What's New
New
Member Orientation
Wednesday,
May 28, 2008
11:00 am -
1:00 pm
Urban League
Board Room (105 14th Ave., Seattle)
Are you:
- A new member of MEDC?
- Interested in becoming a member?
- A current member who wants to refresh,
recommit, or revive your involvement in MEDC?
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Then please
join us and learn about:
- MEDC's History
- Organizational Structure
- Activities/Projects
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This is a great time
for you
to ask questions, determine your areas of interest within MEDC, meet
MEDC staff, one of our founding members, and the Executive Director!
Lunch is
provided!
RSVP to Heather
by Wednesday May 21 or call us with any questions at (206) 325-2542.
Click here
to download the flyer.
Equal
Voice Town Hall
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Because no working family should live in
poverty. Today nearly a third of America's families earn less than 200%
of the poverty rate - about $40,000 for a family of four.
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The
Equal Voice for America’s Families campaign is
bringing together low-wage working families from across the country to
develop an agenda that voices issues that concern families. The
Campaign includes townhall meetings, cross-region work and a
concentrated media campaign to draw attention to the social and
economic barriers low-wage working families face. The Campaign will
culminate with the presentation of the national family agenda at a
multicity convention of families in Los Angeles, CA, Chicago, IL and
Birmingham, AL on September 6, 2008. Thank you
for joining MEDC on April 26,
2008 for this important town hall event and for bringing our
local voice and concerns to the table!
Hosted by: Legacy of Equality Leadership and
Organizing, Village of Hope, AFSC, Poverty Action Network, Hate Free
Zone, Potlatch Fund, Coalition to Undo Racism, Greater Church Council
of Seattle, Puget Sound Organizing, LEAP, Minority Executive Directors
Coalition
At the invitation of our co-founding partners, El Centro de la
Raza, the Minority Executive Directors Coalition of King
County was invited to participate in a very special event involving His
Holiness the Dalai Lama.
From April
11-15, 2008,
Seattle's children, youth, parents, educators, businesses and community
leaders joined with the Dalai Lama and other distinguished guests
for "an unprecedented gathering". The 5-day event was
entitled
"Seeds
of Compassion".
MEDC and its members were invited to attend "Compassion in Action" at
Qwest Field as well as an invitation only Luncheon followed by
a Dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama entitled
"Compassion - A
Foundation for Sustainable Growth" on Monday April 14, 2008. |
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Ikes
Ikeda presents Ike's
Principles at February GM Meeting
Long-time community activist and one of MEDC's founding members Tsugo
"Ike" Ikeda presented on his newly published book Ike's Principles
at MEDC's February 20th, 2008 General Membership Meeting.
For information on how to purchase the book, please contact Dee.
A copy of the powerpoint presentation given at the meeting
can be found here.
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MEDC’s
25th Anniversary Celebration and Awards Banquet was a tremendous
success thanks to all of our supporters and attendees!
To view and or purchase pictures of the event, click here.
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By Jolayne Houtz
Seattle Times staff reporter
Tam Nguyen's restaurant, Saigon Bistro, has been a
gathering spot in Seattle's Little Saigon neighborhood since he and his
wife opened it 14 years ago.
But will his customers still be around to gather,
Nguyen wonders, if a proposed $300 million retail development goes in
nearby?
"Most of my customers are Vietnamese. How will
they afford to live here? I think we will lose them," said Nguyen, 62,
who expects rents to rise.
Nguyen joined a multiethnic, multigenerational
crowd of more than 400 protesters Saturday marching to the site of the
proposed 10-acre development at the Seattle Goodwill on South Dearborn
Street.
They marched to the steady beat of a drummer who
accompanied a team of dragon dancers. Some carried signs or strapped on
boxes with slogans such as "Think traffic is bad now?" or "Big box? Not
in my neighborhood." More
>>>
Dorry Elias-Garcia has been appointed to serve on and co-chair the King
County Regional Human Services Levy Oversight Board. In partnership
with the Veterans' Citizens Levy Oversight Board, these new citizen
advisory boards will monitor and review the Levy expenditures and help
ensure the best possible access to services for individuals and
families based on need and cultural considerations.
With this key appointment, MEDC members can rest assured that the
perspectives of communities of color will be at the table when
important funding decisions are made.
Click here to read the news release by King
County Executive Ron Sims.
January 9, 2007 - Seattle Times
OLYMPIA - Wrapped in Pendleton blankets and honored by neighboring
tribes, four members of the state Legislature were recognized Monday
night in a ceremony celebrating the largest number of Washington
lawmakers ever claiming American Indian or Alaska Native heritage.
The increase parallels national growth, with 64 Native people serving
in legislatures in 14 states, up from 50 people last year, according to
the National Conference of State Legislatures. Oklahoma has by far the
most, with 18 Native lawmakers. Alaska and Montana are next with nine
each, then New Mexico with six, and Washington with four.
"It's the most ever," said Jacqueline Johnson, executive director of
the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).
And that's no accident: It's a result of a renaissance of political
activism in Indian Country.
While Indians are only about 2 percent of the state's population,
casino wealth has helped Washington tribes gain clout. Tribes helped
oust former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton in 2000, provided important
financial help in the recount in Gov. Christine Gregoire's razor-thin
victory, and helped boost U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell to re-election.
Groups such as NCAI and INDN's List, or Indigenous Democratic Network,
have worked to get out the vote in Indian Country, encouraged
candidates to run and educated all candidates about Indian issues.
Newly elected lawmakers Don Barlow, an enrolled member of the Ottawa
Nation of Oklahoma and Democratic representative from Spokane, and
Claudia Kauffman, an enrolled member of the Nez Perce tribe and
Democrat from Kent just elected to the Senate, both attended INDN's
List's first-ever campaign camp in Washington. They learned how to
raise money, knock on doors and run professional campaigns. More >>>
December 13, 2006 - City of Seattle
Mayor Greg Nickels announced today he has nominated Stella Chao, a
long-time community leader, as the new director of the city’s
Department of Neighborhoods (DON).
“Stella has a passion for bringing people together, building
community and serving the residents of Seattle,” Nickels
said. “This is a city of great neighborhoods and strong
communities. Stella's grass roots experience building a strong
community-based organization in the International District makes her a
great fit to lead the Department of Neighborhoods.”
Prior to her nomination as DON director, Chao served as executive
director of the International District Housing Alliance. Through her
career, Chao has focused on helping poor and under-served populations,
developing programs addressing transitional housing for victims of
domestic violence, environmental education and leadership, and
assistance for first-time homebuyers.
More
>>>
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