Hello faithful blog readers!

We have some exciting news — we’ve moved!  Come check us out on our shiny new blog:

http://www.uwkcblog.org

Don’t forget to update your bookmarks and RSS feeds!

Get involved with United Way of King County’s Free Tax Preparation Campaign and join the nation’s largest anti-poverty effort!  Help low-and moderate-income individuals and families in King County keep more of what they earn!  With the assistance of over 530 volunteers, the 2009 Campaign filed 13,631 tax returns, and returned over $17.3  million in federal refunds; $5.2 million in Earned Income Tax Credits.  All of this was accomplished at no cost to our tax customers, and we estimate that we saved our customers over $1 million in tax preparation fees!

The United Way Free Tax Campaign Needs Volunteers!

By volunteering once per week during the 2010 tax season, you can help us meet our goal of putting more than $17 million back into the pockets of low-and moderate-income working individuals and families in King County.  Speakers of Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Somali, Korean and Russian languages are especially needed.

No Experience Necessary! All volunteers receive free tax preparation training and are certified by the IRS.  Slots at some sites tend to fill up very fast, so don’t wait!  Sign up now!  And then send this along to someone else who should sign up.  You can select your own site and shift, and select your preferred days of training.  It’s really easy.  And you’ll feel better.

If you need more information or have any questions, feel free to contact Courtney Noble (cnoble@uwkc.org, 206-461-5048), Patrick Kelley (pkelley@uwkc.org, 206-461-5083) or Matt Levin (mlevin@uwkc.org, 206-461-4562).

A lot of items have crossed my screen recently that piqued my interest.  Here are some of the highlights:

• Is ‘a doll always a doll’, really?  Would you pay $95 for a ‘homeless’ doll?  We asked your opinion on our VibeGlobe page.  I had to take a few days to process this one, but I’ve settled in on an opinion similar to the one expressed by Shannon Moriarty on Change.org’s blog.  I could hop on my soapbox and excoriate Mattel, like others have.  But I think this is less about a company doing what companies are supposed to do (make $), and more about how we (me, you, and the person sitting next to you) are afraid to accept the possibility that a child’s toy might be a little too real for us adults…
• If you’re a reader of the Unite to End Homeless blog, you’ll be familiar with my muted disdain for the editorial board of the Seattle Times.  I don’t always disagree with them, and I’m not the only one who does whenever I do.  But when I read this recent editorial about Councilmember Tim Burgess’ proposed panhandling ordinance, I couldn’t remember what city I lived in.  So I pose this question to you all:  have you ever felt intimidated enough by someone asking for change that you felt compelled to give it to them, short of them having a weapon of some kind (that ain’t panhandling, that’s robbery).  If you have, tell me.  I want to know!  I want to write your story!  Because in all my time here, in the thousands of times I’ve been asked for money by someone who obviously needed it more than me, I have NEVER had anyone say anything to me other than ‘thank you’, ‘God Bless you’, or ‘have a nice day’, regardless of whether or not I gave them anything more than a smile.  So let me hear it!  I want to know!  To paraphrase the last sentence of the editorial:  ‘The city has a duty to regulate–within the law, within reason–the manner in which it treats its most vulnerable citizens as they go about their daily lives.’
• And speaking of Mr. Burgess (and the Times editorial page, for that matter), it appears he had some overnight guests earlier this week.  In this particular instance, I actually find myself agreeing with the editorial writers for the most part.  Money is definitely tight, in everyone’s budget, and pulling something like this isn’t going to make someone like Mayor Nickels or the City Council open up their empty pocketbooks.  As the writers stated, it would be far more productive for us to focus on getting the housing levy passed in November and other long-term issues like working with a new city administration.
• And finally, since I’ve made it clear how I feel on Proposition 1, a few words about a few other items coming up this fall:  Initiative 1033 and Referendum 71.  While supporters of I-1033 would like you to believe that capping tax revenue makes government more accountable, all it really does is make it harder for government to fill its role as sole provider for such frivolous things as education, law enforcement, and public transportation, not to mention indispensable social services such as public health clinics and senior centers that, while also supported by nonprofits and religious organizations, would suffer immensely without government support.  Now, I know this might not be a popular stance to take, that many of us truly believe taxes are evil and government is wasteful, slothful, etc and we want our money back!  I just read the website, and it sounds wonderful.  But the fact is that this Initiative would make it more difficult for government services to be enacted during the very time that they are needed the most.  We’ll make it harder to hire more teachers, place more unemployed or underemployed people into job training and skill development programs at community colleges, or have an adequate response method in the event of a public emergency (last time I checked, we had a few active volcanoes in the region).  ALL of that, and more,  is paid for with tax revenue.
• As for Ref 71, you may not see a link between a domestic partnership law and homelessness.  But consider this:  nearly 40% of homeless people under 18 years of age identify themselves as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender (LGBT).  And if you don’t think being homeless had anything to do with their sexual orientation for these kids, just stop reading this because it’s not worth my time.  They’re kicked out, they run away, they end up on the street.  They’re called queer, fag, freak…and they are smacked in the face by laws in their own country that prevent them from growing up, falling in love, and marrying the person that they want to spend the rest of their life with.  You may not think Ref 71 is about equal rights for gays and lesbians, and that’s fine.  But passing this referendum will, at the very least, provide the residents of Washington with an opportunity to look into the faces of some of these young people and say:  You are not worthless.  You are not weird.  You and your loved ones will be treated like everyone else.

