Seattle, WA. One Day Wages is a nonprofit working to fight extreme poverty around the world. Based in Seattle, the organization’s slogan involves looking toward a better future, “One Day.” The nonprofit has international branches and is working to build awareness for issues in underdeveloped areas. It helps poverty-affected communities by providing educational and professional resources and opportunities. It collaborates with other non-profit organizations. Its most recent project is ‘Project #191 Clean and Safe Hands in Nicaragua’ in a partnership with El Porvenir. The goal was to highlight how inaccessible handwashing stations were to rural Nicaraguans. With the help of One Day Wages, they distributed 1,818 handwashing stations with soap to homes, schools, health posts, and health centers in need. This simple but critical intervention cost only $10 per handwashing station, and El Porvenir’s established network in 6 regions of Nicaragua allowed for quick and widespread response. With this third partnership between ODW and El Porvenir, we were able to reach 92,220 people in total with access to handwashing stations.” Ultimately, through their collective impact, 1 Water Point was built, and there was now more accessibility to clean water and sanitation areas to help prevent illness.
One Day Wages is providing awareness for children’s education, children’s health, emergency relief, gender-based violence, girls’ empowerment, global hunger, human trafficking, jobs & skills, maternal health, preventable disease, refugee relief, water & sanitation.
Here’s a video about the organization:
Currently, One Day Wages is holding a 12th annual gala with covid-safety measures by providing 3 opportunities: in-person, limited, and virtual. Their in-person event is in Sodo Park, their limited ‘Party-Style’ is a small gathering in the comfort of your own home with packages that include a party box sent to your address, and a Zoom accessible event with DIY activities.
In response to Covid-19, One Day Wages wrote ” One Day’s Wages has launched an emergency relief fund to respond to the spread of COVID-19 within some of the most vulnerable communities around the world. While the strain from the pandemic is tangible for all of us, we’re coming alongside communities in vulnerable places such as refugee camps, remote villages, and densely populated urban areas where the spread of the virus could have severe impact.” and “Through our partnership with RSKW, 1,800 individuals were provided with relief during the pandemic through direct relief, food support, proper sanitizing kits, masks, and protocols to prevent spread of Covid-19.”
A woman who has received an emergency covid-relief aid.
From One Day Wages:
As a grassroots movement, we are impacting communities and changing lives.
Whether it’s a young girl who no longer has to walk miles to collect water, a mother who can provide for her children thanks to business training, or a school that can now grow nutritious food for their students–our impact is far reaching–community focused–and always sustainable. But we aren’t just about granting money toward issues of poverty, we also want to inspire people to care about justice, and to take action through simple generosity. Because together, we truly believe we can alleviate extreme global poverty in our lifetime.
Seattle, WA. The Borgen Project is hosting its first virtual summer event on July 31st, 2021: BORGENFEST. It is both a festival and a call to action to end global poverty; with music, celebration, and guest appearances. The festival features musical performances by Kitty Coen and 99 Neighbors, and includes guest appearances by Congressman Adam Smith, representative of Washington’s 9th congressional district; Natalie Gill-Mensah, an infectious disease expert and member on The Borgen Project’s Board of Directors; and Clint Borgen, President, and Founder of The Borgen Project. Proceeds from the BORGENFEST will benefit the organization’s poverty reduction efforts. To attend the event, you can find more information and register here.
This event is meant to build awareness about poverty reduction legislation and aid programs, while also celebrating the many obstacles overcome this past year in the international community. From the COVID-19 pandemic to an increase in violence against women, 2020 and 2021 have been particularly difficult for everyone. Yet amidst these tumultuous times comes a potential for unity: and that is cause for celebration.
Here’s a video about the organization:
Amy Pettigrew, Senior Program Manager at The Borgen Project and BORGENFEST Committee Chair, outlined the importance of this event: “The negative impacts of COVID-19 have caused a significant setback in hunger and poverty reduction efforts. Now is the time to ramp up our efforts and amplify voices who continue to struggle with the effects of the pandemic, in tandem with the fight to end global poverty. That’s what this event is for.”
