Community Matters Campaign
Call to Action from Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed
Submitted by saraneppl on Tue, 09/07/2010 - 10:28amThis year's general election day is fast approaching (November 2!) - so now is the time to make sure you're registered to vote! Below is a message from Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed - with helpful links! (Don't forget you can also use MyVote to confirm your registration; update your address; view the races, candidate statements, and ballot measures specific to your ballot; find the nearest place to return your ballot; and obtain contact information for the elected officials who represent you!)
Voting allows us to decide who we want to run our government. But you can't vote unless you're registered to vote. This year’s General Election includes many important races and issues, from U.S. Senate to congressional and legislative races, to many local contests. There are many ballot measures that will affect you. If you haven’t registered, I urge you to do so soon. You have until October 4 to register either via mail or online by going to vote.wa.gov (click on the online voter registration icon). You also have until October 25 to register in person with your county elections department if you haven’t previously registered in Washington.
2010 Community Matters Campaign website launched!
Submitted by saraneppl on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 9:42am
In all the website-chaos yesterday, you may not have noticed the appearance of some new content: our 2010 Community Matters Campaign (CMC) website is live!
If you look in the left sidebar, you'll find quick naviation to all things CMC: about the campaign, how to host a dialogue (and, should we have any dialogues that are open to the public, how to attend one), forums and election programming, CMC sponsors and partners, and - saving the best for last - the Action Center.
As you may have heard, this year's theme is public trust. But what do we mean when we say public trust, and why is it an urgent community need? These are the questions we'll be asking during our dialogues, during our programs, and online.
I don't want to give everything away - the Action Center has a list of ways to jump in and get involved, and the About CMC page will give you all the facts and figures you could want - but since we've put a few things on the front page, let me tell you about them:
- Sound off! Take our online poll on public trust. Do you live in a close-knit community? Do you trust your neighbors to step in and intervene if necessary? How about the government or police? Do you trust your news sources to be accurate? If you take the time to get involved, do you feel it matters? Click the link to tell us your thoughts on neighborliness and public trust, and your involvement in your community!
- Tell us your story! Do you have a neighbor that brings your community together in a special way? On our Share page, we encourage you to tell us about a person in your community - or even better, upload a video and send us the link! Help us choose the winners of our 2010 People’s Choice Awards.
As more details of this year's campaign come together, the CMC pages will be the place to find them. The rest of our CMC programs are coming together, and will be announced soon! In the meantime, any feedback you have is absolutely welcome. Let us know what you think!
What's happening during this year's CMC?
Submitted by saraneppl on Tue, 08/17/2010 - 9:42amAs usual, there's something for everyone in this year's Community Matters Campaign (CMC) programming. Things are coming together, and we wanted to give you a heads up about our events - so that when the events are all confirmed, you're ready to put the dates on your calendar!
- Tuesday, September 21 - A Conversation with David Gregory, Moderator, "Meet the Press" (click the link to sign up today!)
- Thursday, September 30 - Seattle Speaks: Income Tax in Washington State? (click the link to sign up today!)
- Education Series: A System in Crisis? - Leadership Discussion
- Health Care Series: Do You Know Where Your DNA is?
- Election Debates
- A Conversation with Seattle Police Chief John Diaz
- Environment & Sustainability Series: Alternative Energy
- Finale Celebration and People's Choice Awards
- Community Dialogues on Public Trust (Want to host one? Click here to learn how.)
- Online Living Voters Guide on state wide initiatives (More info coming soon! This will be very exciting.)
We can't wait to see you at one of our events during CMC!
Host a dialogue on public trust - this year's CMC topic
Submitted by saraneppl on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 10:29am
Let's have a conversation!
We're looking for 2010 Community Matters Campaign dialogue hosts. In the past, dialogues have taken place in community centers, in high schools, in people's homes - you name the group, and it's most likely possible!
How does it work?
We need you to host a 60-minute community dialogue between one facilitator and dialogue participants (generally up to 20 - if you have more than 20, we can send additional facilitators - just let us know!) about this year's topic of public trust. Dialogue participants may be members of the dialogue host's group (for example, if you have a pre-existing community group - your book club, your sports team, your dinner party) and/or open to the general public (it's up to you!).
