January 3, 2018 The Skanner Page 5
News
Events & Announcements
Community
Calendar 2017
cont’d from pg 4
Thursday Art Walk, when art galleries open their doors to in-
troduce new exhibitions and artists. Free for all to enjoy and
browse. 5 p.m. – 9 p.m., Pioneer Square.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 11
PHOTO BY SUSAN FRIED
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CELEBRATION: This is a coun-
ty-sponsored event. You’re welcome to attend the Dr. Martin Lu-
ther King, Jr. celebration from 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., The Sanctuary,
811 5th Ave. Free and open to the public.
ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP: Are you
caring for someone with memory loss? Do you need information
and support? Come and share and gain emotional support at the
group meeting. Free to come and talk or just listen. 11:30 a.m. – 1
p.m., The Central Building, 810 3rd Ave. Lobby Floor.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 12
Polar Bear Plunge
Friends Dennice Jordan, and Ellen Diaz, emerge from Lake Washington after participating in the 16th annual Polar Bear Plunge Jan. 1 at
Matthews Beach. Participants willing to immerse themselves neck-deep in the 45-degree water in Lake Washington received the 2018
Commemorative Badge of Courage. Dennice and Ellen received their 10th Commemorative badge this year.
Briefs cont’d from pg 4
tion expenses at universities, colleges, trade schools
and community colleges across the country.
To learn more about the Oregon College Savings
Plan or open an account, go to www.OregonCollege-
Savings.com.
Seattle News Briefs
Seattle’s Minimum Wage Increased
Jan. 1
The City of Seattle Office of Labor Standards (OLS)
announces the increase to the Seattle minimum wage
beginning on January 1, 2018. The increase to the min-
imum wage reflects inflation adjustments and annual
increases required by the
Minimum Wage ordi-
nance.
The 2018 minimum
wage for large employ-
ers (501 or more employ-
ees) who do not pay
toward the individual
employee’s
medical
benefit plan is $15.45/
hour. The 2018 minimum
wage for large employers who do pay
toward the individual employee’s medical benefits is
$15/hour.
The 2018 minimum wage for small employers (500
or fewer employees) who do not pay at least $2.50 per
hour toward the individual employee’s medical bene-
fits and/or where the employee does not earn at least
$2.50 per hour in tips is $14/hour. The 2018 minimum
wage for small employers who do pay at least $2.50
per hour toward the individual employee’s medical
benefits and/or where the employee does earn at least
$2.50 per hour in tips is $11.50/hour.
Revised Labor Standards posters for 2018, which
are required to be posted by all businesses with work-
ers in Seattle, have been mailed to every business
with a Seattle business license. English copies are
also available for download at the OLS Website and
can be picked up at OLS at 810 3rd Avenue, Suite 375,
and at every City of Seattle Customer Service Center.
OLS is in the process of translating the poster into
twelve other languages.
Help for employers:
For free and private compliance assistance with
Minimum Wage and any Seattle labor standard, or to
schedule a training, call 206-256-5297 or email busi-
ness.laborstandards@seattle.gov.
Help for workers and the public:
To ask a question, file a complaint, or provide infor-
mation, call (206) 256-5297, email workers.laborstan-
dards@seattle.gov, visit the OLS in downtown Seattle
at 810 Third Ave. Suite 375, or click here to fill out a
web form.
Seattle’s Minimum Wage Ordinance applies to em-
ployees working in Seattle, regardless of the employ-
ees’ immigration status.
$5.5 Million Available From
Equitable Development Initiative
Fund
Community-based organizations working in Se-
attle on anti-displacement strategies and economic
development opportunities are encouraged to apply
to the City of Seattle’s Equitable Development Initia-
tive (EDI) fund by March 5. In this round of funding,
a total of $5.5 million will be available for capacity
building, property acquisition, and capital expenses
for community-based projects in high displacement
risk neighborhoods.
The EDI fund, administered by the Office of Plan-
ning and Community Development (OPCD), was cre-
ated to respond to the needs of marginalized pop-
ulations, reduce disparities, and support access to
opportunity in healthy, vibrant communities. The
initiative was championed by community organiza-
tions concerned about displacement pressures and
historical lack of investment that has occurred in
communities of color in Seattle.
