Front and Centered

We're voting NO on I-2124 because if it passes, the measure will bankrupt WA Cares, our state’s recently created long-term care coverage system, by 2027 ???? Huge thanks to Libby Watson of the No On I-2124 (Washington)?campaign for coming to our coalition member summit last week! We wanted to share with you what she had to say about Initiative 2124 and why it’s bad for ALL Washingtonians, including and especially for frontline communities. Libby: “Washington voters know a wolf in sheep’s clothing when they see it. The only ones who would benefit under I-2124 are the super wealthy and big insurance companies. When voters hear the facts about how it will increase costs and hurt women and people with pre-existing conditions, they oppose I-2124.” Remember to vote NO on all four initiatives on your ballot in?#WashingtonState!?#Elections?#ElectionDay UFCW Local 3000 Washington State Nurses Association Statewide Poverty Action Network Casa Latina WHCA (Washington Health Care Association) Fuse Washington Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility Faith Action Network Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle #NoOn2066 #NoOn2109 #NoOn2117 #NoOn2124

We're voting NO on I-2124 because if it passes, the measure will bankrupt WA Cares, our state’s recently created long-term care coverage system, by 2027 ???? Huge thanks to Libby Watson of the No On I-2124 (Washington)?campaign for coming to our coalition member summit last week! We wanted to share with you what she had to say about Initiative 2124 and why it’s bad for ALL Washingtonians, including and especially for frontline communities. Libby: “Washington voters know a wolf in sheep’s clothing when they see it. The only ones who would benefit under I-2124 are the super wealthy and big insurance companies. When voters hear the facts about how it will increase costs and hurt women and people with pre-existing conditions, they oppose I-2124.” Remember to vote NO on all four initiatives on your ballot in?#WashingtonState!?#Elections?#ElectionDay UFCW Local 3000 Washington State Nurses Association Statewide Poverty Action Network Casa Latina WHCA (Washington Health Care Association) Fuse Washington Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility Faith Action Network Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle #NoOn2066 #NoOn2109 #NoOn2117 #NoOn2124

How do state agencies and local organizers collaborate to shape policy for frontline communities? On Oct. 16 (tomorrow!) join Front and Centered, People's Economy Lab, and Washington State Department of Social and Health Services to learn about the civic assemblies model Washington State is exploring. How can Washington State enhance economic mobility and equity through civic assemblies? RSVP now for the webinar (hosted by New America) to learn more! https://lnkd.in/gYCzKtEd Statewide Poverty Action Network Washington Economic Justice Alliance

Happy #IndigenousPeoplesDay! Front and Centered's offices are closed in honor of the day, but we did want to share with you our Indigenous People's Day resources page. We created the page two years ago but we've made some major updates to it for the holiday this year, adding a bunch of new interesting videos, article and webpage links, and book recommendations. ???? We hope the material helps you better understand topics like #TreatyRights, #LandBack, #IndigenousKnowledge, #Sovereignty, #Reconnection, #LandDefense, and more: https://lnkd.in/gNdjaBUe

No matter where you live, you deserve a transportation system that’s clean, low-carbon, equitable, and safe for your health. That’s why we're thrilled to introduce the Transportation Justice Leadership Grant Program, developed in partnership with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and community allies. This program is a direct response to the need for equitable, community-centered transportation solutions. Grant applications are LIVE as of yesterday! Head to our home page, FrontAndCentered.Org, to access the FC/WSDOT team's short application guide and to apply right away using JustFund. You will also be able to RSVP for one of our two upcoming grant info sessions (Spanish-language interpretation will be provided). Together, we can pave the way for community-centered leadership and transportation solutions. We hope you’re as excited as we are about this new program! (P.S. The photos we've included are from our pre-workshop in June, which we held to convene frontline community members and learn from their lived experiences and policy expertise before launching this grant program!) Asia Pacific Cultural Center UTOPIA Washington

Thank you so much to Puget Soundkeeper for honoring our work with the 2024 Inspiration Award! We're so grateful to have you as a partner in the fight to #CURBPollution. ???????????? Day in and day out and for the past forty (!) years, Puget Soundkeeper works to hold polluters accountable and keep places like the #DuwamishRiver, and by extension the entire #SalishSea, clean and healthy for all. That's why we were so honored to have their support this past legislative session as we advocated for the CURB Pollution Act. Learn more about the CURB Act at our website:?https://lnkd.in/dM2Q3T-x

How is a #JustTransition showing up (or not showing up) on your ballot in #WashingtonState? And where do we stand on the four initiatives that will be on the ballot? Deric Gruen, our Co-executive Director for Programs and Policy, breaks it down in this excellent blog post that connects our positions to the Just Transition strategies and frontline community expertise that informs our work: https://lnkd.in/gqarN5dc Fuse Washington Washington Conservation Action Shift Zero Sierra Club Washington State No On I-2124 (Washington) #NoOn2117 #NoOn2066 #NoOn2109 DUWAMISH RIVER COMMUNITY COALITION Spokane NAACP OneAmerica

Can you join us tomorrow? ???????? We'll be convening virtually at 1pm (PDT) to go over some of the most important findings and recommendations in our recently released 2024 #HEALAct Progress Report and our frontline analysis of the state budget! If you haven't already, make sure to RSVP for our virtual get-together here: https://lnkd.in/gpnJHfa9 In case you can't make it but still want to hear what we've learned and want to share, you should still click on the link above RSVP! Everyone who RSVPs will receive a link to a recording of the virtual event a few days after the briefing. ?? We can't wait to see you there!

Yesterday marked two years since the tragic passing of legendary #Spokane activist and journalist #SandyWilliams, founder of the Black Lens and the Carl Maxey Center. Sandy and her partner Patricia were two of ten people who perished in a floatplane crash off Whidbey Island. ???? Earlier this year, a Washington State Department of Transportation project named after Sandy was given a permanent extension. The project aims to help connect neighborhoods which are bisected by highways and is called the Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Program—a reference to Sandy's advocacy work around reconnecting Spokane's East Central neighborhood after it was separated by I-90 in the late 1960s. Read more about Sandy's life in this excellent piece by Maleeha Syed:

We were closed last week for our annual summer recess, but we are back and looking forward to seeing you virtually in just six days! Can you join us to talk #EnvironmentalJustice? ???? At our online briefing, we'll go over our recently released?2024 HEAL Act Progress Report?and our?frontline analysis of the state budget. We'll also feature leaders within our statewide coalition who will talk about what’s possible under HEAL in achieving environmental justice and why community involvement is paramount to the success of HEAL implementation across Washington State. WHEN:?Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, 1:00–2:00pm WHO: Front and Centered coalition members and staff WHERE:?Register for the virtual briefing at: https://lnkd.in/gpnJHfa9 We’re at a crucial moment in the realization of the #HEALAct: we must assert our right to a healthy environment as the law's core purpose. We know it’s not environmental justice if the communities most impacted aren’t resourced and participating. We hope you can join us to help build the path forward together!