Building Community Together
White Center Neighborhood Action Plan
Acknowledgements This project was made possible through the generous support of The Boeing Company
White center cda The White Center Community Development Association (CDA) was founded by neighborhood residents on the value of connecting peoplecentered and place-based activities to build a strong community. The White Center CDA’s mission is to promote a vibrant neighborhood and high quality of life for White Center residents and stakeholders through the development of leadership opportunities and community-led neighborhood initiatives. Our central goal is to create a healthier and more prosperous community by strengthening families, schools, businesses and the neighborhood in White Center. These goals are accomplished through programs and activities in holistic family development, neighborhood revitalization and community building. Only then will White Center’s neighborhood and its families thrive as a proud, peaceful and civically engaged community strengthened by economic and ethnic diversity and served by a vibrant, safe neighborhood. For more information, visit www.wccda.org.
Impact Capital Impact Capital’s mission is to make strategic capital investments in community-based nonprofit development organizations in ways that enhance and sustain their ability to positively impact the quality of life in communities throughout Washington. Support of the White Center Action Plan was through our Vibrant Communities Initiative, which aims to make neighborhoods great places to live, work, shop and play. For more information, visit www.impactcapital.org.
Special Thanks
This document was published 11/2009
Thank you to all those who made this project a success: Residents, businesses and community stakeholders of White Center White Center CDA staff, board and volunteers Desiree Sideroff: community and economic development consultant Kathi Wheeler: graphic design, Noise without Sound David Hell: printing, Graphics Plus, Inc. Rebecca Bolte: Rebecca Bolte Photography Annie E. Casey Foundation: Making Connections Initiative (for the Community Investments and Results Plans) University of Washington and King County (for the 2007 We Create White Center Neighborhood Action Plan)
“I like the ethnicity and different atmosphere in White Center. I have been here for 13 years and have experienced the changes. I like how the neighborhood has cleaned up over the time.�
Derec Scott, Owner of Platinum Cuts & Styles
Contents I. introduction Neighborhood Overview
Page 5
Intro to the Action Plan
Page 13
Plan Creation
Page 15
Partners
Page 17
II. strategies Strategy 1 Family-Supporting Jobs
Page 22
Strategy 2 Save & Achieve Goals
Page 24
Strategy 3 Succeeding in School
Page 25
Strategy 4 Real-Estate Development
Page 26
Strategy 5 Parks, Gathering Spaces, Art
Page 28
Strategy 6 Vibrant Business District
Page 30
Strategy 7 Health & Wellness
Page 32
Strategy 8 Resident Leadership & Engagement Page 34
III. implementation matrix Matrix for Strategies 1-8
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Above: Photos courtesy of the White Center CDA unless otherwise noted.
Introduction
Neighborhood Overview White Center is a culturally rich and unique community of approximately 30,000 people located in unincorporated King County, adjacent to the city of Seattle and north of the city of Burien, Washington. Known as one of the most affordable places to live or own a business in the greater Seattle area, White Center has become a welcoming gateway for immigrants and refugees who arrive, settle, raise families, establish businesses and build social, cultural and religious institutions. Home to many immigrants from Southeast Asia, Central America and Europe, White Center’s cultural richness is reflected in its multi-cultural festivals, 54 languages spoken in schools and its businesses. A shopping trip to the downtown business district could include a stop at a Mexican tortilla factory, historic pharmacy, Vietnamese restaurant, Salvadorian bakery, halal meat market or Cambodian grocery store. White Center is also home to other community assets including two recently renovated parks (Steve Cox Memorial Park and White Center Heights Park); new elementary schools funded by a voter-approved bond measure for Highline; other neighborhood facilities like the King County Parks Log Cabin, Southwest Boys and Girls Club, Greenbridge Career Center and Salvation Army; and larger employers like McLendon Hardware and La Mexicana.
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Seattle A
Lake Washington
A
5
90
Building Community Together
99
[
West Seattle
Puget Sound
a global look at our diversity
a
Below are the top ten countries represented in White Center based on the population of residents from that country (alphabetized): 1. Bosnia 2. Cambodia 3. China 4. El Salvador
5 509
Burien
SeaTac Int’l Airport
a
518
405
5. Ethiopia 6. Guatamala 7. Mexico 8. Russia
9. Samoa 10. Vietnam
Tukwila
“I like White Center because it’s laid back and the people are friendly and cool.”
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-- Mustafe Yusut, White Center resident
Introduction Neighborhood demographics Neighborhood boundaries are personal to each resident and often overlap. For the purposes of this plan, the greater White Center neighborhood includes the larger North Highline area with boundaries of 30th Avenue SW to the west, S Henderson to the north, Highway 509 to the east and SW 128th to the south. The most reliable source of demographic information for White Center is the 2000 census. Updated census numbers will not be available for a few more years. White Center is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in King County and has long been a starting point for new immigrants. Of the neighborhood’s approximately 30,000 residents, about half are people of color including residents from Vietnam, Cambodia and Samoa; Latinos from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador; East Africans from Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea; and Eastern Europeans from Russia, Bosnia and the Ukraine. The concentration of people of color in White Center (45%) is greater than in King County (25%) or Seattle (32%). One in six people in White Center are below the Federal Poverty Level compared to one in thirteen in King County; one in three do not earn family-supportive wages. Almost 40% of households with children are headed by a single parent, mostly women. Twenty-seven percent of White Center adults do not have a high school
diploma, which is more than double the percentage of King County as a whole. Sixty percent of children at three of the four White Center Schools are eligible for the Free/Reduced Price lunch program, which is three times higher than the King County average. Median household income is $40,000 compared to $53,000 in King County. Additional demographic information about White Center is provided below.
population & income Total Population Total Households Total Families Median Household Income Per Capita Income
28,409 10,422 6,937 $40,659 $18,203
2000 households by income Less than $15,000 $15,000 - $24,999 $25,000 - $34,999 $35,000 - $49,999 $50,000 - $74,999 Over $75,000 Total households
Number
% of Total
1,747 1,424 1,219 2,055 2,144 765 10,452
17% 14% 12% 20% 21% 7%
population by age Under 19 20-39 40-64 Over 65
30% 30% 30% 10%
Source: 2000 Census
Left: Photo courtesy of Stefanie Felix
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Single family homes make up the majority of the housing stock at 59%. White Center homes are generally less expensive than those in other parts of King County. The median home price in White Center in 2008 was $256,500 versus a median home price of $430,000 in King County. While the real-estate market has slowed in White Center and in King County as a whole, the average home price per square foot rose by almost 80% between 2000 and 2006, leading to concerns about what will happen when the real-estate market recovers. Rents in White Center/Boulevard Park are slightly more affordable than in King County as a whole, but they increased by 39% between 1997 and 2006. Housing is considered “affordable” when it costs less than 30% of a household’s entire income. Yet, 45% of renters and 26% of White Center owners spend more than this for housing.
race & ethnicity White Asian Some Other Race Black or African American Two or More Races Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander American Indian or Alaska Native Total Hispanic Population
Number
% of Total
15,821 5,562 2,145 1,930 1,739
55.70% 19.60% 7.60% 6.80% 6.10%
663
2.30%
549 3,563
1.90% 12.50%
Source: 2000 Census
Map Left: White Center Walking Map developed by Feet First as a part of the Neighborhoods on Foot Program
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Building Community Together The Story of White Center White Center was developed in the early 20th century as a streetcar suburb of Seattle. Businesses began to locate along the 16th Ave SW streetcar line that was completed in 1912. Major growth occurred around World Wars I and II as defense industries were established along with housing–both private and government subsidized–for their workers. Businesses grew and thrived, including a boxing ring/skate center and other gathering places. Into the 1960s, housing and schools continued to develop around a thriving commercial district that offered everything a family needed for daily life. The postwar decline in defense industry jobs and the advent of the shopping mall and Westwood Village in 1965 put a great strain on White Center’s small businesses. In the 1970s, worker housing was transformed into housing for low-income families. The predominance of affordable housing made White Center a multi-cultural gateway for new immigrants from Mexico, Southeast Asia, East Africa and many other places.
Top: 16th Avenue SW, White Center in 1958 Bottom: Historic photo of White Center, date unknown
“When I first got to Washington from California I went in search for a good place that I could be comfortable to live in and even though it wouldn’t replace my native California but actually be part of another chapter in my life. I still remember when I arrived to White Center as if it was yesterday (Sep.13.05). I landed on 16th Ave. I haven’t left. My girls love their schools’ walking distance and friendly neighbors and friends. Although I might still get home sick at times missing East L.A. “the hood” to me, but for my children and their children I have found a positive new “Neighborhood” for them called White Center!
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Claudia DeLoza, White Center resident
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NEIGHBORHOOD Strengths As is indicated in its rich history, White Center has many assets upon which to build, including:
Partly due to its lack of local governance and disinvestment from both the public and private sector, White Center infrastructure suffered. New diversity brought interesting challenges for both newcomers and established residents, as adjusting to life in America proved difficult. Residents and other stakeholders were not organized around a common vision to improve their community. Now, White Center is at the cusp of a neighborhood renaissance. Residents have become civically engaged in schools and public safety. Nonprofit organizations have matured in support of community goals. In recent years, the neighborhood has experienced significant attention and renewed investment from private and public sectors: King County (White Center Enhancement Initiative), Annie E. Casey Foundation (Making Connections Initiative), Gates Foundation/ Thrive by Five (White Center Early Learning Initiative) and King County Housing Authority (renovation of Greenbridge multi-family housing complexes), to name a few. This attention comes with opportunities and risks. If the neighborhood can come together to advocate for our needs and priorities, we are well positioned to make significant gains and ensure that changes occur in a way that everybody benefits. However, if we do not communicate our priorities, there is a chance that many residents could be left out and displaced by the process. This plan seeks to help communicate community priorities and advocate for an equitable approach to change.
