Impact

Part One of a three-part series on the 2024 Othering & Belonging conference. A guest post by grantees and the Healthy & Safe Environments team.

More than 300 people and 15 community partners gathered for the second annual Oceania Heath Summit, this time with a twist - it was youth-led. The co-lead, Mele Havea, shares her story in this guest post.

The latest summary of Communities of Opportunity (COO) initiative news, events and updates

White Center community members gathered Saturday, May 18, to recognize a huge milestone: The groundbreaking for the White Center HUB. The HUB (“Hope, Unity, Belonging”) will be a place of learning, sharing, and quality homes for working families, says the White Center Community Development Association (WCCDA). It represents deep involvement from the community, who participated in years of outreach efforts.

Sometimes it can be challenging for partners who work in direct service to take a step back, reflect on their work, take a moment to rest, and reignite their passion for why they do the work they do. Having an intentional opportunity to connect with others can make all the difference when it's built into the workday.

Sixteen people representing 8 of our funded Place Based and Cultural Community partners got that opportunity when they attended the Community of Practice gathering April 16. They came away feeling connected, informed, and refreshed.

A tour of SCIDpda’s new Beacon Pacific Village affordable housing development that will offer large family-sized apartments, childcare, adult day health, and more.

Stories and news from across the COO network for May 2024, as well as some of the impacts on systems and policy led by groups working to build community power and community health and well-being.

COO held the 2024 Governance Group Retreat March 1 at Cedarbrook Lodge in South Seattle. GG members and COO staff joined together to review initiative accomplishments, hone goals and responsibilities, share stories and messaging, and plan for this milestone year and beyond.

Communities of Opportunity Governance Group members were invited to co-present at the PEAK2024 national conference in Seattle recently. In their workshop, they described COO’s unique funding and shared decision-making model.

Stories and news from across the COO network as well as some of the impacts on systems and policy led by groups working to build community power and community health and well-being.

Stories and news from across the COO network as well as some of the impacts on systems and policy led by groups working to build community power and community health and well-being.

Reflections from the December All-Partner Convening - a day devoted to connection, learning, sharing, and restoration.

In this second part of the Commercial Affordability Summit recap, read about other current programs and models of commercial affordability and access to capital and support for small business and entrepreneurs: from those led by the City of Seattle such as Restored; to some of the most community rooted examples of commercial affordability projects.

COO drives change through investing in the groups, models, infrastructure and connections that build community power — in COO’s Learning Community strategy, the initiative resources the infrastructure, sustained capacity, and spaces for strengthened connections for community organizations’ to build and pilot innovative work and operationalize equity.

Stories and news from across the COO network as well as some of the impacts on systems and policy led by groups working to build community power and community health and well-being.

COO convenes partners from across the network and from across geographies to come together and build greater connections for an ecosystem moving in alignment and cooperation for greater equity, justice and well-being for all. Learn more about our upcoming convening and some of what has guided the planning and agenda.

A roundup of community partner news and stories of impact in the media for October 2023!

A roundup of community partner news and stories of impact in the media for September 2023!

WE ARE FAMILY, TOO": Lavender Rights Project PSA highlighting the lived experiences of Black Trans Women and Femmes as a part of the Black “family” in America.

COO in the 2022 Best Starts for Kids Annual Report - highlighting just some of the accomplishments of COO community partners in 2022 across all strategies and the findings from the Commercial Affordability Pilot Project evaluation report.

Communities of Opportunity (COO) is excited to share some of the highlights from the COO All-Partner Convening held on May 10, 2023 with Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer. This event brought together individuals and organizations driven by a shared commitment to equity, justice, collaboration and positive change.

News, Resources and Updates from COO community partners - updated June 2023

This learning session, geared towards others working on collective impact projects, discussed key community-centered capacity building activities, impacts, learnings and contributions to community power building and systems and policy change outcomes and progress.

Regularly updated news and happenings from COO community and aligned partners.

Seattle Foundation and King County recently awarded grants to 18 community partners to advance systems and policy change to improve health, social, and economic outcomes in the region. This $2.8 million in funding is made through Communities of Opportunity’s Systems and Policy Change strategy.

News, Stories, Resources and Updates from COO community partners - updated May 2023

Communities of Opportunity is seeking individuals interested in serving on the Governance Group (GG)/Advisory Board beginning in early 2022. The Communities of Opportunity GG/Advisory Board will guide the implementation of the COO activities and serve in an advisory role for the COO elements of the Best Starts for Kids levy. Learn more..

The Tesfa Program, developed this web-based toolkit to increase the capacity of providers, organizations, and decision-makers to better connect and serve local Ethiopian communities. Check out the toolkit, accompanying podcast and ways to get involved here!

This conversation with youth leaders and staff from Young Women Empowered (Y-WE) explored how to create supportive and healthy spaces for youth leadership and development — and youth ownership of transformative organizing work.