More about The Borgen Project:
The Borgen Project is a bipartisan nonprofit campaign working at the political level towards the goal of eradicating global poverty. The organization was founded in 2003 by Clint Borgen, and has since then met with 87 percent of the U.S. Senate regarding key poverty-reduction legislation and other relevant bills. The Borgen Project continually mobilizes people worldwide to join their cause. With the advocacy help of this campaign, bills have been passed that improve women’s access to education, implement global health programs, reform global food aid, and more.
You are invited to celebrate with The Borgen Project on July 31st at 7pm EST, and you are welcome to register for the event here.
Seattle, WA. ROOTS (Rising out of the Shadows) Young Adult Shelter has remained in operation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and successfully moved locations. Now located in the University of Washington’s Greek community, the shelter houses up to 45 individuals experiencing homelessness every night, aged 18-25. Above, volunteers pose in front of the repurposed fraternity house.
ROOTS began looking for a new location in April 2018. After several months with no success, an article ran about the search in 2019. The next day, the owner of what is now the new ROOTS building reached out. The deal closed in August 2019. The shelter officially opened its doors after renovations in March of 2021.
The shelter space is thoroughly cleaned daily before guests arrive in the evening.
According to Volunteer Services Manager Jordan Beaudry, the COVID-19 pandemic changed “every facet of operations, from top to bottom.” ROOTS implemented a 6-8 pm cleaning slot that assures “every square inch of shelter space” is safe for guests. This cleaning window will likely stick around as part of the daily procedures, Beaudry says.
To keep guests and volunteers safe, ROOTS has adhered to strict social distancing measures. Before the pandemic, guests were able to eat communal meals. Guests now eat at their individual mats to promote social distancing. Everyone who enters the building is required to wear a mask, have their temperature checked, and complete a COVID-19 screening. It is because of these measures that ROOTS has been able to remain open throughout the pandemic with no closures.
ROOTS has five individuals showers, five individual toilets, and a laundry facility for guests.
Beaudry says ROOTS is “always looking for volunteers,” particularly in the overnight or overnight adjacent shifts. The ROOTS team has hopes to expand the facility to include drop-in daytime services, transitional living, mental health resources, and wraparound services. To implement these goals, donations are necessary. Cash donations of any size “go a super super long way,” according to Beaudry.
The ROOTS team is excited to provide expanded services like transitional housing in the future.
ROOTS emphasizes the peer-led approach to foster connectivity and shared humanity. For those looking to get involved, click to learn about donations and volunteer opportunities.
From ROOTS:
Founded in 1999 with the vision that everyone deserves a safe place to call home, ROOTS (Rising out of the Shadows) was Seattle’s first overnight shelter designed to meet the unique needs of homeless young adults ages 18 – 25 years old.
The organization’s mission is to build community and foster dignity through access to essential services and a safe place to sleep for young adults experiencing life on the streets.
Since its inception, ROOTS has served over 8,500 unique guests and provided them with hot dinner, breakfast, laundry, showers, clean clothing, hygiene items, and referral services.
In 2017, ROOTS added onsite case management that resulted in 87 guests exiting shelter into housing, and in 2018 showed an increase of over 100 guests exits to housing. With young adults and other low-income persons in mind, ROOTS advocates for social justice and long-term solutions for the communities it serves.
On any given night, ROOTS has 45 overnight shelter beds open for young people ages 18-25.
Seattle, WA. The IDIC Filipino Senior & Family Services is a Filipino nonprofit organization based in Beacon Avenue, South Seattle. The Covid-19 pandemic has not stopped the nonprofit from serving the elderly community, underserved immigrants, and vulnerable families. Currently, most of the nonprofit’s services have shifted online via appointment for information and housing assistance, but the nonprofit is still offering no-contact meal delivery for seniors in need as seen above.
Launched in 1973 as a small daycare, the nonprofit now provides multiple services to the Filipino community. The organization advocates for healthcare benefits, social security assistance, and other concerns the elderly Filipino community members may experience.
Volunteers of the IDIC help out with bagging groceries and supplies for delivery.
