April 13, 2016 The Skanner Page 5
News
Events & Announcements
Community
Calendar 2016
Seattle Metro
THURSDAY – SUNDAY, APRIL 14 – 17
WASHINGTON STATE SPRING FAIR: The four-day event in Puyallup
features a family friendly atmosphere with animals, monster
truck show, racing pigs and much more. Admission is Adults $10,
Students 6-18 $8. All day event all four days. Washington State
Fair Events Center, 110 9th Ave. SW, Puyallup.
PHOTO BY SUSAN FRIED
SATURDAY, APRIL 16
Killer Mike Speaks
Rapper and activist Killer Mike talks with people after speaking April 7 at the University of Washington HUB Ballroom. A member of
the duo Run The Jewels, Killer Mike spoke passionately about racial and social justice and why he has come out so strongly in support
of Senator Bernie Sanders for President. The rapper stayed for more than an hour answering questions and taking selfies with the
audience.
Briefs
cont’d from pg 4
end of Portland’s historic North Park Blocks, and has
long been an integral part of downtown life. One of
the city’s oldest public spaces, the North Park Blocks
were dedicated to the City by Captain John Couch
(yep, like the street!) in 1869.
This week, several maintenance crews includ-
ing carpenters, painters, electrical and mechanical
workers are sprucing up the PP&R buildings in An-
keny Square.
Fencing is expected to be up for around two weeks
as crews clean, paint, and shine up this historic space.
Seattle News Briefs
City Launches Campaign to Identify
Barriers to Engagement
The Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA)
has launched the Seattle Votes campaign to identify
barriers to civic engagement for Seattle’s immigrant
and refugee residents.
The campaign consists of an anonymous survey
that will provide data for community groups, agen-
cies, King County, and the City to better understand
the civic needs of specific immigrant and refugee
communities within Seattle.
Immigrant and refugee residents are a growing and
increasingly influential population in Seattle, with
nearly 20 percent of residents being foreign born.
However, evidence shows that civic engagement rates
lag behind other groups.
The lack of voter data has been a challenge for City
and election officials to better understand what is
needed to serve communities across Seattle.
The campaign will focus on immigrants and refu-
gees who are at least 18 years of age residing in the
Seattle-King County area. OIRA has a goal of 5,000
completed surveys and will partner with more than
100 local community-based organizations to reach
immigrants and refugees. These Seattle Votes part-
ners will collect surveys in their communities.
The Seattle Votes survey has been translated into
ten languages: English, Spanish, Chinese (Tradition-
al), Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean, Somali, Amharic,
Oromo, Tigrinya, and Arabic. Residents can fill out
a printed version or an online version, which takes
approximately seven minutes to complete and are
anonymous.
The City will publish the findings in an official re-
port in August.
The disaggregated results will help inform policies
to improve naturalization, voter registration, and
voting rates.
Discussion of the Seattle Votes campaign began in
2014 with the Immigrant Voting Rights Task Force.
This committee, comprised of immigrant and refu-
gee civic leaders, released a report with recommen-
dations for city and regional governments. One of the
top recommendations was the need for better data
about immigrant and refugee voters. The Immigrant
and Voting Rights Task force report is available here.
Immigrants and refugees living in Seattle-King
County interested in taking the survey and members
of organizations interested in becoming Seattle Votes
Partners are encouraged to visit seattle.gov/seattle-
votes.
Neighborhood Matching Fund hosts
April workshops for community
groups
The Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF), a pro-
gram of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, is
hosting workshops for community groups interested
in learning about the city’s popular Small and Simple
Projects Fund.
The Small and Simple Projects Fund provides
matching awards of up to $25,000 to neighborhood
groups for community-building projects such as cul-
tural festivals, facility improvements, public art, and
youth activities.
Each workshop provides an overview of the Neigh-
borhood Matching Fund, the qualities of a good proj-
ect, and the application process and requirements. To
RSVP, call 206-733-9916 or go online at https://www.
surveymonkey.com/r/BWLYNJB.
The dates are:
• Tuesday, April 12; 6 – 8 p.m. at Rainier Beach Com-
munity Center, 8825 Rainier Avenue S.