• Multi-cultural community representing long-term residents and immigrants from over 30 countries. • Substantial civic engagement: In 2008, over 2,000 White Center residents participated in committees, volunteer events and community forums. • Strong network of community-based organizations (including 51 lead agency partners in this plan) and countless other civic, cultural, faith- and socially-based organizations. • Downtown business district that provides a wide range of affordable goods and services offered by independently-owned small businesses. • A growing arts community that is dedicated to the neighborhood and uses arts to enrich the lives of residents. • Strong parent engagement and leadership in the Highline Public Schools and a commitment to improving the lives and educational opportunities for students. • Extensive network of activities that support strong families, including multiple generations from youth through seniors. • White Center is one of the most affordable places to live in the greater Seattle/Tacoma area, featuring a range of affordable market rates and permanently affordable housing options. • Foundation, government and corporate funders have actively co-invested with the White Center community, demonstrating their confidence and support of our vision.
Building Community Together
Above: Photo courtesy of Stefanie Felix
NEIGHBORHOOD challenges Despite its many assets, White Center residents and organizations face a number of challenges and planning issues to overcome in order to fully enable the community to thrive. • Poverty. According to a 2006 phone survey of 800 White Center residents, 42% live below the 200% federal poverty line, meaning that they do not make enough money to pay for housing, groceries, childcare and other necessities. The same survey also found that 23% of residents do not have any savings and 21% report not being able to pay their mortgage, rent or utilities. • Threats to the neighborhood character and diversity of the community. Without resident influence, development pressures could force some residents and businesses to leave the community, who would otherwise want to stay. • Threats to affordability of housing and of the goods and services provided in the neighborhood. As the market improves, there are no guarantees that the neighborhood will remain affordable for current residents. • Decline in jobs and need for a range of training options that are accessible to non-native English speakers and non-traditional workers. • Insufficient culturally-appropriate financial services and education, causing many people to resort to predatory lenders and costly payday loans services.
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• Lack of safe connections between areas of interest in the neighborhood that also makes it challenging for residents to walk, bike or take public transit. • Need to strengthen the downtown area to become safe and vibrant while ensuring that it meets the everyday needs of local residents. • Significant health disparities between White Center and the rest of King County with White Center residents having higher mortality rates and a greater likelihood to contract preventable illnesses than the rest of the county. This can be attributed to a combination of inadequate care (only 35% of residents have health insurance through their jobs, according to the same 2006 phone survey), poor education and lack of healthy foods and avenues for physical activity. • Lack of open space. A 2007 UW School of Architecture study reported that approximately half of White Center households did not live within a ¼ mile radius of parks. • Need for coordination and community building to ensure that all efforts work together to achieve joint goals and that residents have many opportunities for leadership and for their voices to be heard. Building on the White Center community’s many strengths and overcoming these key challenges are central to this plan’s strategies to improve the neighborhood.
Introduction
White Center Neighborhood Action Plan The White Center Neighborhood Action Plan is a roadmap for a partnership of residents, organizations, businesses and government agencies on how to work together to make White Center a thriving place that sustains local businesses and provides places for families to eat, shop, learn, play, worship and gather. This Neighborhood Action Plan presents a series of linked strategies and a set of specific action items to help realize the community’s vision. The plan also includes tactics for coordinating efforts to ensure that implementation is a success, including opportunities for neighborhood stakeholders to periodically gather, coordinate activities, reflect on successes and build leadership. A community-wide vision will be fully realized only through coordinated efforts of citizens and local organizations. An evolving plan: Community summit as the mechanism for input and coordination The White Center Neighborhood Action Plan is an evolving document that requires everyone in the neighborhood to participate. Unlike most plans that sit on the shelf, it will be used regularly by all partners and updated every year at the annual White Center Community Summit. At this time, accomplishments will be reviewed, new needs discussed, new partners added, community priorities assessed and new commitments made for the following year. All of the agencies that are represented in the plan will participate, and the community-at-large will be invited to help lead the process and shape the neighborhood’s future. Top: Photo courtesy of Dean Wong
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Building Community Together The Plan is comprised of theSE 8 strategies 1. Prepare and connect residents to familysupporting jobs that provide career and wage advancement. 2. Help families save now and in the future to achieve their goals. 3. Provide children and families with resources and support to succeed in school.
This plan applies to any Annexation scenario Residents in White Center and the larger area of North Highline are facing a crucial decision, as they will soon vote to determine if portions of White Center should remain in unincorporated King County or be annexed by the cities of Burien or Seattle. Due to the challenges of the resource-strapped King County regional government and requirements of the Washington State Growth Management Act, North Highline residents must vote to determine which city to join. This plan does not advocate for one outcome over another. Rather, it conveys a community-driven vision, strategy and priority actions that apply equally to any annexation scenario. The hope is that the Cities and the County will want to partner and co-invest with the neighborhood to achieve joint goals and ensure that the community’s needs are met.
4. Develop vacant and underutilized land into community-prioritized commercial, retail, arts/cultural uses and mixed-income housing. 5. Create an attractive, walkable neighborhood with great parks, community gathering spaces and public art that is easily accessible by bike and public transit. 6. Create a vibrant cultural and economic business district that provides affordable goods and services, employs local entrepreneurs and is supported by active community members. 7. Improve children and families’ health and wellness in homes, schools and the neighborhood. 8. Provide support, training and a range of opportunities for all residents of all ages to shape the neighborhood’s future.
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Introduction
How the Plan Was Created Integration of previous plans White Center community members have participated in many planning processes over the last five years. Rather than start anew, this plan was developed by combining and prioritizing the projects in the existing plans that already reflect the needs and preferences of residents, businesses and community-based organizations. Plans that informed this effort include:
the White Center CDA and Trusted Advocates, totaling approximately 95 individuals. All this work was initially guided by an extensive community outreach process in 2001, led by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and King County to identify community priorities. Annual White Center Community Summit:
We Create White Center Neighborhood Action Plan: The plan was completed in June 2007 concluding an eight-month community planning process that involved over 350 residents, business owners, experts and government officials representing the diverse ethnic, age and religious backgrounds of White Center stakeholders. Input was gathered from 32 small groups representing over 145 individuals and leaders and three public meetings with over 210 attendees. The strategies in the Neighborhood Action Plan reflect the vision, goals and priorities that arose in the process. Community Investment and Results Plan (CIRP): The CIRP guided annual investments from the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Making Connections Initiative. A new CIRP was created each year based on community input. The 2008 CIRP was informed by four workgroups comprised of residents, nonprofit organizations, businesses and government entities and by resident leaders with
The 2008 Summit included participation by 350 residents and 40 partner organizations in a diverse multi-cultural celebration of community. Residents participated in workshops on a variety of topics including first time homeownership, annexation, getting to know your schools and community health. Partners gathered important input at breakout sessions. For example, through instant e-polling, organizers found that the majority of participants believe diversity is White Center’s biggest asset, believe it should be a home for people of mixed incomes, don’t use formal childcare for their children under 5, believe education and training are most important to earning more income and get their exercise mostly by walking. The community summits began in 2003 and have occurred annually since then, focusing on topical areas (early learning, annexation) and, more recently, on comprehensive neighborhood priorities. It is intended to be a dynamic forum for identifying community strengths and priorities and for engaging residents in community building and leadership opportunities throughout the year.
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Building Community Together Prioritization through stakeholder meetings In order for the White Center Neighborhood Action Plan to be effective, it cannot prioritize every project. There is simply too much work for existing staff, partners and residents to take on. Building from a solid foundation of community leadership, the work was organized into eight strategy areas after every organization currently engaged in projects related to these objectives in White Center was contacted. Each Priority Action includeS: Priority Lead Partner Timeframe Funding Action Agency Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Source Short: 2 Yr Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
• The Priority Action describes the project or tasks. • The Lead Agency is responsible for leading a Priority Action and ensuring that it is completed. • The Partner Agencies are equally important to the execution of Priority Actions and may include one or more individuals, organizations or businesses. • The Timeframe indicates when the project will begin. Options are: ongoing–for projects that have already begun and are continuing to be implemented; immediate–will start to be implemented within one year; short–will start to be implemented within two years; or medium–will start to be implemented within 3-5 years. • The Funding Source lists the sources of funds that have been secured to date to complete that Priority Action. How Priority actions and Lead Agencies were selected for the plan: Each action has one Lead Agency, which is either a stand-alone organization or a collaboration of agencies with a formal partnership. There is only one Lead Agency per Priority Action in order to help achieve positive results, monitor success and ensure accountability. In conversations with potential partners, the following guidelines were used to determine which Priority Actions and Lead Agencies to include in the plan:
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• Lead Agency has committed to achieving/making progress on the Priority Action. • Lead Agency has committed sufficient staff time or volunteer coordination time to ensure completion of the Priority Action. • Funding exists or the Lead Agency has committed staff time to securing funding for the Priority Action. • The Priority Action is an achievable dream: meaningful and reportable progress can be made in 3-5 years. • The Lead Agency supports the value of communitydriven neighborhood revitalization. • The Lead Agency recognizes that community residents and businesses possess unique knowledge about their neighborhood and is committed to collaborating with them in order to accomplish the Priority Action. • The Lead Agency agrees to participate in the annual Community Summit, including: • Contributing data to the annual report card • Reporting on progress made on Priority Actions • Bringing the agency’s networks and constituents to Annual Summit. • There was an emphasis on achieving outcomes rather than process– “study” or “explore” were discouraged Priority Actions. Projects that have been identified as community priorities but did not meet all of the implementation criteria will be included in future Community Summits for discussion.
Introduction
Neighborhood Action Plan Partners working together Supporting White Center’s families and the neighborhood requires a cooperative approach and multiple implementing partners. A list of organizations committed to White Center through this Neighborhood Action Plan is provided on the next page. Many more people and organizations are doing great work in White Center than are listed in this plan. Some organizations were not ready to be included in this plan while others were emerging as the plan was being printed. Every year, during the annual Community Summit, organizations, residents and businesses will work together to reprioritize the plan and publish an update. This process will include opportunities to identify new lead agencies and resident leaders and to bring new partners into the collaborative effort. In the meantime, there are many ways for individuals and organizations to become engaged and work together to steer the neighborhood’s future. Everybody’s participation is encouraged in whatever way is possible. For more information on the neighborhood plan, to participate in the annual Community Summit or to access resources and information on getting involved in community projects, please contact the White Center CDA at 206-694-1082 or www.wccda.org.