Why is it important?
Results of the campaign and participant opinions from the dialogue host will be disseminated in the 2010 Community Matters Campaign Final Report to elected officials, media, and the community - your voice will be heard! (Click here to see the 2009 Final Report.)
How can I host a dialogue?
Please complete the Dialogue Host Information Submission sheet (PDF) with information regarding your availability to host a Community Dialogue. This sheet may be e-mailed to Paula Rhyne at your earliest convenience, but please no later than September 17th. (You may also fax forms to 206-467-7394.) After returning this information, CityClub will provide you with a trained facilitator, a 60-minute "Talk In a Box" and informational materials for your dialogue.
I want to know more!
Click here (links to PDF) to view information sheet about this year's Community Dialogues - you can post this sheet at your work or community center to help others join the conversation! Here is an overview of the 2010 CityClub Community Matters Campaign, as well as the Host Information Submission form (also links to PDFs). You can always visit our website for more information.
Please do not hesitate to contact Paula if you have any questions about how you can host or participate in a community dialogue! (Note: Paula is in the office all day Monday and in the morning on Wednesday, with limited availability the rest of the week.)
David Gregory: "The firebrand in the front row."
Submitted by saraneppl on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 3:24pm
Great nickname, right? "Firebrand in the front row"? David Gregory earned this moniker from Washingtonian Magazine for asking tough questions.
CityClub will have this firebrand on the stage on Tuesday, September 21 - but this time you'll be asking the tough questions. He's been praised for a commitment to accountability and analysis, and he'll be kicking off CityClub's third annual Community Matters Campaign focused on public trust, with a fascinating discussion of forces, trends and issues at the heart of the national political scene.
An interesting bit from his bio: it was during David Gregory's first year that "Meet the Press" jumped into social media: "Gregory has successfully brought the program into the digital community, enhancing its presence and creating an ongoing dialogue with viewers through his blog, Facebook and Twitter."
To connect social-networking style:
- David Gregory's Facebook
- @davidgregory on Twitter
- Blog: The View from Here
Read more about David Gregory from his bio, after the jump! (And click here to register!)
2010 CMC is coming!
Submitted by saraneppl on Mon, 07/12/2010 - 12:38pm
If you're subscribed to our e-news, you already know we're gearing up for our 2010 Community Matters Campaign! (CMC for short.) This year's theme is public trust: we'll explore different aspects of public trust through forums, election debates, community dialogues, online resources and (new this year!) an online living voters guide.
What do you think about public trust?
- Do you live in a close-knit community?
- Do you trust your neighbors or your government to step in and intervene if necessary?
- How do you think public trust influences current immigration policy reform discussions?
- How would you prefer to engage with your fellow citizens and elected officials to express your voice and play a role in policy outcomes?
- Do you feel like you know about issues that are important to you and how you can take action on them?
- If you take the time to get involved, do you feel like it matters?
New this year, CityClub is partnering with the University of Washington Center for Communication and Civic Engagement and Department of Computer Science and Engineering to create a first-ever "Living Voters Guide" developed by and for the public on the fall ballot initiatives. Through community deliberation, participants will create opinion statements and recommendations for fellow voters.
As always, the campaign begins with United Way's Day of Caring and ends on Election Day. This year our kick-off event will be on September 21: A Conversation with David Gregory, host of NBC's "Meet the Press"!
2009 Community Matters Campaign Final Report is here!
Submitted by saraneppl on Thu, 02/25/2010 - 1:42pm
CityClub’s Fall 2009
Community Matters Campaign (CMC) involved over 7,200 individuals, organizations
and community groups who participated in forums, surveys, face-to-face and
on-line dialogues and debates about this year’s focus topic: The Seattle
Foundation’s 2008 Healthy Community
Report findings on the state of education and economic opportunity in King
County. The Community Matters Campaign addresses CityClub's goal to connect
citizen input to leadership decisions and public policy.
A Few Links - getting ready for the education forum!