I posted a story about Coreen a few days ago.  Here are a few more stories, courtesy of The Arizona Republic and invisiblepeople.tv:

The Robinsons are like most middle-class families you know.  Bridget worked at…”

This is Yong, recently homeless in Greensboro, NC.

So the big news today is the fact that American Doll released their latest creation: Gwen Thompson — a homeless doll.  According to the history that comes with each doll, Gwen’s father walked out on the family and Gwen’s mother lost her job.  This series of unfortunate events forced them to live in their car.

While it’s universally acknowledged that there is a certain irony about a homeless doll costing $95, Gwen is otherwise causing a wide variety of opinions.

Andrea Peyser of the New York Post is not pleased:

It seems obscene that a company that prides itself on teaching impressionable children about history and grooming — you can have your doll’s hair done for $20! — should engage in political preaching. What message is being sent with Gwen?

For starters, men are bad. Fathers abandon women without cause. She’s also telling me that women are helpless. And that children in this great country, where dolls sell for nearly 100 bucks a pop, are allowed to sleep in motor vehicles. But mothers don’t lose custody over this injustice. Because, you see, they are victims, too.

Shannon Moriarty of Change.org was initially disgusted.  However, after thinking it through, she came to this conclusion:

The only thing obscene about this American Girl controversy is that it takes a plastic doll and her fictional biography to have everyone up in arms. Yet, the real stories of homeless children crowding shelters and schools are accepted without an ounce of outrage. This American Girl doll’s story is not unrealistic at all. In fact, it’s a lot more common than we’d like to think.

Earlier this year, the National Center on Family Homelessness found that 1 in 50 children in America will experience homelessness. Roughly a quarter of all children in this country live with a single parent. Unemployment in the U.S. is nearly in the double-digits. Schools are struggling to maintain a sense of stability for kids dealing with very adult problems. Research has found that children who are homeless are more likely to drop out of school, get sick, and become homeless as adults.

…

Perhaps American Girls may be picking up on something that the rest of society is missing. If these dolls are considered accurate, well-researched portrayal of American culture, then maybe we need to stop overreacting about how offensive, distasteful, and obscene they are, and start opening our eyes.

So what do you think? Is this exploitation or a unique way to raise awareness around a very real issue?  Take our survey and sound off through comments.

Have you ever wanted to go back to the carefree days of preschool? Then volunteer with the United Way of King County’s Volunteer Reader Program! Chances are you won’t get to nap and eat cookies all day, but you’ll be doing something even better; making a difference in the lives of local children.

More than half of all kindergartners in our state are entering school without the social, emotional, physical and cognitive skills they need to be successful. In fact, research shows that those who start behind often stay behind. The good news is however, that these kids can be ready for a lifetime of learning simply by spending a few short hours with our great volunteers! These people make a world of difference in children’s lives just by reading to them one-on-one for an hour each week in head start classrooms and childcare centers throughout King County!

So whether you’re looking to find another grandchild to share stories with, a way to give your children’s old books a new life, or you’d simply like an excuse to read To Give a Mouse a Cookie in the middle of a hectic day, the Volunteer Reader Program is for you!

For more information go to www.uwkc.org/readers

Following up with Patrick’s latest post, I wanted to share with you all a project that we’ve been working on and just recently released:http://unitedway.vibeglobe.comour new website on ending homelessness.

One part of the website is the video embedded on this post. The music video focuses on homelessness in our community. All the footage was taken locally and it does a great job at showing the faces of homelessness. It also going over facts that many people don’t realize. For example, did you know that a night in jail costs $96 whereas a night in supportive housing only costs $26?

Along with the video, there are ways you can take action around homelessness which includes adding to our photo mosaic.

We’re obviously really proud of this new site and video. Take a minute to check it out, tell us what you think, and share it with friends!

I had a chance to participate in some organized panel discussions recently, and one of the questions for the panelists asked about ‘the face of homelessness’.  The truth is, this issue has many faces.  I’ll write more about this over the next week or so.  But today, I wanted to share this story with you.  It’s from a project that I’ve mentioned several times before, invisiblepeople.tv.  This is Coreen.

At our Community Resource Exchange, we had a station where our guests could come and get their feet washed (and get a fresh pair of socks) by volunteers. As volunteer positions go, this is an extremely humbling and admirable one. I stumbled upon a blog post done by one of these volunteers. Her name is Cathy and I reproduced the post below. It’s really a great read!