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Building Community Together list of PARTNERS
(LEAD AGENCIES ARE LISTED IN Black) 34th District Democrats 4Culture Artist Andy Cao Asian Community Leadership Foundation Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now Boeing Employees Credit Union Cambodian Cultural Alliance of Washington Capitol Hill Housing CARES of Washington Cascade Land Conservancy Census 2010 Center for Career Alternatives Chesterfield Health Services Chief Sealth High School Child Care Resources Chinook Middle School City of Burien City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods City of Seattle Municipal Court and Seattle City Attorney’s Office Clean & Safe Committee Community Capital Development Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle Community Schools Collaboration Community Work Program–King County Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association Denny Middle School Department of Social and Health Services Drama Queen Early Learning and School Success Workgroup Emergency Feeding Program Enterprise Seattle Evergreen High School Express Credit Union Family Connections Community Partners Workgroup Family Economic Success Workgroup Feet First Food Lifeline Friends of Hicks Lake Green for All Greenbridge Community Council Habitat for Humanity Health Workforce Institute Highline Community College Highline Community College Small Business Development Center Highline Community College/Start Zone Highline Medical Center Highline Public Schools HomeSight
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Homestead Community Land Trust International District Housing Alliance JP Morgan Chase King County King County Bar Association King County Communities & Housing Pilot Project King County Community Enhancement Initiative King County Dept. of Roads & Transportation King County Food and Fitness Initiative King County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce King County Housing Authority King County Metro King County Parks and Recreation King County Parks Log Cabin King County Sheriff’s Office King County Sheriff’s Office Volunteer Program King County Water & Land Resources King County WorkSource Kiwanis Club Leadership Development and Civic Engagement Academy Local musicians and artists MBEC Mount View Elementary Mount View, White Center Heights and Beverly Park Elementary Schools Multi Service Center National Center for Healthy Housing Neighborhood House New Futures Nin Truong/WKND Studio Non Profit Assistance Center Northwest Harvest Northwest Minority Business Council Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance One America Pacific Associates Para Los Niños PASEFIKA Port Jobs Port of Seattle PTAC Public Health–Seattle King County Puget Sound Educational Services District Puget Sound SAGE Rebuilding Together Refugee Federation Service Center Refugee Women’s Alliance Renton Technical College Richard Hugo House
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Rotary Club of Seattle Safeco Insurance Salvation Army Seattle Housing Authority Seattle Jobs Initiative Seattle Police Department Seattle Vocational Institute Service Employees International Union Small Business Development Centers (Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Normandy Park, SeaTac, Tukwila) Solid Ground South Seattle Community College Southwest Boys and Girls Club Southwest Boys and Girls Club Leadership Clubs Southwest Youth and Family Services Trusted Advocates Turner Construction Tyee High School United Way of King County University of Washington Foster School of Business Washington Association of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Washington Bus Wells Fargo Bank West Seattle Blog Westside Baby White Center Arts Alliance White Center Blog White Center CDA White Center CDA: Construction Clearinghouse/Got Green White Center CDA: Family Connections White Center Chamber of Commerce White Center Early Learning Initiative/Puget Sound Educational Services District White Center existing produce markets White Center Food Bank White Center For the Arts White Center Jubilee Days Committee White Center Log Cabin/King County Parks White Center Now Blog White Center residents White Center small business owners Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program Workforce Development Council/Seattle Youth Employment Program Youngstown Youth Leadership Council YWCA
Introduction
Vision of the Neighborhood In 2007, the We Create White Center Neighborhood Action Plan created the following vision statement:
“In the future, White Center will be a thriving community of ethnically and economically diverse residents, where the small-town character is preserved in the business district, where the streets and parks are safe to walk in at all times of the day, where there is a mix of job opportunities, where youth thrive and live healthy lives, and where White Center is known for its quality of life, clean and safe environment and family-friendly atmosphere.”
We need your help! today, in 2009, how would you describe your vision of white center?
3. What types of jobs do you anticipate being available in White Center and King County? In the future, how are the children and youth of White Center performing in schools? What are your hopes and dreams for the health and safety of the community?
4. What does White Center feel like when walking down its streets? What do our parks and businesses look like? What do the houses look like? 10 years, 20 years and 30 years from now, what kind of community spaces, assets and services do you see? What is currently missing?
1. When dreaming about the future of White Center, what are the first three words that come to mind?
2. What are the strengths you see in White Center’s future?
5. Imagine the role of residents organizing to improve White Center. What role do we play? Whom do you see living in White Center?
Above: Photo courtesy of Stefanie Felix
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Building Community Together
NEED MORE ROOM?
ARE YOU AN ARTIST OR A VISUAL PERSON?
please feel free to write more, or draw your vision of white center below.
send your thoughts Please send your thoughts to the White Center Community Development Association at: 1615 SW Cambridge Street, Seattle WA 98106, or submit your ideas online at www.wccda.org. Your answers to these questions will also be collected at upcoming community events and during volunteer workgroups. Your input will create a community vision statement at the Annual Community Summit, to be re-evaluated annually along with the work program and used as a tool to ensure that everyone is on course to achieve the community’s goals.
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“White Center is the best neighborhood in Seattle. Where else will you find the kind of diversity we have here? The cultural diversity, amazing food and sense of community is what I like best about White Center.�
Justin Cline,
Owner Full Tilt Ice Cream and White Center resident
Building Community Together
STRATEGY 1 Prepare and connect residents to family-supporting jobs that provide career and wage advancement
Port Jobs interview preparation class at the airport, where residents receive resume help, interview practice and other job skills. Photos: Courtesy of Port Jobs
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White Center residents are working hard–a 2006 phone survey revealed that 83% of households surveyed had one or more employed adults–yet residents are living in poverty. The same survey found that 42% of residents live below 200% of the poverty line, only 35% of these households had health benefits from employment, and 21% of residents reported that they were unable to pay their mortgage, rent or utilities. White Center residents are in desperate need of a living wage to support their families. We will help hundreds of residents get and keep jobs and achieve job advancement and wage progression. Implementation steps address a range of critical activities to support these outcomes.
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Priority ActionS Include:
We will help residents secure, retain, and advance in their jobs by targeting strong and emerging local employment sectors, such as healthcare, construction, and green jobs, all of which provide a range of positions and opportunities for advancement and wage progression. Many resources are currently available but are not well utilized by White Center residents due to either lack of knowledge by residents or lack of connection from job providers to job development programs in the community. We aim to close this gap and ensure that available resources and training are specifically targeted for White Center residents. We will ensure that White Center residents are prepared to succeed and advance in their jobs by providing a range of culturally-appropriate workforce development training and educational opportunities. Projects include workforce preparation such as job readiness training and English as a Second Language classes, vocational training for people to grow in their existing jobs and education in other skills to help residents advance in the work force. For a targeted group of families and individuals, we will provide a comprehensive set of services for the workplace–job preparation, search, training, retention, advancement–alongside financial literacy education, tax preparation assistance and asset-building support to help residents best secure a promising future. Currently, these efforts are focused on families and individuals participating in the Basic Food Employment Training program, Airport Jobs program, YWCA and Neighborhood House. We will ensure coordination between these different programs through information sharing and expanding networks so that information about jobs and services is accessible to everyone. As issues arise through this work that require policy solutions, we will engage strategically in policy advocacy to ensure the best support for our community.
1.1 Connect residents to jobs and training in targeted sectors that provide family-supporting jobs. 1.2 Provide residents with education and training opportunities at local Community Colleges to help them get, keep and advance in their jobs. 1.3 Provide residents with on-the-job English as a Second Language training to help them prepare for and advance in the workforce. 1.4 Conduct outreach to ensure eligible residents sign up for food stamps and help them access employment and training services available to food stamp recipients through the Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET) program. 1.5 Provide programming and college credit classes to enable residents to access comprehensive and integrated employment, training and asset-building services and support. 1.6 Provide information and referrals to residents for employment, education and training resources. 1.7 Create employment and training opportunities for residents, including youth, through neighborhood revitalization and community-building efforts. 1.8 Advocate expanding Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET) program to provide jobs and training for low income residents of color. 1.9 Advocate for funders to address the needs of low income workers and strengthen community college partnerships with the community to make education and training more accessible to low income workers. 1.10 Lead advocacy efforts calling for federal stimulus funds (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) to provide direct benefits to low income communities (i.e. White Center).
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Building Community Together
STRATEGY 2 Help families save now and in the future to achieve their goals
Priority Actions Include: 2.1 Provide residents free tax preparation assistance at sites located in White Center. 2.2 Provide residents access to affordable and culturally appropriate financial products and services. 2.3 Connect residents to homeownership opportunities such as education and counseling, homeownership assistance, foreclosure prevention and home rehabilitation and weatherization. 2.4 Provide asset-building services to White Center/Boulevard Park residents.
A strong community is one in which families are able to build and maintain assets to benefit multiple generations, such as having money in a savings account or owning a home. Our strategies aim to meet residents where they are and to help them achieve their goals of financial health and stability. One group of actions focuses on helping families build their savings and use affordable financial service such as banks and credit unions instead of predatory financial institutions. In 2008, the White Center CDA hired residents to survey the various fees charged for basic financial services to highlight smarter choices we can make every day with our money. For example, there are at least 5 White Center traditional banks and credit unions that accept the Matricular Consular identification card so residents can access their services safely instead of using more predatory places. Tax preparation services ensure that residents receive as much of the Earned Income Tax Credit as possible and maximize their take-home income while credit counseling helps to repair credit problems. A second group of actions focuses on providing training and support to help residents make better decisions in purchasing and remaining in their homes. From homeownership counseling to foreclosure prevention to home maintenance and weatherization, a range of partners provide multi-lingual and culturally appropriate information and resources to ensure that homeowners are able to stay and thrive in their homes. In conjunction with Strategy 1, we will connect asset-building services, such as financial literacy education and tax preparation assistance, to the comprehensive services available through the Airport Jobs and Basic Food programs.
