The White Community Development Association (WCCDA) is holding two “Social Media” seminars – the first will be Friday, Aug. 20th at the Greenbridge YMCA’s Learning Center’s Computer Lab from 1pm – 4pm.

If you’re a small business owner in the Dub-C and you don’t know what this newfangled “social media” thingy is, then these are for you. If you do know what it is, but aren’t sure what it can do for you, then these seminars are for you as well. And if you use it now but want to get better, then these are for you too.

Here’s what the WCCDA says about the seminars:

What is social media and how does it help your business? It is an online medium of which you use to connect to potential customers/clients/general public for the purpose of putting out the words and advertise your business.

It is like a simple internet’s website. In our business district, we already have some savvy social media users such as Full Tilt, Proletariat Pizza, Dubsea Coffee, and they will tell you that it helps them tremendously with their marketing and sale.

Social media accounts such as Facebook, Yelp, Group-on, etc. are all free of charge to set up and use.

This workshop will cover:

• Gain knowledge and awareness about online social networking
• Gain online social networking tools and resources
• Practice dissemination of information via online social networking
• Share tips and experiences on the internet that have worked for them
• Build a stronger community through online interactions

Teachers for the first seminar will be Ian Dapiaoen and Virgil Domaoan. Jessica Estrada of Banyan Branch Marketing will teach the second (date and time to be announced).

Here are the details:

WHAT: White Center CDA’s “Social Media” seminars.

WHEN: The first seminar is Friday, Aug. 20th from 1pm – 4pm.

WHERE: Greenbridge YMCA’s Learning Center Computer Lab,  located at 9720 8th Ave SW.

INFO: From an email:

Hello everyone,

Based on popular request, we are bringing you free social media training seminars.

What is social media and how does it help your business? It is an online medium of which you use to connect to potential customers/clients/general public for the purpose of putting out the words and advertise your business. It is like a simple internet’s website. In our business district, we already have some savvy social media users such as Full Tilt, Proletariat Pizza, Dubsea Coffee, and they will tell you that it helps them tremendously with their marketing and sale. Social media accounts such as Facebook, Yelp, Group-on, etc. are all free of charge to set up and use.

If you think learning and using this kind of marketing is difficult, it is EASY but do require some time to sit down and learn.  We have two seminars for you. The first one is:

• Friday, August 20, 2010; Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
  Trainer: Ian Dapiaoen and Virgil Domaoan
  Location:
  Greenbridge YMCA’s Learning Center Computer Lab, 9720 8th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106

The CDA’s very own social media experts Ian Dapiaoen and Virgil Domaoan will be on hand to facilitate and lead the workshop. Space is limited so YOU HAVE TO REGISTER! PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED FLYER ON HOW TO DO THAT!

The second social media training workshop will be facilitated by Jessica Estrada of Banyan Branch Marketing. Time and date to be announced later.

The White Center Community Development Association is holding a “Member Mixer” this Saturday, Aug. 7th, from 1pm – 3pm at the YWCA Learning Center, located at 9720 8th Ave SW in Greenbridge.

This event is open to the public, and free food and childcare will be provided.

According to a flier, they will “discuss ideas for action around the issues that effect White Center and its residents. Some of our topics will include:

• Housing
• Education
• Jobs
• Business
• And much more

The future of White Center is in our hands. Together, lets be a voice for change and prosperity!”

Here are the details:

WHAT: White Center CDA Member Mixer.

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 7th from 1pm – 3pm.

WHERE: YWCA Learning Center, located at 9720 8th Ave SW in Greenbridge.

INFO: For more info, email sean@wccda.org or call (206) 694-1082 ext. 165.

This past Saturday White Center residents witnessed an invasion of purple-shirted volunteers as the White Center Community Development Association kicked off their 8th annual “Spring Clean” event.

This year’s event broke records for attendance as over 550 volunteers registered. Projects included street clean up, flower planting, mural painting, park maintenance, and more.

