Free Job Training Programs in Aerospace Composites & Industrial Manufacturing at SSCC

If you or someone you know are looking for work, I want to let you know about two free job training programs for people living on low incomes at South Seattle Community College, in Aerospace Composites and Industrial Manufacturing.

Get training for your new career as an Aerospace Composites Technician at South Seattle Community College! This short-term training delivers hands-on, skills-based learning in a fast-paced, condensed schedule that meets industry standards for composite technicians. In 6 months you will be prepared to Manufacture, Fabricate and Repair Composites, Read Blueprints, Inspect Composite Structures, Precision Measure and Operate Power and Pneumatic Tools. Classes are scheduled to begin in January 2014 and will end in June 2014. Tuition assistance provided for those that qualify for public benefits, veterans’ programs or unemployment insurance. The last graduating Composites class have been 100% employed with wages ranging from $14.50-$28.00 per hour and full benefit packages. Please take advantage of this great opportunity! Contact Beth Ramsey at 206-934-6496 and attend South Seattle Community College’s Start Next Quarter Orientation to get started at www.startnextquarter.org .

With Manufacturing on the rise, South Seattle Community College is where you need to be!  Their Industrial Manufacturing Academy was developed with AJAC, the Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee, to meet the needs of 21st century Manufacturing.  Get 30 college credits while becoming certified in OSHA 30. Flagging, Forklift, First Aid and Hazardous Communications.  Get hands-on training in precision measuring tools, composites, welding, blueprint reading and more!  Job readiness is incorporated in every week of this short-term, 11 week certificate.  Tuition assistance provided for those that qualify for public benefits, veterans’ programs or unemployment insurance. Classes begin on January 13, 2014.  With 65% of our graduates employed at wages ranging from $12-$18 per hour and full benefits, our program is ready-made to jump start your career now.  Contact Mary Lockman at 206-934-5804 or email mary.lockman@seattlecolleges.edu for the next orientation.       

Food Stamp Benefits Cuts Coming 11/1. Speak out to your representatives!

Hi, if you receive food stamps or SNAP we wanted to let you know that on November 1^st, food stamps recipients will experience a cut to the number of benefits you receive.

These cuts are happening because a temporary boost to food stamp benefits that was put in during the last recession is expiring. If you are an individual receiving more than the minimum amount of food stamps each month you will see a cut of about 11 dollars per month. For a two person family the cut will be 20 dollars each month, for a family of three the cut will be 29 dollars each month, and for a family of 4 the cut will be 36 dollars. For individuals and couples receiving the minimum amount of food stamps 1 dollar will be cut from your amount each month. We were saddened to learn about the cuts to the food stamp program and know that for many people, every dollar counts when it comes down to having enough food each month.

If you or someone you know is struggling with hunger, please call 2-1-1 to receive assistance with finding food banks, other government programs, and nonprofit organizations that work to improve access to healthy, nutritious food.

If you want to speak out to Congress about the impact of these food stamp cuts, please contact your congressional representatives' agriculture (Ag) staff listed below:

Tell them something like this: 

 “My name is _______. I live in ________ city in your district and rely on SNAP to eat each month. The cuts that are coming on November 1 will be very difficult for me and my family. I urge you not to make any future cuts to this critical program. Thank you.”

Here’s a list of congressional Ag contacts to call/email on the SNAP cuts:

Senate

Murray Ag Staff: Sarah Bolton

sarah_bolton@budget.senate.gov

Cantwell Ag Staff: Paul Wolfe 

paul_wolfe@cantwell.senate.gov

House

If you are not sure who your House representative is, visit app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder

District 1 (Woodinville, Redmond, Kirkland) 

Rep DelBene Ag Staff: Ben Barasky

ben.barasky@mail.house.gov

District 7 (North/West Seattle, Shoreline, Burien)

Rep McDermott Ag Staff: Jason Lemons

Jason.lemons@mail.house.gov 202.225.3106

District 8 (Auburn, Issaquah)

Rep Reichert Ag Staff: Natalie Kamphaus

Natalie.kamphaus@mail.house.gov 202.225.7761

District 9 (Southeast Seattle, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, Bellevue)

Rep Smith Ag Staff: Courtney Cochran

Courtney.cochran@mail.house.gov 202.225.8901 

Thanks and take care!

Free Tenant Rights Workshop Monday 10/21 in Bellevue

Want to know more about your rights as a renter? Wondering how to get your deposit back or request a repair? Would you like to know how the new changes in the laws impact renters? Solid Ground Tenant Counselors are hosting a FREE Rent Smart Workshop for the community next Monday, October 21st, 4:30-6:30pm, at Highland Community Center in Bellevue. 

At this tenant’s rights workshop, they will provide information about the landlord-tenant laws in Washington State and discuss the laws and ordinances that apply throughout the housing search process, move-in, during tenancy, move-out and eviction. Bring your questions!

Since there is no agency that enforces the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act in our state, it is largely up to tenants to understand the laws and know their rights in order to take appropriate action to effectively enforce them. They will talk about some tips and best practices for renters to help you assert your rights and have a successful tenancy – whether you are signing a rental agreement, requesting repairs or have questions about your privacy rights.

Especially with recent changes and additions to the laws, challenging situations can arise for tenants. There are remedies available to tenants if a landlord is not complying with the laws, but tenants have to know those remedies are available in order to use them. Knowing the laws and what steps to take, tenants can take action to correct the problem.

If you would to attend the workshop, please RSVP to the Solid Ground Tenant Services Workshop & Advocacy Line at 206.694.6748 or email tenantwa@solid-ground.org.

Free Rent Smart Workshop 
Monday, October 21
4:30- 6:30 pm
Highland Community Center
14224 Bel-Red Road
Bellevue, WA 98007 
Buses 226, 249 and 221 will take you there. 
For more information, visit the website solid-ground.org/Tenant or call 206.694.6767.

