Seattle, WA. The Seattle Foundation has launched a fund in hopes of creating a collective hub for efforts to eradicate poverty, build generational wealth, preserve Black Culture, and celebrate the incredible resilience of the Black community. It aims to uplift the Black community across Washington through intentional investments in areas such as health, housing, education, art, criminal justice reform, and civic engagement. The purpose of the Black Future Co-op Fund is to acknowledge the harm that systemic racism has done to the Black community in our state.
Here’s information about the new fund:
On Tuesday, May 28, 2020, the video of a police officer kneeling on the neck of George Floyd for eight minutes and 46 seconds was viewed across America. That image will forever be engrained in the soul of this nation along with the cries of slaves, lynched people, and others who have died at the hands of another human being, due to the color of their skin. We all heard Mr. Floyd’s cry.
George Floyd’s murder moved people of all races to raise their voices in solidarity calling for justice. The Black Future Co-op Fund was formed in recognition of this powerful moment and the opportunity for transformational change. Its architects are four Black women leaders with long histories working to support the Black community across Washington state: Michelle Merriweather (Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle), Andrea Caupain (Byrd Barr Place), Angela Jones (Washington STEM), and T’wina Nobles (Tacoma Urban League).
The Fund will also invest in technical assistance, “back-of-house” support, and administrative support to the under resourced nonprofit and community-based organizations that have worked for decades in support of the Black community, providing the infrastructure they need to sustain their critical efforts. It will invest in future generations of Black children born in Washington state—so that they may have an opportunity to not only survive but to thrive.
In the months ahead, the Fund’s leadership plans to visit and listen to Black communities around the state to understand their needs and craft the Fund’s grant making approach, supported by a $150,000 capacity grant from Seattle Foundation. The first grants will likely be made in early 2021. While the Black Future Co-op Fund came together in a specific moment of history, its architects intend for it to provide ongoing support statewide for years to come.
Support the Black Future Co-op Fund: By supporting the Black Future Co-op Fund, housed by Seattle Foundation, donors have the opportunity to invest in both the hope of the present and the promise of the future for the Black community in Washington state. Thanks to a partnership with the All In WA campaign and with generous support from Jeff Bezos, donations to the Black Future Co-op Fund are eligible to be matched dollar for dollar, up to $1 million per unique donation.
Initial Supporters & Donors: The Fund aims to raise $25 million, with over $2.5 million secured to date, including support from corporations and philanthropic institutions such as Microsoft Corporation, Seattle Seahawks Charitable Foundation, The Ballmer Group, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Puget Sound Energy, Zillow Group, The Starbucks Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Virginia Mason Health System, and Laird Norton Family Foundation.
There is an impressive and growing list of individual philanthropists who pledged their support as well, including (listed alphabetically): Robert W. Andrade Jr., Paula Boggs, Randee Fox and Jada Boggs, Adriane and Darryl Brown, Phyllis Campbell, Ray and Katie Conner, Garret and Nikki Daggett, Craig Dawson, Trish Dziko, Nick and Leslie Hanauer, Bruce & Joann Harrell, Latisha and Eric Hill, Shaunta and Al Hyde, Angela Jones, Mary Knell, Gary Locke, Regina Malveaux, Susan Mullaney and Shari Kauls, Gordon McHenry, Jr., Leslie Harper-Miles and Nate Miles, Julie and Erik Nordstrom, Roger Nyhus, Hyeok Kim and Michael Parham, Diana Birkett Rakow and Jeff Rakow, Constance and Norm Rice, Mary Pugh and Michael Scoggins, Jill and Rajeev Singh, Marilyn Strickland, Brad and Danielle Tilden, H.S. Wright III and Jessie Woolley-Wilson.
Seattle, WA. The COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator donors and partners announced the formation of the International COVID-19 Data Research Alliance to accelerate clinical research on COVID-19. Composed of academic institutions, research organizations, life sciences and technology companies, and philanthropies, the International Alliance was created to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, but with the promise for use across other health conditions, including readiness for future pandemics.
Accelerator donors, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Mastercard, Minderoo Foundation, and Wellcome, will be founding members of the International Alliance. It will be managed by Health Data Research UK, a national institute for health data science with expertise in harnessing data at scale to improve people’s lives, working in partnership with alliance partners from life science companies, academic institutions and clinical research organizations from around the world. The announcement came on June 26th.