Photos: Courtesy of Michael Lane
Strategies Priority Actions Include: STRATEGY 3 Provide children and families with resources and support to succeed in school White Center’s children are struggling to do well in school. Based on data from the 2003-2004 academic year, 50% of children do not have preschool experience, and only 26% of kindergarten students score at benchmark on the September DIBELS reading test. By third grade, only 51% of students score at the proficient level or higher on the WASL Reading Test. According to this study, 10% of students were absent 20 or more days of school in kindergarten through third grade, which reflects a need to provide a range of supports to families and young children so they can succeed in school and beyond. A key indicator for a child’s future success is whether or not they can read at their grade level in third grade. Therefore, we will engage in a range of strategies to enhance the educational environment and contribute to improved third grade reading scores. We will develop a range of culturally appropriate early learning (preschool) and after-school programs and integrate them with existing school curriculum to build upon what they learn throughout the day. We will also develop a program to help struggling readers in three elementary schools to improve third grade reading scores. We will work in close partnership with each school’s administration, teachers and parents to tailor activities to meet the specific needs of the youth and their families and use our learning from this pilot initiative to create programs through the entire Highline Public School District (Focus School Strategy). To provide a supportive family environment for school success, we will engage parents as leaders in schools to encourage everyone’s commitment to their children’s educational futures and support those parents with additional services such as job training and financial education. By gathering parents together, through parent coffee hours, for example, we can create social networks to help families to personally get involved, share information with others (take it on and pass it on), build community and ultimately organize to influence public policy.
3.1 Increase both school and community-based early learning experiences for White Center residents and ensure that they are family-centered and culturally appropriate. 3.2 Improve kindergarten through third grade reading levels at Mount View, White Center Heights and Beverly Park schools by creating programs to improve reading abilities, student attendance and health. 3.3 Create a formal partnership between Highline Public Schools, Community Schools Collaboration, White Center Early Learning Initiative (WCELI) and the White Center CDA to increase school success for children in White Center. 3.4 Engage parents at Mount View, White Center Heights and Beverly Park Schools in training, volunteer and leadership opportunities to support child learning. 3.5 Align after-school programs with school curriculum to provide an integrated learning day at Mount View, White Center Heights and Beverly Park schools. 3.6 Provide a culturally relevant leadership program to enable Asian Pacific Islander students to succeed in the school environment. (The Cadre Leadership Program) 3.7 Enhance social networking programs for families in Mount View, White Center Heights and Beverly Park Schools to add health, literacy, asset building and workforce activities. 3.8 Advocate for policies, resources and funding that increase early learning and health resources for children.
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White Center Neighborhood Action Plan 25
Building Community Together
STRATEGY 4 Develop vacant and underutilized land into community-prioritized commercial, retail, arts and cultural uses and mixed-income housing In order to have a thriving neighborhood with a great sense of community and vibrant streets, it is essential to have adequate housing, retail, community and cultural facilities in close proximity. White Center’s downtown is filled with underutilized and vacant lots that currently detract from the character and vitality of the neighborhood. However, this also offers tremendous opportunity to increase housing and retail space adjacent to existing services, infrastructure and transportation. New interest from private and non-profit developers to fill in these lots is promising, however, the design, location and types of uses that are created have the potential to dramatically weaken the character of our downtown area. Through the Strength of Place Initiative (SOPI), we will organize residents, businesses and property owners to ensure that the community has influence over new development so that it reflects the identity, character and diversity of the neighborhood. We will work to transform the White Center business district into a unique urban village by activating underutilized and vacant lots and encouraging housing and mixed-use development adjacent to the business district. We will support community facilities that are accessible and welcoming to all. Our efforts will additionally encourage projects in White Center to feature high-quality design and environmentally-friendly principles.
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26 White Center Neighborhood Action Plan
Strategies Priority Actions Include:
Above: Architectural design of SOPI Village, an affordable family housing project to be developed at 13th Avenue SW & SW 10th Street by non-profit developers.
Residents believe that White Center should be a place for people of many different incomes levels to live. Market rate housing is currently developed by the private sector and makes up one part of the housing mix. Currently, White Center is also home to affordable housing units. Some of those units are publically subsidized and some are private but are affordable because they are poorly maintained and have deteriorating conditions. Many of these units are not big enough for large and extended White Center families who often live in extremely crowded conditions. Securing permanently affordable housing in mixed-income areas will protect families from market pressures that will change in the next few years. When the economic market improves, the private sector will take care of one kind of housing and others will ensure that quality, well-run, long-term affordable housing is in place so we can remain a true mixed income community into the future.
4.1 Conduct education, outreach and advocacy to build support and resident ownership of the Strength of Place Initiative, whose primary purpose is to ensure the continued income and ethnic diversity in White Center over time. Create a coalition of resident leaders who will provide input on new development projects. 4.2 Develop mixed-use, mixedincome and affordable family housing in vacant and underutilized lots in the commercial district. 4.3 Increase the amount of permanently affordable rental apartments, affordable homes for first-time homebuyers and market rate for-sale homes in White Center.
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Building Community Together
STRATEGY 5 Create an attractive, walkable neighborhood with great parks, community gathering spaces and public art that is easily accessible on foot, bike or public transit
Priority Action Items Include: 5.1 Create a pedestrian corridor on 98th Street to connect Greenbridge to the business district by constructing a walkway that is ADA accessible, incorporating public art and pedestrian-friendly amenities such as lighting. (Cross listed with 7.8) 5.2 Site and install public art. 5.3 Create an attractive series of signs and wayfinding elements. 5.4 Create and distribute a neighborhood walking map. (Cross listed with 7.10) 5.5 Provide scheduled activities to encourage the Greenbridge resident walking groups. (Cross listed with 7.9) 5.6 Renovate White Center Heights Park. 5.7 Ensure community-prioritized improvements are made to Lakewood Park & Hicks Lake 5.8 Renovate existing baseball fields to multi-use fields (baseball and soccer), renovate tennis courts and install a memorial at Mel Olson Stadium & Steve Cox Memorial Park.
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White Center contains very few spaces for safe physical activity. A 2007 UW School of Architecture study revealed that approximately half of White Center households do not live within a Âź mile radius (typical pedestrian walking distance) of a park. While two parks have been created or renovated in recent years, which was a major accomplishment for the community, additional open space, organized physical activities and safe connections to open space are still needed. King County is experiencing a budget crisis which may put all of our parks and open spaces at risk, as the County may not be able to maintain or provide recreational activities in its parks. We will work together to fill this gap by bringing improvements to parks and increase their usage by adding programming in new facilities and installing public art. We will provide safe ways for people of all ages and abilities to connect to neighborhood destinations such as the schools, parks and the business district. Our work will prioritize connecting Greenbridge residents with the business district and then to parks and schools. By implementing physical improvements, landscaping, wayfinding and public art, we will provide safe, attractive and easy pathways throughout the neighborhood.
Strategies
Above: Plan to create a pedestrian corridor on 98th Street, linking Greenbridge to the business district
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Building Community Together
STRATEGY 6 Create a vibrant cultural and economic business district that provides affordable goods and services for our culturally diverse community, employs local entrepreneurs and is supported by active community members
We aim to establish a vital, thriving and self-sustaining business district that provides jobs, shops, places to gather and cultural amenities. The business district–the historic “Main Street” of White Center–is not only the commercial center of the neighborhood but concurrently, its the cultural heart and strength of place. As such, the conditions in the district impact the entire neighborhood. If it is healthy, the business district will be the place for residents to find essential goods and services, especially those that serve our culturally diverse community, earn their livelihood as business owners and employees, access cultural resources and build community amongst neighbors. If it is not healthy, residents will lack access to essential goods and services and seek opportunities elsewhere. White Center’s business district has many assets, yet negative perceptions leave many unaware of the gems it has to offer. To address these issues and meet community needs, we will undertake a range of activities to maintain the character and diversity of the neighborhood’s businesses–and its shoppers–while addressing such issues as vacancies, safety and storefront conditions. We will build the infrastructure to ensure that the district will be sustainable, affordable and culturally vibrant into the long term. These strategies are designed to enable the business district to reach its potential while retaining the many small, ethnic and immigrantowned-and-operated businesses that currently exist in the district and while retaining the affordable goods and services that can support low- to moderate-income residents.
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30 White Center Neighborhood Action Plan
Strategies Specific activities will include: • Promoting and increasing awareness of the business district and its businesses while continuing to provide affordable goods, services and healthy foods. Events and cultural activities will compliment marketing and promotion efforts by drawing neighborhood residents, increasing foot traffic and introducing residents to the multi-cultural and affordable shopping and dining opportunities. • Helping locally-owned businesses succeed and grow by providing support to existing businesses and providing information to facilitate filling vacancies with business types that are prioritized by the community. • Changing the perceptions of the business district by improving its appearance, addressing safety and cleanliness and installing public art created by local artists. • Provide avenues for residents, merchants, property owners and community-based organizations to shape the commercial district’s future.
Priority Actions Include: 6.1 Market the commercial district and highlight its unique character to increase patronage of local businesses so they stay and thrive in the business district. 6.2 Acquire key commercial buildings in the business district to create opportunities to preserve small and independently owned businesses and maintain affordability of rents and goods for sale. 6.3 Provide comprehensive information to help fill vacancies and attract family-friendly businesses that are prioritized by the community and supported by the market. 6.4 Promote downtown White Center as a destination for fresh and healthy food by creating events and awareness campaigns and
providing technical assistance to existing White Center produce markets (Fresh Marketplace Initiative). 6.5 Offer skill-building classes and one-on-one business counseling to help businesses and start-up entrepreneurs improve their operations, sales and marketing. 6.6 Improve the appearance of the commercial district and/or create a safe and shopping-friendly environment through one or more of the following activities: crime prevention through environmental design training, installing planter boxes in the commercial district, and/or organizing Spring Clean projects in the business district.