Submitted by saraneppl on Tue, 02/09/2010 - 1:06pmA few noteworthy tidbits from the expanse of the internet:
- League of Education Voters is keeping track of what's going on in the legislature's current session with regard to education on their Education Reform 2010 page - not so you don't have to, but so it's much easier. With categories like "Hot Education Bills", "Recent Press" and a list of resources, LEV's created an easily navigable collection of information and opinion about education reform in 2010. (LEV's Lisa Macfarlane, Director of External Affairs, is on our upcoming panel.)
- Did you know Scott Oki (also a panelist) has a new book out? Titled Outrageous Learning, the book's website says: "In this thought provoking new book, Oki describes the ills facing public schools and coolly applies the same frank, no-nonsense analysis that made him one of the most successful top executives at Microsoft and a recognized leader in the technology world."
If you find this topic as important and timely as we, don't miss the discussion on February 24. Additionally, we're putting the final touches on our 2009 Community Matters Campaign Final Report - the campaign focused on education and economic opportunity - and when it's ready, it will be available on our website. Coming soon!
- League of Education Voters is keeping track of what's going on in the legislature's current session with regard to education on their Education Reform 2010 page - not so you don't have to, but so it's much easier. With categories like "Hot Education Bills", "Recent Press" and a list of resources, LEV's created an easily navigable collection of information and opinion about education reform in 2010. (LEV's Lisa Macfarlane, Director of External Affairs, is on our upcoming panel.)
- Did you know Scott Oki (also a panelist) has a new book out? Titled Outrageous Learning, the book's website says: "In this thought provoking new book, Oki describes the ills facing public schools and coolly applies the same frank, no-nonsense analysis that made him one of the most successful top executives at Microsoft and a recognized leader in the technology world."
If you find this topic as important and timely as we, don't miss the discussion on February 24. Additionally, we're putting the final touches on our 2009 Community Matters Campaign Final Report - the campaign focused on education and economic opportunity - and when it's ready, it will be available on our website. Coming soon!
This year's People's Choice Award winners - so photogenic!
Submitted by saraneppl on Thu, 12/03/2009 - 11:49am
Eric Liu of the Guiding Lights Network with representatives from our six 2009 People's Choice Award winners - 4C Coalition, League of Education Voters, MAD (Making A Difference), Para Los Niños, Puget Sound Off (PSO) and SOAR - learn more about their organizations and find links to their websites here.
Congratulations again, winners!
2009 People's Choice Award Winners Announced!
Submitted by saraneppl on Thu, 11/05/2009 - 12:51pmOver the course of the Community Matters Campaign (CMC) this fall, we've convened hundreds of participants – both online and face-to-face – in community conversations about this year's theme: education and economic opportunity. During these sessions, participants voted on what they thought was the best strategy for working toward solutions to issues in these two areas. (We also offered the opportunity to vote on our webpage and at our events during CMC.)
They responded 2-1 in favor of the following two strategies outlined in the The Seattle Foundation's Healthy Community Report:
Our winner selection demonstrates the ecology of community engagement needed to make a difference. The People’s Choice Awardees represent a spectrum of organization format, scale and focus. One is a recently emerged organic and quickly changing organization formed by and for youth. Another unites youth and parents. Others bring diverse community sectors together to foster change and opportunity. Still others work on the systemic level through policy development and advocacy. It’s together - across these various modes of organization and action - that change can be created and sustained in our community.
We invite you to join us - as well as Eric Liu of the Guiding Lights Network and Norman B. Rice of The Seattle Foundation - in celebrating the diverse and dynamic organizations that make up the 2009 People’s Choice Award winners on the evening of November 16 from 6-8pm at City Hall in Seattle. Click here to learn more, and sign up now! (I should mention there will be cake. And hot cocoa!) Here's a snapshot from last year's party:
The 2008 winners!
MAD (Making A Difference) – MAD is a newly emergent youth led non-violence group whose mission is to advocate for victims of violence. (MAD currently has no website)
Puget Sound Off (PSO) – Eighteen area teens came together in the Summer of 2007 to design the Puget Sound Off website after gathering input from 180 peers, including the Mayor's Youth Council. PSO’s mission is to provide youth with a forum for discussion, artistic expression, and action as a way to empower and encourage youth to have a strong voice. The project aims be a catalyst for increasing youth involvement and engagement within the community while encouraging expression of one's beliefs, respect for others, and commitment to public service.
