pet Preparedness Month, a great opportunity to think about how pets fit in to a family emergency preparedness plan. If they are part of the family, they should be part of the plan.

Take steps this month to begin or refresh your family emergency plan, and include your pet in your preparations. Read more.