6.7 Improve building façades in the business district by providing small grants to property owners to improve storefront appearance, signage and/or awnings. 6.8 Maintain a community blog to promote awareness of the White Center community, businesses and cultural activities. 6.9 Produce and distribute a commercial district newsletter to promote businesses and events. 6.10 Hold events in the business district to attract people and promote a positive identity. 6.11 Increase the presence of arts in the commercial district and the use of art as a youth engagement, education and community building tool, and for economic development.
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Building Community Together
STRATEGY 7 Improve children and families’ health and wellness in homes, schools, and the neighborhood
We believe that where you live should not dictate your ability to lead a healthy life. However, public health data paints a distressing picture of the health of White Center/Boulevard Park residents. White Center’s children are less healthy than children in King County as a whole, and there are significant disparities between King County and White Center residents in most health indicators. White Center faces a number of challenges to improve the health of its residents. There is a lack of access to affordable medical care and a lack of language capacity and cultural competency in some of that care. Families and children are not eating healthy food or engaging in physical activities, making them more likely to suffer from preventable diseases, such as diabetes and childhood obesity.
White Center/King County Health Comparisons White Center King County
Above: Photo courtesy of the White Center Food Bank
Diabetes mortality Diabetes-related mortality Higher adolescent birth rates Late or no access to prenatal care Maternal smoking Preterm births Adult Obesity
25.6% 73.5%
20.6% 62.7%
27%
10.9%
4.8% 9.77% 10.5% 20.1%
2.3% 4.9% 4.9% 17.2%
Data source: http://www.kingcounty.gov/exec/equity.aspx
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32 White Center Neighborhood Action Plan
Strategies To address these challenges, we will undertake a series of strategies to increase health care services, provide new opportunities for residents to engage in physical activities and increase demand for and access to healthy food. We will improve access to health care services by educating families about resources that are currently available but are not fully utilized. In particular, we will focus on outreach to schools through the Family Connections program and with young adults in after-school activities. We will develop new opportunities for residents to engage in physical activity by creating organized activities in parks, schools and public housing sites. When new physical development occurs in the neighborhood, we will ensure that new buildings and open space areas are specifically designed to encourage healthy and active lifestyles. Finally, we will create programs to educate residents about healthy eating choices while increasing the amount of healthy food available in the community (including culturally-relevant options). These programs will focus on enhancing and promoting our produce stores, restaurants and community gardens. We will also connect with the emergency food system and increase the number of local stores accepting food stamps and Women, Infant and Children Electronic Benefits Transfer (WIC/EBT) to ensure that healthy food is affordable and easily available.
Priority Actions Include: 7.1 Conduct outreach and education to enable families from Mount View, White Center Heights and Beverly Park elementary schools to access underutilized existing health resources, such as the free state health insurance plan. 7.2 Advocate for policies, resources and funding that increase health resources for children. 7.3 Conduct community health education and create programs to increase physical activities at High Point and Greenbridge communities (High Point/Greenbridge Community Health project). 7.4 Build new environments for obesity reduction by building active living and healthy eating infrastructure for children in four public housing sites (Greenbridge, Birch Creek, New Holly and High Point).
7.5 Reduce asthma triggers and other health hazards in homes of up to 75 low-income households in the Highline School District. 7.6 Provide nutritious and culturally relevant free food and special infant/child supplies to low-income residents of White Center. 7.7 Provide freshly grown, affordable produce by maintaining and managing community garden plots at White Center Heights Park and providing education and on-site demonstrations at the Food Bank site for Food Bank clients. 7.8 Create a pedestrian corridor on 98th Street to connect Greenbridge to the business district by constructing a hill-climb walkway that is ADA accessible, incorporating public art and pedestrian friendly amenities such lighting. (Cross listed with 5.1)
7.9 Provide programming to encourage the Greenbridge resident walking groups. (Cross listed with 5.5) 7.10 Create and distribute a neighborhood walking map featuring key destinations, public art and the business district. (Cross listed with 5.4) 7.11 Promote downtown White Center as a destination for fresh and healthy food by creating events and awareness campaigns and providing technical assistance to existing White Center produce markets to meet the needs of local residents. (Cross listed with 6.4) 7.12 Prepare and share delicious, youth-prepared organic foods in an open and friendly community environment.
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Building Community Together
STRATEGY 8 Provide support, training and a continuum of opportunities for all residents of all ages to participate in shaping our neighborhood’s future
Priority Actions Include: 8.1 Organize the neighborhood’s diverse and multi-cultural residents to lead neighborhood initiatives, mobilize neighbors to be civically engaged and participate in community development. 8.2 Increase volunteerism and resident ownership/leadership in activities to improve the neighborhood; build a base of active and informed resident volunteers. 8.3 Develop and support leadership within the Latino community (White Center/Boulevard Park, Burien, SeaTac, Tukwila) by providing the tools and knowledge to promote civic engagement and social-change action. 8.4 Organize in immigrant communities, growing and supporting existing and emerging leaders through building skills and offering opportunities for collective engagement. 8.5 Assist neighbors in organizing block watch groups. 8.6 Provide an on-line community calendar for the neighborhood.
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34 White Center Neighborhood Action Plan
The heart of our work is to support and nurture community leadership to shape the neighborhood’s future. According to a 2006 telephone survey, only 24% of respondents report getting together with neighbors to solve problems, and only 45% report that they live in a close-knit neighborhood. We will provide support, training and a range of opportunities for residents of all ages, incomes and cultures to build community, create social networks and shape the future of the community. We believe community leadership is a necessary way of pursuing our goals in order to achieve better results for families and the neighborhood. We facilitate civic engagement and mobilization for programs and policies to improve the neighborhood and realize our joint community vision. In particular, we will focus on community input in neighborhood development–physical development of buildings and physical spaces– including affordable housing, commercial space, parks and open space. To ensure that residents and youth are best equipped to advocate for their neighborhood and their future, a major part of our work will focus on leadership development skill building and training. A number of organizations will work to empower neighborhood youth by providing skills training and avenues for young people to organize, express themselves and implement programs to address issues they care about. We will build overall pride and a sense of community in White Center through events and neighborhood fairs, improving public safety and helping to connect residents to information on topics important to them, such as health, education, employment and energy efficiency.
“I’ve lived here 19 years. White Center is my home. The people here don’t have much but we cooperate, look out for one another, and make the most out of what we do have.”
Pamala Waiau, White Center resident
Building Community Together strategy 1: Prepare and connect residents to family-supporting jobs that provide career and wage advancement Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
1.1 Connect residents to jobs and training in targeted sectors that provide familysupporting jobs. 1.1.1 Provide comprehensive employment development and individualized assistance at the Airport Jobs Center.
Port Jobs
White Center CDA, Pacific Associates, Highline Community College, South Seattle Community College, Port of Seattle, United Way of King County, Airport employers, King County Work Source, YWCA
Ongoing
Local, state, federal and private funding
1.1.2 Connect residents to jobs in the construction and green jobs sectors by providing accessible and culturally appropriate outreach and recruitment.
White Center CDA: Construction Clearinghouse/ Got Green, Neighborhood House
Seattle Housing Authority, Refugee Federation Service Center, YWCA, Center for Career Alternatives
Ongoing
White Center CDA, City of Seattle, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars and private funding
Neighborhood House
Highline Medical Center, Service Employees International Union, Highline Community College, Health Workforce Institute, Seattle Jobs Initiative
ImmediateMedium
Training costs leveraged through Basic Food Employment Training, Workforce Investment Act, Opportunity Grant, etc.
1.1.3 Provide on-the-job English as Second Language training and individualized assistance to existing Highline Medical Center workers.
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Strategy Matrix Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
1.2 Provide residents with education and training opportunities at local community colleges to help them get, keep and advance in their jobs. 1.2.1 Offer English as a Second Language classes according to the college quarterly schedule and standard tuition/ funding.
South Seattle Community College
N/A
Ongoing: quarterly college schedule
State and federal funds
1.2.2 Offer classes in early childhood education, business information technology, human services and chemical dependency.
Highline Community College
Greenbridge, YWCA, Child Care Resources
Ongoing: quarterly college schedule
State and federal funds
Port Jobs
South Seattle Community College, Highline Community College
Ongoing, dependent upon funding
Local, state, federal and private funding
1.3.1 Offer job seekers and underemployed individuals on-the-job English as a Second Language instruction, intensive personalized employment assistance for finding a job and career-ladder counseling.
Neighborhood House
Highline Community College, International District Housing Alliance, Public HealthSeattle King County, Department of Social and Health Services and the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, YWCA
Ongoing
Seattle Jobs Initiative
1.3.2 Offer a tailored curriculum called Basic Education Skills Training (I-BEST) for non-native English speakers that integrates workforce training/professional certification with English as a Second Language instruction, mentoring and individual assistance.
South Seattle Community College, Highline Community College
N/A
Ongoing: quarterly college schedule
State and federal funds
Highline Community College
Neighborhood House
Ongoing
State funds
1.2.3 Offer computer skills, business classes and scholarships for airport workers.
1.3 Provide residents with on-the-job English as a Second Language training to help them prepare for and advance in the workforce.
1.3.3 Offer English as a Second Language classes at Greenbridge.
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Building Community Together Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
1.4 Conduct outreach to ensure eligible residents sign up for food stamps and help them access employment and training services available to food stamp recipients through the Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET) program.
Department of Social and Health Services
Seattle Jobs Initiative, Port Jobs, YWCA, Refugee Federation Service Center, FareStart, CARES of Washington, South Seattle Community College, Highline Community College, Renton Technical College
Ongoing
State funds
1.5 Provide programming and college credit classes to enable residents to access comprehensive and integrated employment, training and asset-building services and supports.