After a long day of work under beautiful, sunny skies volunteers were treated to entertainment and lunch back at King County Housing Authority’s Greenbridge Plaza.

Photographer Michael Brunk was on hand at several of the project sites and captured scenes from Saturday’s efforts in this slideshow.

Click to Play Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

Volunteers are needed for White Center’s 7th Annual Spring Clean, which is coming Saturday, May 15th. If you’d like to help out a great local cause, which makes our community cleaner and a better place to live – here’s how:

First, click here to access the Online Registration Form (or here to download one), then fill in your details, your duty preferences, and most importantly – your t-shirt size for your FREE “I ♥ White Center” shirt!

Volunteers will receive a complimentary t-shirt, light breakfast, refreshments, and lunch.

Here are the details:

Schedule for Saturday, May 15th:

• 8:30am Registration and Light Breakfast
• 9:30am Welcome
• 10:00am-1:00pm Spring Clean
• 1:00pm Lunch (provided) & Entertainment
• 2:30pm Closing

Day-Of Registration Location:

• White Center CDA Parking Lot at 1615 SW Cambridge Street (Corner of 17th and Cambridge)

Registration Instructions:

1. Register as an individual or with a team. Volunteers who sign up before April 16 receive a free t-shirt and also a free offer to become a CDA Member. For member benefits, please contact the CDA.
2. If you or any of your teammates are under the age of 18, please fill out a waiver form including your parent or guardian signature. Please email whitecenterspringclean@gmail.com for the waiver form.
3. For more info, please call Nhan Nguyen at 694-1082 x166 or whitecenterspringclean@gmail.com.
4. All volunteers acknowledge that this is a White Center CDA sponsored event, and that your photograph may appear in CDA materials and/or website.
5. If you chose to become a Member of the CDA, we will send you and your team a Membership registration packet.

This annual Spring Clean brings together volunteer youth and elders, business owners and residents, retirees and students to work, clean and improve the community’s physical environment.

“White Center is people-powered. Events like Spring Clean showcase our collective action for positive neighborhood revitalization that truly defines our diverse community,” said Aileen Balahadia, Executive Director of the White Center Community Development Association. The White Center CDA is a catalyst for a healthy community and new prosperity in White Center- so it’s a better place to visit, shop, and live. Asked why she participates in the Spring Clean event, White Center resident Keysha Bryant said: “You must be the change you wish to see in your community, to help build and keep it a clean safe place for our children and everyone who lives here.”

According to the WCCDA:

In 2009, over 350 volunteers turned out for the Spring Clean event. We painted one block-long mural previously plagued with graffiti, cleaned and painted art on 21 trash cans for the business district, removed invasive plant species at six parks, and hauled away two tons of garbage. Volunteers covered 70 neighborhood blocks, picking up litter and completing 19 individual beautification projects developed by local residents and groups.

The White Center CDA thanks our sponsors for their contributions to this year’s event: BECU, The Home Depot, King County Parks and Recreation, King County Housing Authority, Seattle Public Utilities, The Triangle Pub and the White Center Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, contact Nhan Nguyen, Neighborhood Revitalization Program Manager at (206) 694-1082 or at whitecenterspringclean@gmail.com, and fill out the online registration form.

The White Center Community Development Association is holding its annual Spring Clean on Saturday, May 15th, from 8:30am to 2:30pm, so get your gloves, cleaners, brooms and buckets ready.

We recommend that you sign up before April 16th – this way you’ll get a FREE “I ♥ White Center” t-shirt, as well as a free offer to become a CDA member.

Here are the details:

WHAT: White Center Community Development Association’s annual Spring Clean

WHEN: Saturday, may 15th from 8:30am – 2:30pm

WHERE: Starts at White Center CDA Office – 1615 SW Cambridge Street (Corner of 17th and Cambridge)

INFO: From a poster:

WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION INVITES YOU ALL TO:

WHITE CENTER SPRING CLEAN 2010

SATURDAY, MAY 15, 8:30am-2:30pm

White Center CDA Office – 1615 SW Cambridge Street (Corner of 17th and Cambridge)

Register before April 16 to receive a free “I Heart White Center” t-shirt, light breakfast, and lunch!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE REGISTRATION FORM.

