Countywide Community Forum Comes to SCC Tuesday, May 17

Countywide Community Forum, the effort that gathers citizens’ opinions on community issues and then delivers the results to elected officials, is coming to Shoreline.

John Spady, the lead organizer of Countywide Community Forums, will be at Shoreline Community College from 1-2:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 17, in Room 9208 of the PUB student union building. So far, this event is the only forum scheduled in North King County.

After a 20-minute video overview of issues facing King County, small group discussions and a survey seeking answers to questions such as:

• What is needed in our community to provide more access to opportunities for success?
• Is it education, affordable housing, or jobs?
• What is the job of government and what isn’t the job of government?
• How can we expand opportunities for success and economic growth in King County?

Spady is Executive Vice-President and Director of Research for the Forum Foundation. His father, Dick Spady, is the owner of the Dick’s Drive-In restaurants and has been a strong proponent of citizen engagement and dialogue for decades. Dick Spady’s funding support has been key to keeping the Countywide Community Forum moving ahead over the past three years.

The event is open to the public and all survey results will be tabulated by the King County Auditor and presented to the King County Council.

Host for the event is Shoreline Community College faculty member Elizabeth Hanson, who this past summer took part in the Countywide Community Forum on juvenile justice.

 “Our group met with King County representatives and some police and judges. It was a very good experience. We really felt listened to and I think we were,” Hanson said. “I think people need to feel like they personally can share their opinions and that their opinion matters.”

For more information contact Hanson or go to the website.