The crowds spilled into the main hall of the Rainier Community center even before the 7:00pm meeting was underway.
“I’m here because I raise kids in this city, and they don’t feel safe,” said one woman who attended with her neighbor. Both women said youth violence, safety and opportunities were their top concerns.
“I want to know what the guy [Mayor McGinn] is actually going to do,” said one man who identified himself as “Gary”. “He talks a whole lot of stuff, but I want to know, when he is done hearing from all of us, is he going to put the city’s money where its mouth is, or leave these kids out to dry?”
Dozens of parents neighbors, volunteers crammed into a small room prepared to begin the discussion.
The co-chairs of the new initiative are former mayor Norm Rice, former deputy mayor Bob Watt and Estela Ortega, executive director at El Centro de la Raza and were on hand to lead the meeting.
So, what is the meat of the initiative? Here’s what the Mayor had to say:
“Our goal with the Youth and Families Initiative is to get input from everyone in Seattle who cares about these issues,” said Mayor’s Office Community Engagement Coordinator Sol Villarreal. “We realize that not everyone is going to be interested in attending or able to attend one of the large group workshops, so in order to make sure we’re hearing from a representative sample of the population of the city, we’re also going to be holding up to 100 Community Caucuses around the city. The idea is that instead of asking someone to come to us, we’re going to go to them to make sure that their voice gets heard.”
Timeline:
Large Group Workshops:
March 1 � Northgate Elementary School 7:00-8:30 p.m.
March 8 � Van Asselt Elementary School 7:00-8:30 p.m.
March 15 � Denny Middle School 7:00-8:30 p.m.
March 22 � Garfield Community Center 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Community Caucuses March 22- May 2010
Community Causes are intended to reach communities, organizations and people who are unable or disinclined to attend large public meetings. They are also intended to focus conversations around community and neighborhood specific issues. Like the Workshop small groups, each caucus will be provided a facilitator and note taker as well as a translator if one is required.
Each Community Caucus will elect one delegate to send on to the Kids and Families Congress on June 5 at Seattle Center.
Kids and Families Congress June 5th 2010 Seattle Center
Delegates from workshops and caucuses, city staff, school district staff and representatives of the business community, foundations and legislators will be invited to attend and participate.
Action Planning Groups September-December 2010
Teams composed of delegates, city staff, experts, and legislators will be formed to develop action plans for priority issues that emerge from the Congress. Action plans will include priorities for city spending and the Families and Education Levy. Action plans will outline and strengthen partnerships among the city, Seattle Public Schools, Community Based Organizations, foundations, businesses and elected officials at all levels.
The next meeting is scheduled for March 1st at Northgate Elementary
This website uses IntenseDebate comments, but they are not currently loaded because either your browser doesn't support JavaScript, or they didn't load fast enough.