The IDIC Filipino Senior & Family Services has been faring well despite the Covid-19 crisis, but the community they served still needs more help. One positive development is that volunteers have managed to shift their priorities to delivering food meals and bags to the seniors of the community most impacted (seniors are more vulnerable to getting harsher health issues to recover from due to Covid-19) with the help of the local food bank.
Once a week, the organization delivers prepared food. Volunteers serve more than 200 individuals over the age of 55 and adults with disabilities.
The IDIC Filipino Senior & Family Services hopes to expand its efficiency to provide more adequate care to underserved communities. As a result, they now have two more vehicles to help out with transportation. A bus for the elderly to get to and from the center, and a car to deliver the food bags around the Beacon area.
The organization is still very much in need of more volunteers (drivers and baggers) to help provide warm meals for the most vulnerable seniors and are grateful for the support they have received to continue their services.
From IDIC Filipino Senior & Family Services:
At the present home of IDIC on Beacon Hill in South Seattle, a broad range of services available to members and county residents include information and assistance, veterans’ advocacy and benefits assistance, health seminars, estate planning guide and referrals, subsidized housing advice, disability and social security benefits advocacy, and other concerns that seniors citizens encounter. To combat mild depression there is PEARLS (Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives for Seniors), courtesy of the City of Seattle’s Human Services Department.
The IDIC is managed by an Executive Director who reports to a 15-member Board. With its current resources, the IDIC has a total of nine full and part-time staff. They work closely with community-based organizations like the Sound Generations, Food Lifeline, Filipino War Veterans of Washington (FWVW), Asian Counseling & Referral Service (ACRS), the Filipino Community of Seattle (FCS), Muckleshoot Tribe Foundation, King County, City of Seattle Human Services Department Aging & Disability Services, and the Seattle Foundation to name a few.
Seattle, WA. Seattle artist Jayashree Krishnan has painted 150 portraits of healthcare workers on the front lines of the pandemic entitled Caring for Humanity. The works are on display at the Columbia City Gallery at 4864 Rainier Ave. S. Betsy Fetherston, Columbia City Gallery Manager says she’s honored to host Krishnan’s work. Fetherston shared, “This exhibit has touched many people, those who are part of the frontline health workers, and it has revealed to the community just what a sacrifice their work has been in order to care for people.”
Jayashree Krishnan’s portraits along with anecdotes will be shown until Sunday, March 21, 2021.
Established in 1975, SEED (SouthEast Effective Development) is a nonprofit created by community members which continues to revive Southeast Seattle. The organization works on affordable housing initiatives, economic development, and expanding its capacity with the intersection of arts and culture. The focus of SEEDArts is to build unity through visual and cultural experiences. The organization manages the following programs:Columbia City Gallery,Rainier Arts Center,KVRU 105.7 FM,SEEDArts Studios, and Public Art.
SEEDArts Gallery street view prior to COVID-19 pandemic.
Columbia City Gallery has remained open during the pandemic, with a fully scheduled calendar. The community has been welcomed in to view artwork or by window gazing.
The annual Silent Auction for the organization is a neighborhood favorite; despite the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic the event was successful in selling members’ artwork, and 5% of the proceeds were donated to the Rainier Valley Food Bank. The paintings were exhibited in two sessions: Part 1: January 9 – 24 / Part 2: January 29 – February 14
SEEDArts – Columbia City Gallery Silent Auction 2021
Another program supported by the nonprofit is a story-sharing platform. KVRU 105.7 FM broadcasts voices from the community, streams worldwide, and is a member of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters. Free audio production workshops are offered on a regular basis, and an equipment lending library allows for the production of radio and podcast content. To make a tax-deductible donation to support community radio visit: KVRU.org
Krystal Fincher interviews a guest during a broadcast.
SEEDArts builds community by presenting diverse arts experiences, nurturing local artists, and infusing creativity into our neighborhoods. We offer visual, performing, media, and public art programs in Southeast Seattle that support and sustain artists, inspire and connect residents, and revitalize community. Our programs focus on curating, facilitating and promoting arts and cultural experiences. To learn more about upcoming programs visit: seedseattle.org
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