You can submit the form to whitecenterspringclean@gmail.com, fax it to our office at (206) 658-8344 or drop it off at our office at the address above. If you have questions about the event, please contact Nhan Nguyen at (206) 694-1082 x166.

Let’s get together for a cleaner White Center!

The Highline School Board voted unanimously Wednesday night (Mar. 3rd) to move ahead with a federal grant application that would require major changes at White Center’s Cascade Middle School, as well as SeaTac’s Chinook Middle School.

Cascade Middle School is located at 11212 10th Avenue SW in White Center.

Here are more details from a press release sent to us:

The grant opportunity is part of new federal regulations that identify high-poverty schools with large numbers of struggling students. In order to get the funds, districts must agree to restructure the schools by next fall.

Last week, a team of 45 people, including teachers, central office staff, parents, and community partners, gathered for a two-day summit to begin formulating a restructuring plan. Sarah Weir of the White Center Community Development Association, one of the community partners to participate on the planning team, said she left the summit “feeling really optimistic about the passion and commitment of the people who serve our kids.”

“We recognize the need for school reform. We believe all students are capable of reaching their dreams, and we’re excited about the possibilities these changes will mean for our students,” said Chinook teacher Amber Larson. She emphasized that “school staff, central office leaders, the school board, and parents all hold responsibility and need to work together to make changes.”

Theresa Carlson, Cascade teacher and vice-president of the Highline Education Association, agreed, “We need to start climbing this mountain and taking some risks. We are all in this together.”

The school board endorsed the planning team’s outline and directed the district to submit the federal grant application on Friday. Elements of the plan include:

• Increasing accountability of the school board, central office administrators, and parents, as well as teachers; and giving a senior administrator authority to make bold decisions to support the schools.
• Increasing involvement of parents and community organizations in the schools through two-way communication, bi-lingual staff, parent advisory teams, and other means.
• Developing new ways of evaluating staff and providing meaningful incentives for staff and administrators.
• Rethinking the way school is delivered, such as trying innovative ways of structuring the school day.
• Use strategies that have been successful in other high-poverty, highly diverse schools, such as adjusting schools schedules to provide more learning time.
• Setting ambitious goals for student improvement and expecting all students to become prepared for post-high school education and the workplace.

The planning team also calls for the school district to support the restructuring plans through policy, technical assistance, commitment from the school board, and creation of a plan to sustain the changes beyond the life of the three-year grant.

Superintendent John Welch told the school board the plan “builds on the great work that is already happening at Chinook and Cascade.”

The federal accountability program requires school districts to choose one of four restructuring models:

• Closure: Close the school and send students to other schools in the district. The school board ruled out this option for Chinook and Cascade because other middle schools do not have room to accommodate all students.
• Restart: Open the school under a third party education management organization. This option was also rejected since charter schools are not allowed in Washington and the state has not issued a list of approved third parties.
• Turnaround: replace principal and at least 50% of staff. This option was also eliminated.
• Transformation: Replace the principal, reform the instructional model, develop teacher evaluations with student growth as a factor, increase community engagement, and extend learning time.

The school board decided last week to use the “transformation” model at both schools.

Highline Superintendent Welch acknowledges that the four federal models take a narrow approach to improving student achievement.

“The models imply that sole responsibility for getting middle school students to grade level is with the middle school teachers and principals,” said Welch. “We know there are other issues that need to be addressed—in elementary schools, in our system as a whole, and in the community. Still, this is an opportunity to gain some resources we haven’t had before to tackle issues at the middle school level.”

The school district expects to know by March 26 if the funds will be granted. The money could start flowing to the schools by April. If that happens, teachers would start professional development this summer. There could also be summer programs for incoming 7th graders. The schools would open in September with the changes in place.

“Got Green?,” a program of the White Center Community Development Association, is hosting its first open house from 6pm-8pm on Wednesday, March 17th at the Columbia City South Side Commons Building, located at 3518 S. Edmunds Street.

According to the WCCDA:

Expect food, entertainment, multimedia presentations and the chance to network with Got Green and their community partners on how to support Green jobs, Green initiatives, youth, low-income communities of color and more.

Child care is available – this event is open and free to the public.

Please see flier below for more information, or visit the Got Green website:

The White Center Community Development Associated (WCCDA) is looking to hire a “Resident Fellow,” and they’ve extended the deadline for applications to 5pm, Tuesday, Feb. 16th.

This is a part-time position for an intern who would work through the end of 2010 to “help further its goals and develop knowledge and skills to effect community level change in White Center.”

The pay is $15 per hour with limited hours, the deadline is Jan. 29th and here’s the full job listing:

RESIDENT LEADER FELLOW – Neighborhood Revitalization Job Description

The Resident Fellow is a part-time internship within the CDA’s Neighborhood Revitalization Line of Business to help further its goals and develop knowledge and skills to effect community level change in White Center. It is expected that through this internship program, the Fellow will gain practical experience in community organizing and outreach, and solid interpersonal and organizational skills.

Reports to: Customers:

• Neighborhood Revitalization Program Manager CDA agency partners and workgroup members, residents and other CDA constituents

Job Duties /Major Responsibilities

1. COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Assist NR Program Manager to work with White Center’s produce markets initiative in the business district and to raise awareness of healthy food options for residents, families, youth & seniors. Assist NR Program Manager to conduct community outreach for the White Center business district marketing strategy, including but not limited to the shoppers card project and the business attraction package. Other tasks as assigned.
2. ADMINISTRATIVE/PROGRAM SUPPORT Become familiar with designated NR program strategies and projects. Act on requests by the NR Program Manager to provide follow-up communication, data support, and logistical/administrative assistance for NR-related work. Provide periodic reporting to the NR Program Manager on outcomes, issues, and needed actions for data, administrative and workgroup activities.
3. CAPACITY BUILDING Participate in resident leader fellowship circles and evaluation; attend mandatory workshops for skill building and leadership training.
4. DATA SYSTEM SUPPORT Become familiar with the CDA’s database (Salesforce) purpose, type of data, and reports so as to assist in locating relevant data for designated internal and external parties. Become familiar with the CDA’s Salesforce database purpose, type of data and reports so as to be able to identify relevant Neighborhood Revitalization data for input and extraction. Perform data entry as requested and assist in compiling relevant Neighborhood Revitalization data for results accountability and funder requests.
5. DEPARTMENT/TEAM/AGENCY Develop and follow an annual workplan tied to NR goals. Participate in evening and/or weekend events as required. Participate in CDA meetings, events, etc. as required. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: To perform this role successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty and expectation. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required:

1. Commitment to the White Center CDA mission, vision and values.
2. Highly desirable – Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to handle multiple tasks and manage time.
3. Comfort and confidence with community organizing, outreach, and meeting new people.
4. Excellent communication skills and proficient written and verbal communication skills in English.
5. Highly desirable – Bilingual in English and either Spanish, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Somali, Cantonese, Samoan, Amharic, Tigrinia, Tagalog, or other language spoken by residents of WC/BP.
6. Basic computer skills including word processing, database and presentation software.
7. Strong ability to work with others, develop resources and build alliances; proven ability to work with extremely diverse populations, including age, language & ethnic diversity.
8. Must have access to transportation and ability to attend day/evening meetings as required.
9. Preference given to White Center/Boulevard Park residents (98168, 98106, 98146 area codes).

Education & Experience: Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required qualifications and skills set will be considered.

Physical Demands & Working Conditions: Work is performed in an office environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to read, speak, stand, walk, sit and use a computer keyboard and monitor. Some heavy lifting and physical labor is required during special events.