YWCA, South Seattle Community College
WorkSource, King County Housing Authority, Port Jobs, Express Credit Union, Highline Community College, Chesterfield Health Services, Highline Community College/Start Zone, Workforce Development Council/Seattle Youth Employment Program
Ongoing
Annie E. Casey Foundation, State and federal funds
White Center CDA: Construction Clearinghouse/ Got Green
WorkSource, Neighborhood House, YWCA, Pacific Associates, King County, South Seattle Community College
Ongoing
Annie E. Casey Foundation, State and federal funds
White Center CDA
Construction Clearinghouse/ Got Green
Ongoing
Annie E. Casey Foundation
1.6 Provide information and referrals to residents for employment, education and training resources.
1.7 Create employment and training opportunities for residents, including youth, through neighborhood revitalization and community-building efforts.
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Strategy Matrix Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
1.8 Advocate expanding Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET) program to provide jobs and training for low income residents of color.
White Center CDA: FES Workgroup
Highline Community College, Department of Social and Health Services
Ongoing
Annie E. Casey Foundation, State and federal funds
1.9 Advocate for funders to address the needs of low-income workers and strengthen community college partnerships with the community to make education and training more accessible to low-income workers.
White Center CDA: Family Economic Success Workgroup
Neighborhood House, Center for Career Alternatives, YWCA, Highline Community College, South Seattle Community College, Port Jobs
Ongoing
Annie E. Casey Foundation
1.10 Lead advocacy efforts calling for federal stimulus funds (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) to provide direct benefits to low-income communities (i.e. White Center).
White Center CDA: Seattle Vocational Institute, Construction Clearinghouse/Got Puget Sound SAGE, Green for All Green, Family Economic Success workgroup
Immediate
Neighbor to Neighbor/Seattle Foundation
“There are a few things I like most about White Center. First, I am privileged that I work in an area that I grew up in (Park Lake Homes). Making a difference in the lives of others in some way, shape or form, particularly in non-emergency events, is extremely gratifying. Secondly, I love the diversity of our community and the rich culture that every group brings. Being involved with all of the groups, either at the schools, at community functions and cultural events, I see firsthand the great interaction and respect everyone in our community has for each other. Growing up, and now working, in the White Center Community is like traveling the world; however, the world has come to White Center!�
Chief Scott LaVielle, North Highline Fire Dept.
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Building Community Together strategy 2: Help families save for now and into the future to achieve their goals Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
2.1 Provide residents free tax preparation assistance at sites located in White Center.
United Way of King County
Airport Jobs, PASEFIKA, YWCA
Ongoing
United Way of King County, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Internal Revenue Service, City of Seattle
2.2.1 Convene agencies providing homeownership support to White Center residents in order to better coordinate services.
Express Credit Union: basic banking services in English, Arabic, Tigrinya and Spanish; several sites in and near White Center
Refugee Women’s Alliance, YWCA, Neighborhood House, New Futures
Immediate
White Center CDA, Medina Foundation, Boeing, Boeing Employees Credit Union, Gates Foundation, Seattle Foundation
2.2.2 Train staff of White Center agencies to recruit potential first-time home buyers from White Center to participate in HomeSight classes and Homebuyer Club.
Boeing Employees Credit Union
White Center CDA, White Center Food Bank, Southwest Youth & Family Services, Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, YWCA, White Center Chamber of Commerce
Ongoing
Business operations
2.2 Provide residents access to affordable and culturally appropriate financial products and services.
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Strategy Matrix Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
2.3 Connect residents to homeownership opportunities such as education and counseling, homeownership assistance, foreclosure prevention and home rehabilitation and weatherization.
2.3.1 Convene agencies providing homeownership support to White Center residents in order to better coordinate services.
White Center CDA
International District Housing Alliance, King County, King County Housing Alliance, Habitat for Humanity, Homestead Community Land Trust, HomeSight
Ongoing
Annie E. Casey Foundation
2.3.2 Train staff of White Center agencies to recruit potential first-time home buyers from White Center to participate in HomeSight classes and Homebuyer Club.
HomeSight
White Center CDA, Neighborhood House
Immediate -Short
HomeSight
2.3.3 Educate residents about permanently affordable homeownership opportunities in White Center by providing training and counseling to first time home buyers in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
Homestead Community Land Trust
White Center CDA: Family Connections, International District Housing Alliance, Refugee Federation Service Center, Community Schools Collaboration
Ongoing
King County Housing Finance Program, Washington State Housing Trust Fund, Federal Home Loan Bank, Washington State Housing Finance Commission
2.3.4 Provide one-on-one homeownership counseling to White Center residents at Greenbridge.
International District Housing Alliance
King County Housing Authority
Immediate
King County Housing Authority, HOPE VI federal grant
Habitat for Humanity
Solid Ground, International District housing Alliance, Multi Service Center, Rebuilding Together
Ongoing
Bank of America, The Home Depot Foundation
2.3.5 Connect White Center residents to homeownership opportunities through construction of affordable units and counseling to those eligible to live in the units.
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Building Community Together Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
2.4 Provide asset-building services to White Center/Boulevard Park residents. 2.4.1 Offer financial education to residents.
2.4.2 Provide financial management and banking education during Green Jobs training for residents.
2.4.3 Provide credit repair workshops to help Greenbridge residents expand their financial savings.
2.4.4 Provide free tax preparation and asset-building coaching in conjunction with comprehensive employment development services at the Airport Jobs Center.
2.4.5 Provide financial literacy, financial education and counseling workshops.
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YWCA Career Center
WorkSource, King County Housing Authority, Port Jobs, Express Credit Union, Highline Community College, Chesterfield Health Services, Highline Community College-Start Zone
Ongoing
Annie E. Casey Foundation
White Center CDA: Construction Clearinghouse/Got Green
BECU
Immediate
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Immediate
King County Housing Authority, HOPE VI federal grant
International District Housing Alliance Port Jobs
White Center CDA, Pacific Associates, Highline Community College, South Seattle Community College, Port of Seattle, United Way, Airport employers, King County WorkSource, YWCA
Ongoing
Local, state, federal and private funding
Express Credit Union
YWCA, Neighborhood House, BECU, White Center CDA, White Center Food Bank, Southwest Youth & Family Services, White Center Chamber of Commerce
Ongoing, contingent on funding
White Center CDA, Medina Foundation, Boeing, Boeing Employees Credit Union, Gates Seattle Foundation
“First of all, White Center was less populated, now we have different communities with different ethnicities and different cultures. We have a new second library at Greenbridge, different community centers like the new community center at Greenbridge located at the intersection of 8th Avenue and Roxbury Street.� Nafisa Abdulle, White Center resident
Building Community Together strategy 3: Provide children and families with resources and support to succeed in school Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
3.1 Increase both school- and community-based early-learning experiences for White Center residents and ensure that they are family centered and culturally appropriate.
White Center Early Learning Initiative/ Puget Sound Educational Services District
White Center CDA, Highline Public Schools, Early Learning and School Success Workgroup including: Para Los Ni単os, PASEFIKA, Southwest Youth & Family Services, Public Health of Seattle King County, Child Care Resources, local early learning providers
Ongoing
Various
3.2 Improve kindergarten through third grade reading levels at Mount View, White Center Heights and Beverly Park schools by creating programs to improve reading abilities, student attendance and health.
Mount View, White Center Heights and Beverly Park Elementary School
Highline Public Schools, Community Schools Collaboration, White Center CDA
Immediate
Annie E. Casey Foundation
3.3 Create a formal partnership between Highline Public Schools, Community Schools Collaboration, White Center Early Learning Initiative (WCELI) and the White Center CDA to increase school success for children in White Center.
White Center CDA
Highline Public Schools, Community Schools Collaboration, White Center Early Learning Initiative
Immediate
Annie E. Casey Foundation
3.4 Engage parents at Mount View, White Center Heights and Beverly Park Schools in training, volunteer and leadership opportunities to support child learning.
White Center CDA/ Family Connections
Mount View, White Center Heights, Beverly Park, parents, Community Schools Collaboration, One America, Community Partners
Immediate
Annie E. Casey Foundation
3.5 Align after-school programs with school curriculum to provide an integrated learning day at Mount View, White Center Heights and Beverly Park schools.
Mount View, White Center Heights and Beverly Park Elementary Schools
Community Schools Collaboration, White Center CDA, Highline Public Schools
Immediate
Annie E. Casey Foundation
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Strategy Matrix Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
3.6 Provide culturally relevant leadership program to enable Asian Pacific Islander students to succeed in the school environment (The Cadre Leadership Program). 3.7 Enhance social networking programs for families in Mount View, White Center Heights and Beverly Park Schools to add health, literacy, asset-building and workforce activities.
3.8 Advocate for policies, resources and funding that increase early learning and health resources for children.
PASEFIKA
White Center CDA/ Family Connections
White Center CDA: Early Learning and School Success Workgroup
Highline School District (Evergreen High School, Tyee High School and Chinook Middle School)
Highline Public Schools, Community Schools Collaboration, Family Connections Community Partner workgroup; Mount View, Beverly Park, White Center Heights, Public Health of Seattle King County, Family Economic Success workgroups White Center Early Learning Initiative, Child Care Resources, Public Health of Seattle King County, parents, Community Schools Collaboration, Highline Public Schools, Mount View, White Center Heights, Beverly Park, work group partners
Immediate
PASEFIKA Highline Public Schools
Immediate
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Immediate
Annie E. Casey Foundation
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White Center Neighborhood Action Plan 45
Building Community Together strategy 4: Develop vacant and underutilized land into community-prioritized commercial, retail, arts and cultural uses and mixed-income housing Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
4.1 Strength of Place Initiative (SOPI)
White Center CDA
Mission-driven, community-minded developers
Short
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Capitol Hill Housing
Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, White Center CDA
Short
Impact Capital, King County Housing & Community Development Program, WA State Housing Trust Fund
Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association
White Center CDA
Medium
WA State Rapid Response Fund
4.1.1 Conduct education, outreach and advocacy to build support and resident ownership of SOPI, whose primary purpose is to ensure the continued income and ethnic diversity in White Center over time. 4.1.2 Create a coalition of resident leaders who will provide input on new development projects.
