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Community Organizing Program
Greater Seattle and North King County Community
Organizing
 North King County is growing rapidly, blending unincorporated and incorporated populations within the sub-region. Human service providers are limited in North King County. Those that exist are pulling together to develop a sense of community and overcome barriers such as the lack of community attachment and disorganization. These two barriers are factors in communities suffering from substance abuse and violence.
Featured Projects in Greater Seattle and North King County
Seattle Young People's Project- Young Men's Conference
A weekend conference designed and led by youth to explore issues
pertinent to young men. Workshop topics include Sexism, Homophobia,
Racism and Militarism. Seattle Young People's Project (SYPP)
is a youth empowerment and organizing program led by youth with
the support of adult allies, and is based in Seattle's Central
District.
Ingraham High School- Peer Mediators Program
This program works with students to be positive agents for peace
on the campus of this Seattle Public High School. Students conduct
actual mediations under the tutelage of the school's prevention/intervention
specialist. The group also designs and implements an annual
Peace Week, using various themes to improve school climate and
foster an environment of safety and inclusion within the school's
very diverse population.
Center for Career Alternatives- Middle School Re-Entry Program
This alternative school program is for middle school aged youth
who have been expelled from their regular schools. In one semester,
(on average) youth are able to work on their attendance, attitudes
and behaviors which had been barriers to their success. KCCOP
funds a case manager/teacher assistant position that works specifically
on connecting the youth to community resources, and involving
the families in the youth's commitment to school.
The partnership, between Seattle Public Schools, CCA and KCCOP
has run for four years with great success, and was recognized
by Seattle Human Services Coalition as an Outstanding Innovative
Program in 2003.
C.A.R.E. Team
In August of 2003 the Northshore Shoreline Community Network introduced the Community C.A.R.E. Team Conversations. C.A.R.E. stands for Cultural Awareness Resources and Enrichment. The Network wanted to create a safe place in the community where service providers, educators and community members could meet to talk about the emerging issues regarding cultural awareness and competence.
The C.A.R.E. Team planning group represents businesses, agencies, schools and the community. To kick off the conversations the C.A.R.E. Team produced a poster for service providers and schools called Working Effectively with English Language Learners. The poster was created by a Shoreline Community College student. The poster is free. Download a pdf version here.
The C.A.R.E. Team held its first conversation in October 2003 at Third Place Commons, where all of the conversations are being held. C.A.R.E. is sponsoring quarterly conversations in 2004 & 2005. Topics have included: Power, Privilege and Allies and Working with Families of Diverse Cultures.
For a free poster and more information about the C.A.R.E. Team conversations at Third Place Commons, contact Community Organizer Val Thomas-Matson or call the Northshore-Shoreline Community Network Office at 206-361-4413.
Juvenile Intervention Program (JIP)
The King County Community Organizing Program secured a grant from the US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs to address juvenile justice issues at a community level. In North King County the Juvenile Intervention Program (JIP) was implemented.
This program provides intervention to youth involved in their first criminal activity instead of facing formal criminal prosecution. The intervention consists of the youth and all their family members attending family counseling for up to 90 days. The entire family must consent to the assessment and the recommendations from the Center for Human Services or Northshore Youth and Family Services. Then the family must adhere to the assessment’s recommendation.
JIP is a community collaboration effort between the Community Organizing Program, five police departments, two school districts and two youth and family service locations. The coalition is made up of police officers from the cities of Bothell, Woodinville, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park and Shoreline and representatives from Northshore Youth and Family Services, Center for Human Services and the Shoreline and Northshore school Districts.
The coalition believes JIP can educate youth about good decision making skills and address the underlying concerns that lead to criminal activity. We know this type of prevention is less costly than incarceration or advanced treatment for all involved and the youth tend not to re-offend.
As a reward, some JIP youth from the Bothell Police Department went on a ROPES course. The course helps them learn more about decision-making and team building.
Northshore Human Services Consortium
One of the joys of organizing is seeing how our Mini-Grants support coalition efforts. For less than $300 the Northshore Human Services Consortium launched their new web site.
The consortium is a collaboration of community partners representing schools, parents, agencies and organizations that come together regularly to find better ways to support the health and success of children and families in our community. For more information, www.NorthshoreResources.org (external).
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