OPCD will evaluate applications based on their abil-
ity to positively impact several equity drivers, includ-
ing:
• Promoting economic opportunity through educa-
tion and job training, and enhancing community
cultural anchors.
• Helping marginalized populations, businesses, and
community organizations stay in their neighbor-
hoods.
• Enhancing health outcomes, access to healthy, cul-
turally relevant food, and supporting safe environ-
ments.
Successful applicants will demonstrate a deep re-
lationship with the community they are seeking to
serve and feature an inclusive community process,
with community members serving in their organiza-
tional leadership.
OPCD, Office of Economic Development, Office of
Housing , Department of Neighborhoods, and other
City departments coordinate the administration of
the EDI fund. An interim advisory board helps guide
the EDI and provides feedback on funding decisions.
EDI funds, which may be grants or loans, are in-
tended to complement existing funding sources and
address gaps identified by communities in the exist-
ing resources available to them. Engagement with
partner organizations will involve a multi-year pro-
cess of building capacity, developing a project, and
overseeing implementation and reporting.
The current funding round is making available $5.5
million for up to seven qualifying organizations. Ap-
proximately $1 million will be awarded to support
45TH ANNUAL COMMUNITY CELEBRATION OF MARTIN LUTHER
KING, JR.: The annual community celebration will include a key-
note speaker and live gospel music. Free and the public is wel-
come to join. Noon – 1:30 p.m., Doors open at 11 a.m. Mount Zion
Baptist Church, 1634 19th Ave.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 13
THE 15TH ANNUAL DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CELEBRATION:
Celebrate “The Dream Today,” with live music, Total Experience
Gospel Choir, little church Prairie Bells and much more. 10 a.m. –
2 p.m., McGavick Conference Center, 4500 Stellacoom Blvd. SW,
Lakewood.
capacity-building efforts over a two-year period and
$4.5 million will be available to projects for predevel-
opment, property acquisition, and capital expenses.
OPCD strongly encourages pre-application meet-
ings and will accept requests for meetings until Feb.
14, 2018. Applications are due March 5, 2018. Final
contracts with successful applicants are expected to
be completed by June 2018.
The EDI fund was established with $16 million from
the sale of the Civic Square property adjacent to Seat-
tle City Hall. The fund also receives $430,000 in annu-
al funding from the federal Community Development
Block Grant. Seattle’s new program to tax short-term
rentals will provide another $5 million in ongoing
annual revenues beginning in 2019.
Community Members to Decide How
to Spend $3 Million on Park and
Street Improvements in Seattle
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods is again en-
gaging community members to democratically de-
cide how to spend $3 million of the City’s budget on
small-scale park and street improvements. This is the
third year of participatory budgeting through Your
Voice, Your Choice (YVYC): Parks & Streets.
From now to February 2, community members can
submit an idea online at seattle.gov/yvyc or in-per-
son at any Seattle Public Library branch. Projects
could include park benches, trail improvements,
flashing beacons, and curb ramps to name a few. The
only criteria are the ideas be physical improvements
for Seattle’s parks or streets, benefit the public, and
cost $90,000 or less.
Once ideas are submitted, volunteers will be re-
cruited to turn the ideas into 8 – 10 proposals per
district. Then this summer, everyone will have the
opportunity to vote for the top projects within their
district. You can learn more about the YVYC process
and how to get involved on our webpage, and for
questions, email kraig.cook@seattle.gov.
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods is seeking
community leaders interested in serving on the
Steering Committee for Your Voice, Your Choice:
Parks & Streets. The YVYC Steering Committee will
advise, guide and assist on key programmatic activi-
ties related to equity, the funding structure, outcomes
and accountability. The membership will be selected
through an open-application process with an empha-
sis on centering communities of color and selecting
individuals who have not been historically engaged
by or in government or budget processes. All YVYC
Steering Committee members will receive a consulta-
tion fee. To learn more, visit our website, and to apply
online, go here. The deadline for applications is Fri-
day, January 19 at 6 p.m.