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Home My WebLink AboutCSS 2022-04-11 Item 1A - Update - City of Tukwila Community Leadership InitiativeCity of Tukwila Allan Ekberg, Mayor INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM TO: Community Services and Safey Committee CC: Mayor Ekberg FROM: Niesha Fort -Brooks, Community Engagement Manger DATE: March 28, 2022 SUBJECT: The City of Tukwila Community Leadership initiative Program (TCLI) (formerly Community Connector Program) ISSUE Staff is seeking input from the Community Services and Saftey Committee on the City of Tukwila's Community Leadership Initiative (TCLI) prior to finalization. BACKGROUND In 2014 the Community Connectors program was established in collaboration with Forterra and Global to Local. The purpose of the Community Connectors was to improve outreach and engagement with communities historically underrepresented in the civic process. The City partnered with community members, particularly with Tukwila's immigrant and refugee communities, to act as liaisons and facilitate communication between the City and their respective communities. The Community Connectors first pilot program was the City's comprehensive plan update, with a focus on housing, the Tukwila International Boulevard (TIB) neighborhood, and access to healthy food. Over the course of time the Community Connectors Program was becoming ineffective and transactional. The needs of the Community Connectors were not being met, they were survey - burdened, it created disposable leaders, and the Community Connectors were being tokenized due to their race. Additionally, as part of the budget reductions associated with the coronavirus pandemic, the funding for the program was eliminated in 2021. DISCUSSION City Staff is currently finalizing details with the TCLI committee before the program launches in late summer. Additionally, City staff presented to the Equity and Social Justice Commission on March 3, 2022. The Commission was tasked to provide input on the City of Tukwila's Leadership Initaitive program. The Commission appreciated that the program is community -led with the intent to provide program participants in advocacy, City services, and awareness of boards and commissions. Following is a summary of the program's purpose, mission statement, committee members, and TCLI program specifics. TCLI PURPOSE To elevate, develop and support Tukwila community leaders. The program will incorporate a shared holistic approach that will consist of discussions of real-world lived experiences among Tukwila's diverse community members. The program will provide the necessary tools to understand City services, policies and programs with an emphasis on professional and personal advocacy. 1 INFORMATIONAL MEMO Page 2 TCLI MISSION STATEMENT The City of Tukwila Community Leadership Initiative (TCLI) program is a community -led program supported by the City of Tukwila to increase and build upon existing and future leaders in civic engagement, City services, policies and programs. We lead with an equity lens and embrace inclusivity for the betterment of Tukwila's diverse community. TCLI COMMITTEE City staff has taken this opportunity to revamp the previous Community Connectors program. In April 2021, staff recruited a diverse group of community members to develop a new community program, including its identification as the City of Tukwila Community Leadership Initiative (TCLI). Staff reached out to various residents and community leaders who work or live in Tukwila's diverse community — those with a deep understanding of community needs and lived experiences and who lead with a racial equity lens. Members of the TCLI committee are: Diane Melgoza, former Community Connector and Community Health Worker from Global to Local Hien Kieu, Executive Director - Partner In Employment Angel Taherazer, Day 1 Coordinator/Career Coach One Program Coordinator - Refugee Women's Alliance Lina Sinton -Ali, Connection Desk Supervisor, Tukwila Health Point Margaret Bratcher, former Community Connector, Planning Commissioner and resident Khang Nguyen, former City of Tukwila Summer High School Internship Program and resident TCLI PROGRAM SPECIFICS The TCLI has determined that a civic academy process — which takes the cohort through various levels, functions and entry points of local government — is the best way to transform the participants in the program. The goal is to increase knowledge about how government works, what opportunities are available in City services for individuals to get involved, and how to advocate for their respective Tukwila communities. The program will allow 8-10 cohort participants. They must live, attend school or work in the City of Tukwila, and are excected to attend at least one informational session. They are required to sign the City of Tukwila's gift card documentation. To receive the gift card compensation, participants must attend the full session and complete a five -question survey after each session. The survey process will allow the TCLI committee and City staff to measure the success and direction of the program. TCLI PROGRAM BUDGET The current budget for the program and allocated costs are as follows: PROGRAM EXPENSES ANNUAL BUDGET: $25,000 TCLI Cohort Compensation $100.00 per session Translation, interpretation, and print material (as needed) $2,500.00 Food $1,500.00 (TBD) Childcare (as needed) $1,500.00 (TBD) Professional Services: Facilitators, etc. $2,500.00 (TBD: Unknown if program will be in-person at this time, due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.) 