• Thursday, April 28; 6 – 8 p.m. at Northgate Commu-
nity Center, 10510 5th Avenue NE
To learn about the Fund, visit seattle.gov/neighbor-
hoods/neighborhood-matching-fund/small-and-sim-
ple-projects-fund-. The deadline for applications is
Monday, June 6 at 5:00 p.m., but make sure to register
now to apply.
The Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) Pro-
gram awards matching funds for projects initiated,
planned, and implemented by community members.
Its goal is to build stronger and healthier neighbor-
hoods through community involvement and engage-
ment. Every award is matched by a neighborhood’s
contribution of volunteer labor, donated materials,
in-kind professional services, or cash.
2016 Seattle Maritime 101
Announces Spring Events
Seattle’s largest maritime industry celebration
presented by Vigor Industrial and sponsored by the
Seattle Propeller Club and the Port of Seattle has an-
nounced its schedule of events for April and May.
These free, family-oriented events are designed to
WELLNESS: IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR – HEALTH AND WELLNESS
EVENT: Learn how to take better care of yourself and your
family members. Free health screenings, information booths
from local community organizations, bouncy houses and face
painting for kids. Light refreshments and more. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.,
Rainier Beach Community Center, 8325 Rainier Ave. S. Seattle
SOAPBOX DERBY RACES: This is a unique program for Boys and
Girls between ages 7 to 18 years old. The public is encouraged
to come out to cheer on the racers or get information on how
to get involved. Free event for all to enjoy. 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.,
Dauntless Drive, Paulsbo.
FRANCHESSKA BERRY: Seattle-based Berry blends elements of
West African, Brazilian, Caribbean and Cuban dance in her expe-
rience-based teaching sessions. She’s bringing her skills to Town
Hall for an educational morning of movement. Your little ones
will get some stretching in! Admission for adults is $5, children
are free. Seattle City Hall, 600 4th Ave. Seattle. All-day event.
JUNIOR DAFFODIL PARADE: Largest children’s parade in the State
celebrating our youth! 10 a.m. – noon, Proctor Business District,
26th and Proctor, Tacoma.
SUNDAY, APRIL 17
HAIKU DAY AT THE SEATTLE JAPANESE GARDEN: Learn about the
traditional poetry style of haiku, and even write your own haiku
inspired by the beauty of nature. Admission is adults $6, youth
6-17 $4, students with ID and seniors 65+ are free. 11 a.m. – 3
p.m., The Japanese Garden, 1075 Lake Washington Blvd. E.
SATURDAY, APRIL 23
WHIDBEY ISLAND EARTH DAY FESTIVAL: There will be ongoing
family activities, networking, informational displays, guest
speakers, entertainment, local vendors and much more. Noon
– 4 p.m., Historic Bayview Corner (Bayview Rd. & SR 525) 5603
Bayview Rd., Langley.
READY TO BUY A HOUSE? Here we will be going over the basics
to buying your first home. Come and get all the information you
will need. 2 p.m., Federal Way Regional Library, 34200 First Way
S., Federal Way.
showcase and celebrate the maritime industry and
the men and women who make everything on the wa-
terfront happen. Shipping, fishing, boatbuilding and
repair are all happening in our backyard. Come par-
ticipate and learn.
Special events, public tours and other activities are
planned during April and May with the highlight
being the Vigor Seattle Maritime Festival from May
12-14, with the Harbor Open House on the Downtown
Waterfront on Saturday, May 14.
April 16
Duwamish Alive! Restoration and Cleanup, 10
a.m. - 2 p.m.
Join us as we celebrate Seattle’s only river by work-
ing to restore the Duwamish! Volunteers can sign
up: www.duwamishalive.org
April 22-26
Clipper Round the World Yacht Race Comes to
Seattle
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, which
benefits Unicef, is the world’s longest ocean ad-
venture, spanning 40,000 nautical miles. The race
consists of 12 teams competing against each other.
Don’t miss the free open-boat tours at Bell Harbor
Marina. Sponsored by Visit Seattle and the Seattle
Sports Commission, in partnership with the Port
of Seattle and the Seattle Historic Waterfront As-
sociation. Details at http://www.clipperraceseat-
tle2016.org
For more information, visit http://www.seattle-
maritime101.com/vigor-maritime-festival/.