Mayor McGinn's Community Meeting

Mayor Mike McGinn's Community Meetings

Monday, March 8

Van Asselt Elementary School

7-8:30 p.m.

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn is hosting a series of community meetings to gather input on his "Youth and Families Initiative", which will guide the City of Seattle's support for children, youth and families, and inform efforts to renew the Families and Education Levy in fall 2011.

The co-chairs of the new Initiative are former mayor and current President and CEO of the Seattle Foundation, Norman B. Rice, former deputy mayor and Boeing Executive Bob Watt, and Estela Ortega, Executive Director at El Centro de la Raza.

Two of these meetings have been held to date and over 500 citizens have participated. There are three more meetings scheduled.

- March 8 – Van Asselt Elementary School 7-8:30 p.m.
- March 15 – Denny Middle School 7-8:30 p.m.
- March 22 – Garfield Community Center 7-8:30 p.m.

Participants break into facilitated groups of 8-10 and address the following questions:

- What do we want for our children and families?
- From your perspective, what are the most critical challenges,
issues or problems that must be addressed?
- Taking a look at the issues identified, what are your ideas
regarding solutions?

These issues are prioritized by the group and added to the collective wisdom of the others in attendance. Each group also elects a delegate to a "Kids and Families Congress", which will be held on June 5 to process the input and further develop the direction of the initiative.

These meetings will be critical in informing Mayor McGinn's strategies to support the children youth and families of our community. Please attend to share your insights regarding the importance of early child care and school readiness, safe and healthy after school programs, and the community-wide supports that our children, youth and families need to succeed in school and in life.

For more information on Mayor McGinn's Youth and Families Initiative go to www.youthandfamilies.seattle.gov