Last Friday I joined United Way in a day of caring for the homeless. When I became aware of this event I knew I wanted the experience. Living in Seattle has definitely exposed me more to the homeless and in visiting Fresno made me more aware of the obviously growing problem there.

At the day of caring I was at a station where we washed feet and gave them new socks. There were over 70 services available: Veterans Services, DSHS, eye exams and glasses, flu shots, checks to get a Washington State IDs, pregnancy tests, new shoes and more. We sat waiting and the doors opened. Men and women came pouring in. What was interesting was that they headed for one particular area. I had to know what drew them so. The big draw was sleeping bags and backpacks; their home furnishings and necessities.

It was obvious these men and women weren’t quite sure what we were there to do so I walked out to the middle of the main aisle and began to invite them to have their feet washed and receive new socks. Here was my 2nd lesson of the day. It was very humbling and embarrassing for them to bare their feet to anyone.

After about 45 minutes they began to come and sit. Every person I served apologized for their feet as they removed their shoes and socks. It was hard for them to do. They can keep the visible part of themselves clean and somewhat groomed; but their feet are usually hidden and so are not a priority. I would just chuckle and tell them there are very few pretty feet out there.

The first man was Mark. He was pretty quiet. I asked him how long he had been homeless. He said just the last couple of years. He said he has always worked….until now. What was most remarkable about this man? About 2 hours later he came back looking for me. He told me thank you and that having his feet soaked, washed, massaged and clothed with new socks was the best part of his day at this event. It was hugely humbling to know you had been a part of that experience.

A 23 year old young man told me he was originally from Senegal. He first lived in Atlanta but heard Seattle was a good place to live. He told me how blessed he was. Then he leaned over and showed me his head. He had been beat with a baseball bat while living on the streets. He had a scar that started at his hairline and went to the crown of his head and then over to his ear. He went on to say how dangerous it is. Lifting his shirt he showed me scars where he had been stabbed several times. Again he said he was blessed. He shouldn’t be alive. Picking up and opening his backpack he showed me several bottles of prescription medications. Because of his head injury he now has about 6 grand mal seizures a day.

Next came Mohammed. He was the first who seemed a bit hard. He was probably the most apologetic for the condition of his feet. But as I massaged his feet and calves with lotion he started to smile. He wanted to know why in the world I would do this. He has served several terms in prison.

Sydney was 53 years old. When I asked him about his homeless history he said it was Hurricane Katrina that started his journey. Being left with no home and no job he started journeying form one city to another to find his place. He had one felony that he confessed was committed during a 6 month stint of drinking himself out of control. He has now been dry for 2 years. He is hoping to start city college this month. I just let him talk for about 20 minutes. I realized these people have no one who will just sit and listen. While I was washing his feet he suddenly turned to check on his 2 new back packs. In realizing how his action must look he explained that on the street and in shelters you always have to guard your things. His has been stolen twice. He told me how to keep money safe and how to sleep with your backpacks safe.

One man considered himself an expert on carcinogens. He certainly had a vocabulary beyond mine. Warned me of things I shouldn’t eat or natural foods to help fight the effects of those foods.

I heard a young man next to me say he was from Fresno. So I said I was also. I asked him why he moved here. He said he is married and has 6 kids. In Fresno, the best job he could get was at MacDonalds and he didn’t make enough money to take care of his family. He had heard things were much better in Seattle so he moved his family here. He also said that nothing like this event and the services offered are available in Fresno.

The one woman I served was pregnant. This was not her first.

My day was a very humbling one. Seeing how exposed these men and women felt in baring their feet. Watching them relax and say “ahhhh” as they were able to just sit and soak their feet in warm water. Seeing these brothers and sisters as just that. They were kind, thankful, just trying to make their lives better in some way.

Another lesson in guarding myself from judgement. The homeless are not scary, evil, less than human. They are us.

This is true – it was a blessing to serve these people.

My challenge? Could it be possible to be part of organizing something like this in Fresno when we get there? Is that some idealist thought or could it be a reality?

Advice to others? If you want to give to those on the corners, at the intersections…..sleeping bags and backpacks.

The move from preschool to kindergarten can be a difficult experience for children. New people and surroundings along with different rules and expectations can make the first days of school stressful instead of exciting and fun.

Getting School Ready Teams, a program developed by The Washington Alliance for Better Schools, SOAR and United Way of King County, help pave the way for preschoolers to enter kindergarten as smoothly as possible.

Getting School Ready Teams link schools, families, child care providers, early childhood educators and community-based partners long before children enter the kindergarten classroom. These connections create a continuity of experience that eases the transition into school for young children and their families.

Since the program launched in 2006, 35 King County elementary schools from 10 school districts have connected with more than 10,000 parents and 4,000 child care providers with the help of transition teams.

United Way of King County wants all children in our community to start out on the right foot. By supporting children and their families during the early years, we know we can positively affect the rest of their lives.

If you’re interested in learning more about Getting School Ready Teams, please contact Isidro Rodriguez at irodriguez@uwkc.org.