In May at the Coronavirus Global Response Summit, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced a commitment of $125 million towards the international collective effort to develop and equitably distribute COVID-19 diagnostics, therapies, and vaccines. This includes $50 million of new funding to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and $75 million of previously announced funding for therapeutics and diagnostics.
The current pandemic has prompted a great deal of research, but there are few environments where data sets generated by previous studies and trials can be accessed to inform research and development efforts. These data sets could address key questions about the course of COVID-19, how it impacts the body, and what treatments might be effective. In many cases, relevant data sets exist, but researchers cannot easily access or link them for integrated analysis. The International Alliance will provide a variety of ways for researchers to collaborate on data—from pooled to federated analyses—for trustworthy, privacy-protected, and ethical research as determined by a governance board of global specialists in the field.
“In a pandemic, the pathogen has the upper hand. We know very little about it, so access to information becomes an important commodity,” said Trevor Mundel, president of global health at the Gates Foundation. “By entering into agreements on data sharing up front, we can avoid wasting time going down blind alleys, ultimately saving lives by getting definitive answers to key questions more quickly. This grant to form an international data alliance will accelerate efforts and provide a legacy for future collaboration on pandemics. We encourage others to join us and the other founding partners in this important initiative.”
Answering Research Questions About COVID-19
The Therapeutics Accelerator has also funded the development of a COVID-19 Workbench to support the International Alliance by creating a trusted research environment for access to global multidimensional data sets. This will enable researchers to work with the data to answer questions of high importance to the community. These questions, formed into driver projects, will address two key challenges for COVID-19 clinical care, as a start.
Understanding who is at highest and lowest risk and what they can expect from the disease is of paramount importance. The Workbench will enable the use of state-of-the-art techniques to explore characteristics that influence disease progression and impact treatment outcome in patients. It will also work to establish which drug treatments are most likely to be effective and when to administer each treatment during the course of care.
According to the Global Coronavirus COVID-19 Clinical Trial Tracker, there are currently 1,570 ongoing trials studying more than 50 drug interventions. Bringing data from these trials together with this federated workbench provides researchers with a more complete understanding of each intervention’s safety and efficacy. The International Alliance will first focus on creating summaries of the trial data (e.g., overall results, patient subgroups, specific endpoints) and use meta-analysis methods to provide side-by-side assessments of the drugs being studied. This way, researchers will have access to insights from all the available trials at once rather than relying on insights from a single trial at a time. As the International Alliance secures more data, additional research questions will be assessed.
An Analytical Workbench for Scientific Inquiry
The Workbench will connect to regional and national data infrastructures used by International Alliance members, such as data generated by Therapeutics Accelerator-funded trials, pharmaceutical industry partners, the national BREATHE health data research hub in the United Kingdom, SAIL Databank and others to be confirmed in the coming months. The Workbench, developed by Aridhia Informatics, will enable the discovery of data relevant for answering priority questions from its own repository and federated repositories, and will provide a secure location where analysts can work collectively on a target research hypothesis. Data access and use will be conducted in accordance with the governance requirements of individual data controllers from countries around the world, in a transparent and ethical manner. Authorized users will be able to bring their data to the Workbench and collaborate with others in a secure environment. The Workbench will be designed to encourage and enable responsible data use, including transparency, ethical review, privacy, and data protection.
“The UK has established a robust infrastructure for uniting, improving, and using health data for research and innovation. We are excited to build on this experience of our community and partners to support this vital global effort against COVID-19 and future outbreaks,” said Graham Spittle, chair of Health Data Research UK. “Recent controversies about the safety and effectiveness of new treatments in the treatment of COVID-19 highlight the need for the international community to work in partnership to analyze rapidly the results of multiple clinical trials at scale. The International Alliance aims to enable this in a trustworthy way. We look forward to working in partnership with, and learning from, colleagues internationally.”
About the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator
The Therapeutics Accelerator is an initiative launched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and Mastercard to speed up the response to the COVID-19 pandemic by identifying, assessing, developing, and scaling up treatments. Its partners are committed to equitable access, including making products available and affordable in low-resource settings. The COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator will play a catalytic role by accelerating and evaluating new and repurposed drugs and biologics to treat patients with COVID-19 in the immediate term, and other viral pathogens in the longer term.
About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.