Para Los Niños - Para Los Niños is a grassroots community organization founded by members of the community it serves—the growing immigrant, Spanish-speaking population in South King County. Para Los Niños builds a healthy community with a focus on Latino immigrants. It supports holistic, family-based educational opportunities and builds lasting community networks.
4C Coalition - 4C is an acronym for Clergy, Community, and Children/Youth Coalition. In partnership with King County Superior Court, 4C provides mentors to young persons involved in the juvenile justice system. The 4C Coalition is not a program to solve a problem, but a process to provide possibilities: mentors to youth, church and community resources to families, and a united voice to the community and government agencies to educate and effectively address youth issues.
SOAR - A community coalition dedicated to building partnerships that support the healthy development and success of children, youth and families in King County. SOAR connects, convenes and catalyzes communities around common goals and strategies and strives to create alignment between systems, sectors, organizations, providers and practice.
League of Education Voters - The League works to improve Washington’s public schools through a grassroots statewide network of advocates. Its mission is to make Washington’s preschools, public schools, and colleges the best in the nation. Its goals are:
They responded 2-1 in favor of the following two strategies outlined in the The Seattle Foundation's Healthy Community Report:
- Involve families and communities in student achievement and aspirations
- Increase support for high-quality public schools
Our winner selection demonstrates the ecology of community engagement needed to make a difference. The People’s Choice Awardees represent a spectrum of organization format, scale and focus. One is a recently emerged organic and quickly changing organization formed by and for youth. Another unites youth and parents. Others bring diverse community sectors together to foster change and opportunity. Still others work on the systemic level through policy development and advocacy. It’s together - across these various modes of organization and action - that change can be created and sustained in our community.
We invite you to join us - as well as Eric Liu of the Guiding Lights Network and Norman B. Rice of The Seattle Foundation - in celebrating the diverse and dynamic organizations that make up the 2009 People’s Choice Award winners on the evening of November 16 from 6-8pm at City Hall in Seattle. Click here to learn more, and sign up now! (I should mention there will be cake. And hot cocoa!) Here's a snapshot from last year's party:
The 2008 winners!
2009 People’s Choice Award Winners!
MAD (Making A Difference) – MAD is a newly emergent youth led non-violence group whose mission is to advocate for victims of violence. (MAD currently has no website)
Puget Sound Off (PSO) – Eighteen area teens came together in the Summer of 2007 to design the Puget Sound Off website after gathering input from 180 peers, including the Mayor's Youth Council. PSO’s mission is to provide youth with a forum for discussion, artistic expression, and action as a way to empower and encourage youth to have a strong voice. The project aims be a catalyst for increasing youth involvement and engagement within the community while encouraging expression of one's beliefs, respect for others, and commitment to public service.
Para Los Niños - Para Los Niños is a grassroots community organization founded by members of the community it serves—the growing immigrant, Spanish-speaking population in South King County. Para Los Niños builds a healthy community with a focus on Latino immigrants. It supports holistic, family-based educational opportunities and builds lasting community networks.
4C Coalition - 4C is an acronym for Clergy, Community, and Children/Youth Coalition. In partnership with King County Superior Court, 4C provides mentors to young persons involved in the juvenile justice system. The 4C Coalition is not a program to solve a problem, but a process to provide possibilities: mentors to youth, church and community resources to families, and a united voice to the community and government agencies to educate and effectively address youth issues.
SOAR - A community coalition dedicated to building partnerships that support the healthy development and success of children, youth and families in King County. SOAR connects, convenes and catalyzes communities around common goals and strategies and strives to create alignment between systems, sectors, organizations, providers and practice.
League of Education Voters - The League works to improve Washington’s public schools through a grassroots statewide network of advocates. Its mission is to make Washington’s preschools, public schools, and colleges the best in the nation. Its goals are:
- Every child reads by the third grade, with more attention to early learning and the role of parents.
- Every child is taught by an excellent teacher. Like all professionals, teachers deserve ongoing mentoring and training.
- Every child graduates from high school ready for college, work, and life. Standards for high school graduation must align with college entrance requirements.
- All students master the math and science they need to succeed in our technology-driven economy.
- More investment in our children’s education, but also more accountability to ensure all children succeed.
CityClub events: