As our first school year closes and summer begins, we want to take a look back at the work we’ve done to build deeper connections between our industry and low-income schools. Supporting schools is vital to our community and an important connection between our industry and our future innovators.
As a significant and growing percentage of the local workforce, consumers, and tax base, the innovation economy has a meaningful role to play in our community. We see the challenges our cities face. Kids need mentors, skills, and connections to get great jobs. Homelessness seems ever persistent. Traffic is a pain. sea.citi is here to help you understand and take action on the important civic issues that we’re all grappling with.
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Education is frequently the foundation for working in tech and innovation; it’s why we love supporting local public education. It is the vital first step to most meaningful and economically rewarding jobs. Seattle, with one of the most vibrant tech scenes in the country, should be the biggest champion of local public education as it supports a dynamic, diverse, and vibrant local economy. We are up to that challenge!
Winter is showing its personality here in Seattle and we’re hard at work bringing you community connections and important civic content. Our members get access to exclusive events focused on civic topics as they’re developing. We had great turnout at our legislative preview in January and look forward to bringing you more timely topics in the coming weeks. Keep up with us regularly on Twitter and remember to vote in the special election on February 12th!
Stay warm out there!
Nicholas Merriam
sea.citi CEO
Support our local public schools by voting YES on Prop 1 & 2
On this month’s ballot, Seattle residents will cast their votes on renewal levies for Seattle Public Schools. If you haven’t been following along, learn about why we support the levies. These levies will provide much-needed funding to our school district, ensuring each student in Seattle can earn a high-quality public education.
| Learn more about why sea.citi supports Prop 1 & 2 |
Volunteer with us at Van Asselt Elementary or South Shore prek-8 next week
See our community in action by volunteering with other tech and innovation workers at our partner Communities in Schools of Seattle. Next week we’re headed to Van Asselt Elementary and South preK-8 to show hard-working teachers we appreciate their work. Regularly, these teachers go above and beyond the call of duty of teaching and help young people overcome barriers like transportation, food, housing, or behavioral support.
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On January 11th, a number of tech and innovation workers from across the sea.citi community gathered in an Amazon conference room – both to engage with each other, and to hear some of their State Representatives talk about Democratic Caucus priorities for the upcoming legislative session. The Representatives were on hand to talk with their constituents, but underneath that was a real desire to hear from Seattle’s sometimes “elusive” innovation economy worker. This is what sea.citi is about.
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Partner Program:
Go deep on collaboration with the Ion Program at WTIA
The Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) Ion Program brings together highly curious, open-minded individuals working in tech/business, government, and community-based organizations to learn about the community and create a team project addressing a civic challenge. Apply by 2/15 for their Spring or Summer cohort. Learn more.
As the year comes to a close, I am proud in our strides to bring sea.citi to life. We launched at the end of September with great support from industry and the broader Seattle community. We raised more than $45,000, facilitated 150 volunteer hours, sourced 15+ large boxes of supplies, and connected Science on Wheels to the schools we support with Communities in Schools of Seattle. We continue to strengthen relationships between community leaders, educators, and the innovation economy.
2019 promises to be an exciting year as we deepen our work in the community and build civic education with our memership. Plans are in place to update a teacher’s lounge and host teacher appreciation events with other student-focused events in the works. We are also excited to share the start Member Exclusive Lunch & Learn programming, where innovation workers can gain exposure to issues in our community.
Join us as we continue to build partnerships and establish programming that deepens the connection between our innovation economy and local community.
Have a joyous holiday and new year!
Nicholas Merriam
sea.citi CEO
Puget Sound Business Journal Opinion: by sea.citi CEO Nicholas Merriam
sea.citi CEO Nicholas Merriam recently wrote a piece for PSBJ on the issue of increased food insecurity for students during the holiday season. In it, he highlights the great work of Food Lifeline in addressing food insecurity in our community and shares how Communities in Schools can help you make a difference.
| Read the full PSBJ Article |
Help Stop Student Hunger During the Holidays
sea.citi supports Communities in Schools of Seattle by connecting volunteers, relationships, and resources. Students in their network who rely on free and reduced lunch are at an increased risk of hunger during the holidays. Making a small donation to fund a gift card for their family can help reduce their food insecurity.
| Help stop Seattle student hunger this holiday season! |
Welcome new sea.citi member Rover!
sea.citi is delighted to welcome Rover to the membership! Founded in 2011, Rover is the world’s largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers. Rover connects pet parents with dog people who’ll treat their pets like family. Welcome aboard Rover!
| Visit their website! |
Take our survey – You can be part of the solution.
sea.citi is here to help you navigate and take action on these issues. Working with member companies we provide innovation workers – like you – straightforward ways to digest the issues then become part of the solution.
| Tell us what issues you want to help tackle. |