Seattle, WA. Skate Like a Girl Seattle will conduct its summer skate camp online for 2020. Chapter co-director Soph Elden says that “since COVID-19 hit, [the organization] decided to switch to an at-home virtual skate camp.” The camp now gives skaters of all skill levels a variety of online tools to improve their skating and connect with mentors from the comfort of their homes. Skate Like a Girl is a nonprofit organization empowering individuals, especially young women, to become strong, confident leaders who promote and implement equity through the vehicle of skateboarding.
Each camp session is a week-long (Monday to Friday) and features a daily opening and closing “circle time” with fellow campers and counselors via video conference. Campers receive skate skill videos designed for their distinct skill level, as well as supplemental challenge worksheets and a camper t-shirt. There is an average one counselor to five camper ratio so campers may receive individualized check-ins with counselors and more personalized instruction.
Here’s a video about the virtual summer program for 2020.
A flyer for Skate Like A Girl Seattle’s At-Home Summer Camp
The summer camp offers classes for skaters of all gender identities, as well as weeks exclusively designated for women and/or queer and trans people of all ages. The camp cost is $129 and there are scholarships that skaters can apply for to ensure that the camp is as accessible to as many people as possible. And if you don’t have a skateboard, helmet, or padding, Skate Like a Girl Seattle can help with that! Campers can reach out to Skate Like a Girl Seattle via e-mail to borrow skate gear through drop-off or pick-up services.
Skate Like a Girl Seattle also provides additional skateboarding programs and activities for people of all skill levels, ages, and gender identities year-round. The organization offers weekly women and trans skating sessions, after school programs, and 12 years and under skating clinics during the school year at All Together Skate Park, located at 3500 Stone Way North in Seattle. In addition to at-home summer camp, Skate Like a Girl is continuing its women and trans skating sessions virtually through Zoom.
Instructors and skaters for Skate Like A Girl’s women and trans skating sessions
In light of the recent Black Lives Matter protests for racial justice, Skate Like a Girl Seattle has been vocal on social media about the significance of continually supporting Black lives now and moving forward. According to Elden, Skate Like a Girl’s messaging “prioritizes social justice.” Elden says that Skate Like a Girl Seattle has recently utilized social media to encourage people to take specific actions to support Black lives, including providing followers with “swipe-up” links on Instagram stories to “sign petitions and get donations matched.” Elden states that Skate Like a Girl Seattle plans to “listen to and follow Black-led causes and organizations” and “celebrate and elevate Black trans people and Black women.” Skate Like a Girl Seattle also supports defunding the police and “reallocating funds to programs like health care, education, and other resources, particularly in Black communities and Black-led organizations.”
Through its dedication to social justice, Skate Like a Girl Seattle plans to continue empowering all skaters in the Seattle community virtually until in-person programs may resume.
From Skate Like A Girl:
Skate Like a Girl is a nonprofit organization empowering individuals, especially young womxn, to become strong, confident leaders who promote and implement equity through the vehicle of skateboarding. We believe that skateboarding is a tool to build confidence, resilience, and foster inclusive community. Our mission is to create an inclusive community by promoting confidence, leadership, and social justice through the sport of skateboarding. Founded 17 years ago, we currently operate chapters in Seattle, Portland, and the San Francisco Bay Area.We value experiential learning and civic participation, by providing opportunities to be involved in the skateboarding community.
Lynnwood, WA. Volunteers are staying active in Lynnwood. A recent Grocery Giveaway Earlier at Charisma Christian Center is evidence of that. Eight years ago the center’s pastor, wanted to “expand love and care to the community, by extending to those who are less fortunate and in need of assistance.” This mission is behind the idea of an upcoming BackPack Giveaway. It’s a community outreach program designed to help give out backpacks filled with school supplies to help children in grades K -12 get ready for the school year. After 7 successful years of being able to give back to the community with help from sponsors such as McDonalds, Clothes for Kids, Grocer Outlet and Lions Club all helping in various ways, this annual event has been able to have a positive impact in the Lynnwood community. For this years Back Pack Giveaway will be able to hand out 1000 backpacks filled with school supplies as well as 350 grocery bags filled with essential foods for families in need.
Back Pack Giveaway Volunteers (2018)
Due to Covid-19 the event will look a little different from years prior. Now there will be a way to register for backpacks and groceries online as well as have volunteers wear face masks and gloves to help stop the spread of Covid-19. Also there are plans to “scale things back” when it comes to crowds this year. Usually, this event has music guests and games for kids as well as food. However, this is not detouring Charisma from going forth with their event because “we care about extending love to those who are less fortunate and need help”. If you would like to volunteer for the BackPack Giveaway you may reach Charisma at this link here. Also in the next couple of weeks you will start to see flyers and other advertisements for this event. The BackPack Giveaway will be on Saturday, August 22nd and will be an all-day event.