4.2 Develop mixed-use, mixed-income and affordable family housing in vacant and underutilized lots in the commercial district. 4.2.1 Strength of Place Village, 30 units of affordable family rental housing at 13th Avenue SW & SW 100th Street
4.2.2 Pappas Village, 60 units of mixed-income family housing and 10,000 square feet of community commercial space at 14th Avenue SW & SW 107th Street
“We grew up in White Center. This is our home. Every block radius we know somebody. You can throw someone’s name and we know him. We call it the hood. I love White Center.”
-- Billy Yin, White Center resident
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46 White Center Neighborhood Action Plan
Strategy Matrix Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
4.3 Increase the amount of permanently affordable rental apartments, affordable homes for first-time homebuyers and market rate for-sale homes in White Center. 4.3.1 Greenbridge at 8th Avenue SW between SW Roxbury & SW 100th Streets
King County Housing Authority
None
Short
Seattle City Light, Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, King County Dept. of Housing & Community Development, WA State Housing Trust Fund, US Department of Housing and Urban Development, HOPE VI, Apollo Housing, Capital MMA Financial, LLC
4.3.2 Park Lake Homes II at 4th Avenue SW between SW 108th Street & SW 116th Street
King County Housing Authority
None
Medium
Federal HOPE VI
4.3.3 White Center Workshop at 206 SW 112th Street
King County’s Sustainable Communities & Housing Pilot Project
TBD
Medium
King County Dept. of Housing & Community Development
Habitat for Humanity
HomeSight & International District Housing Alliance, King County Housing Authority
Short (Greenbridge)
TBD
4.3.4 Affordable homes for first-time homebuyers at Greenbridge & Park Lake Homes II
4.3.5 Market rate for-sale housing at Greenbridge & Park Lake Homes II
King County Housing Authority
Mission-driven, community-minded developers
Medium – Park Lake Homes II
Medium
TBD
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White Center Neighborhood Action Plan 47
Building Community Together strategy 5: Create an attractive, walkable neighborhood with great parks, community gathering spaces and public art that is easily accessible by walking, bike and public transit Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
5.1 Create a pedestrian corridor on SW 98th Street to connect Greenbridge to the business district by constructing a walkway that is ADA accessible, incorporating public art and pedestrian-friendly amenities such as lighting. (Cross listed with 7.8)
King County Dept. of Roads & Transportation
4Culture, Feet First, King County Community Enhancement Initiative, King County Parks & Recreation, King County Metro, King County Sheriff’s Office, King County Water & Land Resources, King County Housing Authority, White Center CDA
Immediate
Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Federal Transportation Enhancement Program Grant
4Culture
Artist- Andy Cao
Immediate
King County 1% for Art, King County Water & Land Resources
YWCA
Nin Truong/WKND Studio, Southwest Boys & Girls Club, residents
Immediate-–install by Nov. 2009
YWCA
White Center CDA
TBD
Short
WA Arts Commission
Feet First
None
Immediate
Seattle-King County Public Health
Neighborhood House
King County Housing Authority
Immediate
Federal ROSS
5.2 Site and install public art. 5.2.1 Pillow Field at SW 98th Street walkway: create an art installation, plantings and ADA-accessible walking paths into the business district. 5.2.2 Design and install public art at the YWCA Greenbridge Career Development Center.
5.3 Create an attractive series of signs and wayfinding elements. 5.4 Create and distribute a neighborhood walking map. (Cross listed with 7.10) 5.5 Provide scheduled activities to encourage the Greenbridge resident walking groups. (Cross listed with 7.9)
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48 White Center Neighborhood Action Plan
Strategy Matrix Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
5.6 Renovate White Center Heights Park.
King County Parks & Recreation
Cascade Land Conservancy, Highline Public Schools, White Center Heights Elementary, White Center CDA
Immediate
WA State Department of Commerce, Community Development Programs Unit, Capital Programs
5.7 Ensure community-prioritized improvements are made to Lakewood Park & Hicks Lake.
King County Parks & Recreation
Friends of Hicks Lake, White Center CDA
Immediate
King County
5.8 Renovate existing baseball fields to multi-use fields (baseball and soccer), renovate tennis courts and install a memorial at Mel Olson Stadium & Steve Cox Memorial Park.
King County Parks & Recreation
TBD
Short
TBD
Above: Newly renovated baseball stadium at Steve Cox Memorial Park
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White Center Neighborhood Action Plan 49
Building Community Together strategy 6: Create a vibrant cultural and economic business district that provides affordable goods and services for our culturally diverse community, employs local entrepreneurs, and is supported by active community members Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
6.1 Market the commercial district and highlight its unique character to increase patronage of local businesses so they stay and thrive in the business district.
White Center CDA
None
Ongoing
Seattle Office of Economic Development, Annie E. Casey Foundation
6.2 Acquire key commercial buildings in the business district to create opportunities to preserve small and independently owned businesses and maintain affordability of rents and goods for sale.
White Center CDA
Mission-driven, community-minded non-profit or private developers
Medium
TBD
6.3 Provide comprehensive information to help fill vacancies and attract family-friendly businesses that are prioritized by the community and supported by the market.
White Center CDA
White Center Chamber of Commerce, communityminded White Center property owners and commercial & retail brokers
Immediate
Impact Capital
6.4 Promote downtown White Center as a destination for fresh and healthy food by creating events and awareness campaigns and providing technical assistance to existing White Center produce markets (Fresh Marketplace Initiative). (Cross listed with 7.11)
White Center CDA
White Center existing produce markets
Short
Seattle Foundation, University of Washington Foster School of Business, Kellogg/King County Food and Fitness Initiative, JP Morgan Chase
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50 White Center Neighborhood Action Plan
Strategy Matrix Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
6.5 Offer skill-building classes and one-on-one business counseling to help businesses and start-up entrepreneurs improve their operations, sales and marketing. 6.5.1 Provide one-on-one assistance to businesses in the commercial district.
White Center CDA, University of Washington Foster Community Capital Development, School of Business Enterprise Seattle, JP Morgan Chase, King County Bar Association, King County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, MBEC, NW Minority Business Council, PTAC, Rotary Club of Seattle, Safeco Insurance, Turner Construction, WA Association of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, Wells Fargo Bank, White Center Chamber of Commerce
6.5.2 Provide counseling, research and peer sessions to business owners and entrepreneurs.
Highline Community College Small Business Development Center
6.5.3 Provide classes and assistance to neighborhood residents interested in starting a business (StartZone Microenterprise Program).
6.6 Improve the appearance of the commercial district and create a safe and shoppingfriendly environment through one or more of the following activities: crime prevention through environmental design training, installing planter boxes in the commercial district and/or organizing Spring Clean projects in the business district.
Immediate
JP Morgan Chase
Port of Seattle, King County, Cities of Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Normandy Park, SeaTac and Tukwila, WA Small Business Development Centers
Ongoing
Southwest King County Economic Development Initiative, U.S. Small Business Administration
Highline Community College
Several community organizations, including White Center CDA
Ongoing
U.S. Small Business Administration
Clean & Safe Committee
White Center Chamber of Commerce, White Center CDA, King County Sheriff’s Office
Medium
Annie E. Casey Foundation, King County Historic Preservation Program, University of Washington Dept. of Architecture
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White Center Neighborhood Action Plan 51
Building Community Together Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
6.6.1 Clean the commercial district on an on-going basis, including removing trash and shopping carts and painting out graffiti.
King County Sheriff’s Office Community Work Program via King County’s Dept. of Facility & Maintenance
Clean & Safe Committee, White Center businesses, White Center CDA, White Center Chamber of Commerce
Ongoing
King County
6.6.2 Clean and maintain the White Center business area within the City of Seattle boundaries by removing litter and graffiti, maintaining traffic circles and planters on public property and removing invasive plants.
City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Court, Seattle City Attorney’s Office, Associated Council for the Accused
City of Seattle Dept. of Neighborhoods, White Center CDA
Immediate – Medium (through Dec. 2012)
City of Seattle
6.7 Improve building façades in the business district by providing small grants to property owners to improve storefront appearance, signage and/or awnings.
White Center CDA
Small business owners
Short
6.8 Maintain a community blog to promote awareness of the White Center community, businesses, destinations and cultural activities.
White Center Blog, White Center Now Blog
West Seattle blog
Ongoing
In-kind
6.9 Produce and distribute a commercial district newsletter to promote businesses and events.
White Center Chamber of Commerce
White Center businesses and sponsors
Ongoing
In-kind
6.10.1 White Center Jubilee Days: Summer Festival for families and children.
White Center Jubilee Days Committee
White Center businesses and sponsors
Annual
Multiple WC business sponsorships
6.10.2 Cambodian New Year: A celebration to promote cultural understanding and awareness of the Khmer culture.
Cambodian Cultural Alliance of Washington
White Center CDA and sponsors
Annual
White Center CDA and sponsors
6.10.3 Monthly “Every Third Saturday Arts Event” in the business district, featuring music, film and live performances.
White Center for the Arts
White Center Jubilee Days Committee
Monthly
WC donors: Carniceria “El Paisano,” Castillos, Decoraciones ELY, Del Rio Distribution, Tienda Latina “El Quetzal,” O’Neill & Associates, RTS Incorporated Income Tax Service
JP Morgan Chase
6.10 Hold events in the business district to attract people and promote a positive identity.
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52 White Center Neighborhood Action Plan
Strategy Matrix Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
6.10.4 Rat City Rummage Sale: A local artists craft sale.
White Center for the Arts
Local artists
Monthly
4Culture
6.10.5 Summer Music Nights.
White Center Arts Alliance
Selected musicians and local artists
Annual
4Culture, others
6.10.6 Provide space to advertise White Center businesses at the White Center Chamber Office located at Steve Cox Memorial Park.
White Center Chamber of Commerce
None
Ongoing
Membership dues from White Center businesses
6.11.1 Develop an educational and cultural arts program, including classes, camps and gathering space, for lowand median-income youths and adults in White Center.
White Center for the Arts
Evergreen High School, Neighborhood House
Immediate
6.11.2 Maintain and expand community art gallery space in the business district featuring local artists and provision of low-cost studio space for local artists.