2 INFORMATIONAL MEMO Page 3 TCLI PROGRAM 2022 CURRICULUM Month City of Tukwila's Community Leadership Initiative (TCLI) July Welcome and Kick-off: TCLI 2022 Program August Basic Advocacy 101 September Advocacy 102 (deeper dive and community building) October Role of City government and City services ■ Executive (Mayor/Administration) ■ Legislative (City Council) ■ Judicial (Municipal Court) November Government 101: Understanding City services and community impact December How to become an elected official; joining Boards & Commissions January Cohort to select topic of choice February Financial Literacy 101 March Year-end celebration and evaluation review TCLI PROGRAM INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS May/June 2022 — Two sessions, virtual or in-person TBD July 2022 — Committee convenes to review applications, make cohort selection RECOMMENDATION Staff is seeking feedback from Community Services and Safey Committee on the City of Tukwila Community Leadership Initiative prior to finalization. ATTACHMENTS City of Tukwila Community Leadership Initiative PowerPoint Presentation 3 4 CITY OF TUKWILA COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE (TCLI) (formerly Community Connectors Program) Presented by the City of Tukwila Community Leadership Initiative Committee (TCLI) Agenda ➢ Background: The Community Connectors Program ➢ How we got here: A brief introduction of the TCLI committee, purpose, mission statement and name change. ➢ Program objectives ➢ Purpose of presentation: The TCLI committee is seeking feedback from the City Council on the City of Tukwila's Community Leadership Initiative prior to finalization. ➢ Adjournment THE TCLI COMMITTEE ■ Margaret Bratcher — former Community Connector, Planning Commissioner and resident ■ Hien Kieu — Executive Director, Partner In Employment ■ Diane Melgoza — former Community Connector and Community Health Worker from Global to Local ■ Khang Nguyen — former City of Tukwila Summer High School Internship Program and resident ■ Lina Sinton -Ali — Connection Desk Supervisor, Tukwila Health Point ■ Angel Taherazer — Day 1 Coordinator/Career Coach One Program Coordinator -Refugee Women's Alliance BACKGROUND - COMMUNITY CONNECTORS • In 2012, the City of Tukwila — in partnership with Forterra and Global to Local — researched how to engage effectively with Tukwila's diverse residents and community members. • This collaboration led to developing steering/staff committees, development of program material, community survey (online/printed), led small group discussions by community leaders and targeted engagement efforts with the Tukwila School District, hosted open houses and neighborhood meetings). BACKGROUND -COMMUNITY CONNECTORS • The Community Connectors program was established in 2014. The pilot project identified, hired and mentored community liaisons. • The Connectors received training on City services, and established relationships with elected officials and City staff. They acted as community liaisons to City departments and processes, including outreach efforts for the City of Tukwila's Comprehensive Plan. • Input from the Connectors was useful for future improvements on City projects and programs. PURPOSE To elevate, develop and support Tukwila community leaders. The program will incorporate a shared holistic approach that will consist of discussions of real-world lived experiences among Tukwila's diverse community members. The program will provide the necessary tools to understand City services, policies and programs with an emphasis on professional and personal advocacy. MISSION STATEMENT The City of Tukwila's Community Leadership Initiative (TCLI) program is a community -led program supported by the City of Tukwila to increase and build upon existing and future leaders in civic engagement, City services, policies and programs. We lead with an equity lens and embrace inclusivity for the betterment of Tukwila's diverse community. EXPECTATIONS OF PARTICIPANT ✓ Attend at least one Informational Session ✓ Apply to TCLI (program allows 8-10 participants) ✓ Live, attend school or work in the City of Tukwila N( Sign the City of Tukwila's gift card documentation ✓ Attend each session to receive a gift card compensation s( Complete survey following each session. (Survey process will allow TCLI committee and City staff to measure success and direction of program.) INFORMATIONAL May/June 2022 — Two sessions, virtual or in-person TBD SESSIONS TBD July 2022 — Committee convenes to review applications, cohort selection PROGRAM CURRICULUM July August September October November December Welcome and Kick-off: TCLI 2022 Program Basic Advocacy 101 Advocacy 102 (deeper dive and community building) Role of City government and City services ■ Executive (Mayor/Administration) ■ Legislative (City Council) ■ Judicial (Municipal Court) Government 101: Understanding City services and community impact How to become an elected official; joining Boards & Commissions January February March Cohort to select topic of choice Financial Literacy 101 Year-end celebration and evaluation review PROPOSED PROGRAM BUDGET ANNUAL BUDGET: PROGRAM EXPENSES $25,000 City of Tukwila's Community Leadership Initiative $100.00 per session Compensation Translation, interpretation, and print material (as needed) $2,500.00 Food $1,500.00 (TBD) Childcare (as needed) $1,500.00 (TBD) Professional Services: Facilitators, etc. $2,500.00 The City of Tukwila Community Leadership Initiative Committee would like to thank the Community Service and Safety Committee for your input. 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