Charisma Christian Centers New Method of Handing Out Groceries to Families
Charisma Christian Center Mission Statement:
Charisma offers hope: no matter who you are, where you’ve been, and whatever you have done, Christ can give you a brand new life, peace, joy, meaning and significance (2 Cor.5:17)
Charisma Christian Center wants to support and give back to the community by having these outreach programs such as BackPack Giveaway. The Church gives away 1000 backpacks annually as well as 350 bags of essential food to families in need.
Snohomish County, Wa. YWCA has opened a small library aimed at helping educate people about African/ African American women and their history. The library is located at 6027 208th St. S.W., Lynnwood. YWCA Seattle, King, Snohomish is focused on helping and lifting up women, so this new library is right up its alley. “YMCA wants to give people of color more opportunities and with housing and education, to break down barriers,” explained a YWCA Pathways the staffer.
Brand New Library, Filled With Books Written and About African American Women.
YWCA’s mission has always been to eliminate racism and empower women, so recent events and protests over the murder of George Floyd has resonated with members of the organization. On June 4th a letter to the community was issued explaining that “YWCA stands in solidarity with Black Americans, who are disproportionately incarcerated, assaulted and killed.” When it comes to public protests YWCA is not new to these showings of strength, annually the organization holds an event called “STAND AGAINST RACISM.” This event provides the “opportunity for communities across the United States to find an issue or cause that inspires them to takes a stand”.
Recent “Stand Against Racism” event hosted by YMCA.
YWCA works to make an impact on communities, to uplift women by giving opportunities and resources to help better themselves as well as the people around them. To learn more about YWCA and its work, visit its website, where you will find opportunities to help volunteer and events hosted by YWCA.
MISSION STATEMENT:
YWCA is on a mission to eliminate racism and empower women. A healthy community transformed by racial and gender equity, where women and girls of color have equal access to opportunity, and there is social justice for all people.
The YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish helps women and families find shelter, safety, stability & success. Dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women.
Headquartered in Seattle with 20+ locations, our YWCA serves 49,000 women, men and children in the region each year with a diverse array of housing, economic empowerment, health, domestic violence and youth development programs.
Burien, WA. The Weed Warriors, Nature Stewards Program has continued to serve the King County community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. “Of course, our activities and events have changed,” says Grace Stiller, the program’s President. Volunteers with the Weed Warriors must maintain social distancing protocols, but according to Stiller, the program is still active and engaged.
While the COVID-19 crisis has forced many organizations to close their doors, the Weed Warriors continue to do essential work in Burien’s New Start Community Garden, pictured above. The community garden includes personal patches as well as many feature gardens, and a stage that, before the COVID-19 crisis, was used for community events. According to Stiller, the Weed Warriors’ work in the community garden is “an important part of being able to plant and harvest food for the food bank.” “Volunteers are always needed,” says Stiller, “we always need help in the community garden, and at Mathison Park in Burien.”
Earth Day event 2019 – Students installed Native Plants in the New Start Community Garden, Edible Native Plant Section.
2018 – Produce harvested from the New Start Community Garden for the food bank.
The Weed Warriors program also partners with the National Wildlife Federation to provide the Gardens for Wildlife program. The program includes Zoom Workshops on topics like sustainable gardening practices and controlling invasive, non-native weeds, as well as a restoration event at a community garden or park. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, this year’s restoration events will follow social distancing protocols and forgo large group interactions. According to Stiller, the National Wildlife Federation’s goal to protect wildlife complements the Weed Warriors’ mission to “protect the habitat that gives the wildlife homes.”
Kid’s Native Bird Workshop and Birdhouse Building project 2019 – Kids built their birdhouses at Seahurst Park.
Stiller co-founded the Weed Warriors in 2008 to help students meet their community service requirements, and the program has grown since then. The Weed Warriors, Nature Stewards Program provides educational workshops, habitat restoration, and community service opportunities. Stiller explains that “when people understand our relationship to nature they’ll respect and advocate for nature and advocate for policies that continue to allow for harmony with nature.”
From Weed Warriors, Nature Stewards Program:
We’re advocates for healthy habitats for both people and wildlife. We connect kids to nature through education and the arts, empowering them to steward the earth and change the world. Our vision is to see the world living in harmony with nature.
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