This position requires occasional travel to meetings and conferences. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Hours and Compensation: Fellow must have the ability to attend flexible day/evening meetings as required by their respective department. Fellows are part time employees of White Center CDA with no health benefits. Fellows will be compensated at an hourly rate of $15/hour thru December 31, 2010, total hours not to exceed 667. Fellows generally average 10-15 hours per week based on this arrangement. Future work is negotiable based on performance and budget.

To Apply: Submit a resume, cover letter and three names & contact info. for references to:

White Center Community Development Association
Attn: NR Resident Fellow
1615 SW Cambridge Street
Seattle, WA 98106

Tel (206) 694 1082

Fax (206) 658 8344

Website: wccda.org

OR e-mail resume, cover letter and three names & contact info. for references to: Info@wccda.org

All application must be in by Friday, January 29 at 5:00pm.

If you have further questions or comments, contact Soona Vili at (206) 694-1082 or via email at Info@wccda.org.

The White Center Community Development Association prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, mental or physical disability, political belief or affiliation, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities or in employment and application for employment as protected under state or federal law. We are an equal opportunity employment.

Want to see other Job Listings in the White Center Area? We’re the only “Local Blog” to list them – check out our Jobs page, with continually-updated listings.

UPDATE: Tết (or Lunar New Year) will be celebrated this Saturday, Feb. 13th beginning at 10am at Pho My Loi, which is located at 10439 16th Ave SW .

The Lieu Quan Lion Dance Group will be performing, and while there apparently will be no firecrackers at this performance, we’re sure it’ll be exciting nonetheless – in fact, our Photographer Michael Brunk will be there to take pics!

2010 will be the Year of the Tiger, and according to Wikipedia:

Tết is celebrated on the same day as Chinese New Year though exceptions arise due to the one-hour time difference between Hanoi and Beijing. It takes place from the first day of the first month of the Lunar calendar (around late January or early February) until at least the third day. Tết shares many of the same customs of its Chinese counterpart, having been derived from it. Many Vietnamese prepare for Tết by cooking special holiday foods and cleaning the house. There are a lot of customs practiced during Tết, like visiting a person’s house on the first day of the new year (xông nhà), ancestral worshipping, wishing New Year’s greetings, giving lucky money to children and elderly people, and opening a shop.

Tết is also an occasion for pilgrims and family reunions. During Tết, Vietnamese visit their relatives and temples, forgetting about the troubles of the past year and hoping for a better upcoming year. They consider Tết to be the first day of spring and the festival is often called Hội xuân (spring festival).

And for those who think of the Tết Offensive when we hear this word, here are some things NOT to do on Feb. 14th:

• One shouldn’t say or do bad things during Tết.
• One shouldn’t hurt or kill animals or plants but should set them free. The reason for this originates from Buddhism’s causality.
• One shouldn’t sweep the house or empty out the rubbish to avoid luck and benefits going with it, especially on the first day of the new year. One shouldn’t let the broom in confusion if people don’t want it to be stolen.
• One shouldn’t give these presents to others: clock or watch (the recipient’s time is going to pass), cats (mèo in Vietnamese language pronounced like nghèo, poverty), medicine (the receiver will get ill), cuttle fish (its ink is black, an unlucky colour), writing ink (for the same reason), scissors or knives (they bring incompatibility).
• One shouldn’t have duck meat because it brings unluckiness.
• One shouldn’t have shrimp in case one would move backwards like shrimp, in other words, one would not succeed.
• One shouldn’t buy or wear white clothes because white is the colour of funerals in Vietnam.
• One shouldn’t let the rice-hulling mill go empty because it symbolizes failed crops.
• One shouldn’t refuse anything others give or wish you during Tết.

Here are two videos from last year’s performance from the Lieu Quan Lion Dance Group:

[EDITOR'S NOTE: We hope we didn't offend anyone with our original posting, which included the red-star North Vietnamese flag; we have since corrected it!]

The White Center Community Development Association is holding its “White Center Community Summit 2009″ on Saturday, Dec. 5th.