Baby Boost Info Fair: Saturday 10/19 10-noon

If you or someone you know are pregnant or have children under age 5, I want to let you know about the free Baby Boost Info Fair this Saturday the 19th at International Family Center from 10 to noon. This FREE event is especially for parents on a limited income!

At this Baby Boost Information Fair, you can…

• Learn about health and nutrition resources for you and your children.
• Connect with important parenting programs and social service agencies.
• Get free items for infants & toddlers (including feeding and hygiene products).

Baby Boost Information Fairs provide low-income parents with important nutritional and health information and one-on-one connections to service providers and community resources. Families coming to Baby Boost Fairs receive free useful items like diapers, baby bottles, food grinders, sippy cups, and baby hygiene products.

Typical Baby Boost presenters include:
• WIC (Women, Infants & Children)
• Child Care Resources
• Head Start
• NISSA –SIDS - (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
• Connect Up
• Financial Fitness
• Public Health
• Amerigroup 
• Parent Trust
• Lettuce Link – seed distribution

Baby Boost Info Fair 
Saturday, October 19th
10AM - 12 PM
International Family Center 
(at Chinese Information & Service Center) 
611 South Lane St
Seattle, WA 98104
(In downtown Seattle's International District—numerous buses go there)

Bridging the Gap Resource Fair is actually from 10am-2pm on Saturday (not 1-5). Sorry.

Bridging the Gap Resource Fair - Saturday 10/19

If you or someone you know could benefit from free social services, we want to let you know about the Bridging the Gap Resource Fair next Saturday October 19th from 10 to 2 at Rainier Community Center. 

The purpose of The Bridging the Gap resource fair is to “Bridge the Gap” between the services available in Seattle/King County and the low-income individuals and families who can benefit from those services. The goal is to serve over 500 low-income individuals and families by bringing together a variety of non-profit, government and private businesses to share information about their services, in order to help them stabilize their lives, become more self-sufficient and increase their chances of success. Bridging the gap is hosted by Seattle Housing Authority’s Economic Opportunity Programs and sponsored by Neighborhood House, Rainier Beach Community Empowerment Coalition and Rainier Chamber of Commerce. 

The following free services will be available: 
• Education & Job Training 
• Employment 
• Asset Building 
• Homeownership 
• Financial Services 
• Health Services 
• Door Prizes and much more! 

For more information call 206.721.2982 or email awoldegebr@seattlehousing.org

Bridging the Gap Resource Fair 
Saturday, October 19th
10:00 am – 2:00 pm 
Rainier Community Center
4600 38th Avenue S., Seattle
Bus Routes: 7, 8, 9, 50, and 987

Financial Planning Day: Saturday 10/12

Hi, we want to encourage you to attend Financial Planning Day, this Saturday, October 12th, from 10 to 2 at Garfield Community Center. It’s a free event where you’ll be able to meet one-on-one with professional financial planners to discuss your personal finance questions, concerns and interests. 

At Financial Planning Day representatives from non-profit organizations will be on hand to help people with an array of financial issues, questions and problems including: budgeting, credit and debt, investing, retirement, taxes, homeownership, foreclosure, insurance, public benefits, employee benefits, education savings, small business, estate planning and more. Financial planners will also be there to help with planning for retirement, college, emergencies, estates, as well as investment management and insurance. It’s all free and there are no strings attached – volunteer planners will not pass out business cards, marketing materials or sell products or services.

Don’t miss this opportunity for a free private consultation on financial issues that matter to you with experts from the financial planning association and certified financial planner professionals. In addition to one-on-one consultations there will be workshops on a variety of financial topics throughout the day. Stay for a little or as long as you’d like. It’s totally free. Bring a friend.

Financial Planning Day is co-sponsored by the City of Seattle, Seattle-King County Asset Building Collaborative, Seattle Parks and Recreation, The Certified Financial Planner Board, the Financial Planning Association, the Foundation for Financial Planning, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.  The day is specifically for low-income people who normally don't have the opportunity to meet with a financial planner.  To register or for more information call 877-861-7826 or visit financialplanningdays.org/seattle. Walk-ins welcome!

Financial Planning Day
Saturday October 12th 
10 am - 2 pm
Garfield Community Center 
2323 E Cherry St, Seattle, WA 98122 
Bus Routes 2, 3, 4, 8, 14, 27, 48 

Voter Registration Deadline is Monday 10/7

Hi. We want to encourage you to register to vote if you haven’t already in time for the general election on November 5^th. This election we will be deciding on a number of important local and state ballot initiatives.

In order to qualify to vote on November 5th, voters must be registered in advance. You may register online, by mail, or in person. If you register by mail the deadline for registering or transferring your voter registration is 30 days before an election. You can pick-up an application at local libraries, post offices or department of motor vehicles. If you miss the 30-day mail-in deadline or if you prefer, you can register in person at the King County Elections Office up to eight days before the election.  To vote in the general election on November 5th you need to register by mail by October 7^th or in person by October 28^th.

If you are at least 18 years old and are a US citizen you have the right to vote even if you are unemployed, homeless, between permanent residences, or living in a shelter. People who are homeless can register at the shelter, park, motor home, intersection or other identifiable location they consider their residence and use  a post office box, address of a friend or relative, shelter, or general delivery at a local post office as their mailing address. 

Even if you have been convicted of a felony you can now vote. In 2009 the Washington Legislature passed a new law that restores the right to vote automatically to people with felony convictions when they have completed their time in prison and have served any required community custody supervised by the State Department of Corrections.

However you must be registered in order to vote.

Your vote will make a difference. We hope you will take a stand for what you believe in and vote on November 5^th.