For 23 years I have been privileged to represent – at three levels of government – the interests of South King County. As someone who has spent her entire life in South King County, I have witnessed first-hand the significant change socially, culturally, and economically. Twenty years ago, the population in South King County was approximately 448, 500. Since then, our population has soared to over 660,000 people –a third of King County’s 2 million total population. What is astounding about this growth is that people of color in South King County increased from roughly 13 percent in 1990 to 48 percent in 2010 – 55 percent of which are children of color. This drastic shift in our demographics compels us to apply a more comprehensive approach to policy development, at all levels of government, especially in areas as diverse as South King County. If you look at major social indicators such as poverty and high school drop-out rates, two conclusions are evident:
1.) There is a substantial gap between services and need.
2.) Limited opportunities exist for a majority of South County residents.
If you live in South King County you are more likely to be living below the poverty line and have children attending schools with high drop-out rates. More than 42 percent of South King County residents are below the poverty line. And the drop-out rate in South County is around 23 percent, which is twice as high as East King County.
I share these statistics not to diminish hope, but rather to spur people to action. I believe when there is a need, opportunity presents itself – and I hope that our collective action results in the opportunity being created for all families and children to thrive. It really boils down to this: “Our problems, some of which I identified above, can’t be solved unless those of us that live in the community choose to solve them.”
In King County government, we are leading with our Social Justice and Equity Initiative. This initiative ensures that the principles of justice and equity are incorporated into all of our work. It directly addresses equity in our community. It removes the barriers that deny access to economic success and physical well-being by advocating the belief that everyone be given the opportunity to reach their full potential. For example, in Public Health, the application of this initiative improved access for underrepresented communities by expanding the translation services for over 20 languages spoken in King County. And in the Department of Transportation the initiative spurred investments in sidewalks and safer streets in our communities, thereby improving access to bus service and connections to shopping and employment centers.
These are just two examples of King County government’s effort to address disparities in South King County. The goal is to expand opportunity for all, which will allow people to lead a healthier life and feel safe in our community. That kind of success will be incremental and take time. It will require more advocates, more volunteers, and more of us South County residents to stand up and say “we can do better.” By doing so, we are embracing our community values to provide a safe place for all to live, work and play and opportunity for our children to flourish. Together we can make South King County thrive – empowered by a diverse and growing community helping shape our neighborhoods for a healthier, brighter future.
For more information on King County’s Social Justice and Equity Initiative please visit, http://www.kingcounty.gov/exec/equity.aspx
For more information on Global to Local Initiative please visit, http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/partnerships/G2L.aspx.
Julia Patterson of SeaTac represents part of Renton on the King County Council. She can be reached via email at julia.patterson@kingcounty.gov.