White Center for the Arts
White Center artists
Short
4Culture
6.11.3 Establish a White Center Writers’ Program focused on all writing formats for all ages with special emphasis on native tongue and development of an archival library to house all writing.
White Center Arts Alliance
Richard Hugo House, Denny Middle School, Chief Sealth High School
Immediate
In-kind
6.11.4 Develop an exhibit and performance space for community artists to showcase their work.
White Center Arts Alliance
Drama Queen
Short
TBD
6.11 Increase the presence of arts in the commercial district and the use of art as a youth engagement, education and communitybuilding tool, and for economic development.
“What I like best about White Center is the huge variety of ethnic foods available! White Center can satisfy anyone’s hunger and palate (but won’t put a dent in your wallet). This diverse community is not only vibrant with its peoples but also with the aromas of tasty treats from around the world. Where else can you walk two blocks and encounter 5-6 ethnically different restaurants and grocery stores? So the next time your stomach is calling to you, come on to White Center and discover what it has to offer. Whether you are feeling cautious or adventurous, you can be certain to find something to fill you up.”
Bao Nguyen, White Center resident
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White Center Neighborhood Action Plan 53
Building Community Together strategy 7: Improve children and families’ health and wellness in homes, schools and the neighborhood Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
7.1 Conduct outreach and education to enable families from Mount View, White Center Heights and Beverly Park elementary schools to access underutilized existing health resources, such as the free state health insurance plan.
White Center CDA/ Family Connections
Highline Public Schools, Community Schools Collaboration, other resource providers
Immediate
Annie E. Casey Foundation
7.2 Advocate for policies, resources and funding that increase health resources for children.
White Center CDA/ Early Learning and School Success Workgroup
White Center Early Learning Initiative, Child Care Resources, Public HealthSeattle King County, parents, Community Schools Collaboration, Highline Public Schools, Mount View, White Center Heights, Beverly Park, work group partners
Immediate
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Neighborhood House
Seattle Children’s Hospital, Public Health-Seattle King County, Seattle Housing Authority, King County Housing Authority
Immediate (2008-2013)
National Institute of Health
7.4 Build new environments for obesity reduction by building active-living and healthy-eating infrastructures for children in four public housing sites (Greenbridge, Birch Creek, New Holly and High Point).
King County Housing Authority
Seattle Housing Authority, Public HealthSeattle King County
Immediate (Dec. 2008Nov. 2012)
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
7.5 Reduce asthma triggers and other health hazards in homes of up to 75 low-income households in the Highline School District.
King County Housing Authority
Highline School District, Public Health-Seattle King County, Puget Sound Educational Services District, Neighborhood House, National Center for Healthy Housing
Immediate (May 2009May 2012)
HUD, partner agencies
7.3 Conduct community health education and create programs to increase physical activities at High Point and Greenbridge communities (High Point/Greenbridge Community Health project).
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54 White Center Neighborhood Action Plan
Strategy Matrix Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
7.6 Provide nutritious and culturally relevant free food and special infant/child supplies to low-income residents of White Center.
White Center Food Bank
Westside Baby, Women, Infant and Children nutrition program, Food Lifeline, Northwest Harvest, Emergency Feeding Program, Public Health-Seattle King County, numerous volunteers and community groups
Ongoing
Various
7.7 Provide freshly grown, affordable produce by maintaining and managing community garden plots at White Center Heights Park and providing education and on-site demonstrations at the Food Bank site for Food Bank clients.
White Center Food Bank
White Center CDA, King County, Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle
Ongoing
White Center CDA, others
7.8 Create a pedestrian corridor on SW 98th Street to connect Greenbridge to the business district by constructing a walkway that is ADA accessible, incorporating public art and pedestrian-friendly amenities such as lighting. (Cross listed with 5.1)
King County Dept. of Roads & Transportation
4Culture, Feet First, King County Community Enhancement Initiative, King County Parks & Recreation, King County Metro, King County Sheriff’s Office, King County Water & Land Resources, King County Housing Authority, White Center CDA
Immediate
Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Federal Transportation Enhancement Program Grant
7.9 Provide programming to encourage the Greenbridge resident walking groups. (Cross listed with 5.5)
Neighborhood House
King County Housing Authority
Immediate
Federal ROSS
7.10 Create and distribute a neighborhood walking map featuring key destinations, public art and the business district. (Cross listed with 5.4)
Feet First
White Center CDA, King County Food and Fitness Initiative
Immediate
Seattle-King County Public Health
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White Center Neighborhood Action Plan 55
Building Community Together Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
7.11 Promote downtown White Center as a destination for fresh and healthy food by creating events and awareness campaigns and providing technical assistance to existing White Center produce markets to meet the needs of local residents. (Cross listed with 6.4)
White Center CDA
White Center existing produce markets
Short
Seattle Foundation, University of Washington Foster School of Business, Kellogg/King County Food and Fitness
Youngstown with youth from White Center and Delridge
White Center CDA, Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, King County Food and Fitness Initiative
Immediate
Kellogg/King County Food and Fitness
“Burnt Toast� youth at White Center Log Cabin/ King County Parks
White Center CDA
Immediate
King County, White Center CDA
7.12 Prepare and share delicious, youth-prepared organic foods in an open and friendly community environment. 7.12.1 Teach youth about food preparation along with leadership training.
7.12.2 Provide foods from the White Center Food Bank along with basic cooking skills training to residents.
Above: Photo courtesy of the White Center Food Bank Right: Photo by Dean Wong
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56 White Center Neighborhood Action Plan
Strategy Matrix strategy 8: Provide support, training, and a continuum of opportunities for all residents of all ages to participate in shaping our neighborhood’s future. Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
8.1 Organize the neighborhood’s diverse and multi-cultural residents to lead neighborhood initiatives, mobilize neighbors to be civically engaged and participate in community development. 8.1.1 Base building, resident leadership and capacity building and community mobilization.
White Center CDA
King County Housing Alliance, YWCA, Neighborhood House, Boys and Girls Club, Greenbridge Community Council, Southwest Youth & Family Services, Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, Census 2010, One America, 34th District Democrats, Refugee Federation Service Center, Trusted Advocates, Greenbridge Families, Youth Leadership Council, Non Profit Assistance Center
Ongoing
Annie E. Casey Foundation, Boeing
8.1.2 Offer skill mastering and resistance training to increase self-esteem and community relationships, give back to the community and raise the youth voice.
Southwest Boys and Girls Club/ Leadership Clubs (Smart Girls & Key Stone)
White Center CDA, Washington Bus, Kiwanis Club, King County Parks Log Cabin
ImmediateMedium
Southwest Boys and Girls Club
8.1.3 Lead programs to help residents in the White Center and Burien area to be effective leaders and advocates by building knowledge and self-confidence in the multicultural community.
Trusted Advocates
Highline Public Schools, White Center CDA
ImmediateMedium
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Community Schools Collaboration
White Center CDA, Asian Community Leadership Foundation
Short
Community Schools Collaboration
8.1.4 Conduct a leadership program at Evergreen High School for students to gain skills in leadership networking, teamwork and encourage civic engagement through a community project.
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White Center Neighborhood Action Plan 57
Building Community Together Timeframe Priority Action Lead Agency Partner Agency Immediate: 1 Yr Funding Short: 2 Yr Source Medium: 3-5 Yr Ongoing
8.2 Increase volunteerism and resident ownership/leadership in activities to improve the neighborhood; build a base of active and informed resident volunteers.
White Center CDA
Residents
ImmediateMedium
Annie E. Casey Foundation
8.3 Develop and support leadership within the Latino community (White Center/Boulevard Park, Burien, SeaTac, Tukwila) by providing the tools and knowledge to promote civic engagement and social change action.
Leadership Development and Civic Engagement Academy
Para Los Niños, City of Burien, White Center CDA
ImmediateMedium
United Way, Seattle’s People Fund, Leadership Conference and Civic Life Vocational Fund
8.4 Organize in immigrant communities, growing and supporting existing and emerging leaders through building skills and offering opportunities for collective engagement.
One America
White Center CDA
Immediate
Boeing
King County Sherriff’s Office’s Volunteer Program (unincorporated King County) Seattle Police Department (north of Roxbury)
None
Ongoing
In-kind King County Sheriffs Office and City of Seattle: Seattle Police Department
White Center CDA
None
Ongoing
White Center CDA
8.5 Assist neighbors in organizing block watch groups.
8.6 Provide an on-line community calendar for the neighborhood.
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58 White Center Neighborhood Action Plan
Pictured on the back cover:
“The thing I like best about White Center is the opportunity to promote a comfortable yet dynamic environment that fosters a sense of community among a diverse customer base.”
Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy, Owner of the Triangle Pub
“I like that I feel known (here in White Center). I think people can feel known here. I think people need to feel known, and I think that happens here. The people at the latte stand know what I drink, even the new kid. The people at Viva Mexico know me and are familiar with me, even though we have never visited each other’s homes. When I walk into the restaurant, they actually treat me as if we are sharing a meal together. Even the ladies that are at the checkout stand in McLendons smile at me, because though they don’t know my name, they know that I come into the store once or twice every couple months. I know it’s a huge assumption that I am making that ‘people need to feel known’ but when at your core you know that you are known by someone or by a community, it’s food for the soul. I believe that. White Center feels very much like a small town in an urban context. Something else that I like almost equally as much is people are loyal to each other and loyal to White Center. It’s the feeling that White Center has my back. When someone says, “I am from White Center,” people from White Center know exactly what is
packed into that statement. There is a common experience, and it creates a bond. It’s the camaraderie formed in struggling together. It’s the loyalty of people I grew up with who no longer live here, to little kids that I talk to in the after-school program...they/we all know that White Center isn’t perfect, but we love it...maybe because of its imperfections. You know, that Underdog thing. GK Chesterton says, ‘Men did not love Rome because she was great; Rome was great because men loved her. ’” Pat Thompson, White Center resident
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White Center Neighborhood Action Plan 59