Here are the details:

WHAT: “White Center Community Summit 2009″

WHEN: Saturday, December 5, 2009, from 9:30am – 4:00pm

WHERE:  Mt. View Elementary, located at 10811 12th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98146

COST: Free Admission / Free Food / Free Childcare

INFO: Presented by the White Center Community Development Association

• Translation and Interpretation in 9 different languages
• Community workshops around Education, Housing, Safety, Health
• Resource Fair featuring many community partners
• Reveal of the White Center Neighborhood Plan
• Electronic polling regarding the many topics that affect White Center and its residents
• Diverse array of food (including Halal)
• Diverse lineup of entertainment
• Networking opportunities for services, employment
• How to become a member of the White Center CDA
• And much more!

For more information, please contact Virgil Domaoan at virgil@wccda.org.

For general inquiries and how you can volunteer for the Community Summit, call the White Center CDA at (206) 694-1082.

The White Center Community Development Center’s annual fundraiser dinner event is coming Saturday, Aug. 29th, from 4pm to 8pm, with a “Luau In The Park” theme at White Center Heights Park.

Here are the details:

WHAT: “Luau In The Park” fundraiser/party for White Center CDA

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 29th, from 4pm to 8pm

WHERE: White Center Heights Park, located at SW 102nd and 7th SW

TICKETS: $37 pre-pay, $45 at the door; purchase tickets online here.

INFO: From their poster:

“Join us for an evening of island style merriment with a real pig in the “imu” (pit).

There will be cultural and island entertainment, as well as island cuisine for your feasting pleasure.

Join in on the Dessert Auction and Live Auction (wanna win a trip?) where the highest bidder gets first pick! Satisfy your creativity and create your own Tahitian skirt, learn how to make an Hawaiian flower lei or just come to taste and experience the islands the “White Center Way.”

Connecting People & Place to Build Community.

So come one, come all!”

For more information, visit the White Center Community Development Association’s website here.

We here at the White Center Blog do our best to not only report on local news and events, but unlike other local websites, we also try to help our community (that’s right – we’ve gotten our hands dirty with fundraisers, helped the Rat City Roller Girls clean up the streets, and you’ll see some of us at this Saturday’s Spring Clean Up as well).

That’s why we’re posting this “Help Wanted” Ad for the White Center Community Development Association, which is seeking to hire a “Happy Techie” – but act fast as the deadline to apply is Monday, May 18th:

The White Center Community Development Association in SW Seattle is currently seeking a Data Specialist, responsible for gathering, entering and assuring the quality of data for use in our web-based database (as prescribed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation), as well as producing reports to funders and the association. The White Center CDA is a community development organization with three lines of “business” – neighborhood revitalization, community building and family development. Please visit our website at www.wccda.org

Minimum requirements:

• BA degree and experience with data and in quantitative analysis. Experience can be substituted for a degree.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with web-based databases.
• Ability to troubleshoot problems.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing funder expectations.
• Ability to effectively communicate in writing and verbally.
• Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining positive working relationships in a multi-cultural environment.

Compensation and Timing:
Hourly rate of $40 not to exceed maximum of $15,000 for 2009. Work is anticipated to be part-time with more intensive periods during reporting due dates (quarterly, mid-year and end of year).\

Start date: ASAP but no later than June 1. Contract is expected through 2009, with 2010 to be negotiated. If interested, please submit cover letter, resume and three professional references to Kate Stannard, Administrative Director, kate@wccda.org or via mail by Monday, May 18 at 5 pm.

To see other job listings in the White Center area, please visit another part of our website you won’t see on other local sites: our Jobs Page.

Courtesy the White Center Community Development Association’s website come these two locally-produced videos that were shot back in March at a “Building Our Own Movement” (BOOM) youth summit at the White Center Salvation Army.

As a result of the summit, these youth have followed up on various projects, including these video projects put together during spring break.

You’ll notice that Virgil and Ian, both of the Community Building team at White Center CDA were interviewed for this project.

Enjoy both of the videos!