In a world increasingly marked by unpredictability and fast-paced change, building community resilience has never been more crucial. A key component of fostering resilience lies in effective collaboration between nonprofit organizations, businesses, school districts, faith organizations, hospitals, and local governments serving our region. Now with the Together Center campus for human services and affordable housing complete, in downtown Redmond, Together Center is able and willing to leverage its physical space, staffing, onsite partnerships, leadership, and social infrastructure to be the home of new East King County Human Services Collaborative (The Collaborative).
After decades of incredible work training, bringing attention to, connecting and advocating for human services in East King County, the Alliance of Eastside Agencies (AEA) and Eastside Human Services Forum (EHSF) are sunsetting, and the groups are working together to create a reimagined program operated by Together Center.
The East King County Human Services Collaborative (The Collaborative) is dedicated to bringing together regional leaders and organizations to advance the cross-sector, collaborative work of uplifting, highlighting, connecting, educating, training, strengthening, and advocating for our greater Eastside human services sector.
The Collaborative is powered by Together Center, an independent 501 c3, and informed by a Steering Committee made up of social service providers and human services champions in our region. By consolidating this work under Together Center and leveraging its capacity, we can strengthen coordination and efficiency, and more effectively advance the shared goal of building a robust, equitable human services network on the Eastside.
Human services providers, funders, civic leaders, faith organizations, school districts, hospitals, and businesses who champion human services are invited to be part of The Collaborative. We are building this together.
Now that we have the physical infrastructure of the Together Center hub for human services, we are thrilled to work with cross-sector community members to create the social infrastructure needed to uplift & strengthen our sector well into the future. Let's create what we need together!"
– Kim Sarnecki, CEO of Together Center
This program receives funding from the King County Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy.
In addition to generous King County support, Together Center will seek funding to propel the vital work of the Collaborative from cities, businesses, individual donors, and foundations.
STEERING COMMITTEE
Kim Sarnecki, Together Center - Rochelle Clayton-Strunk, Encompass - Helen Banks Routon, Kidvantage - Paul Lwali, Friends of Youth - Catalina Gomez, Hopelink - Lindsey Yocum, Lake WA School District Board - Tanika Kumar Padhye, Together Center Board - Debbie Lacy, Eastside for All.
"By consolidating the work of Alliance of Eastside Agencies and Eastside Human Services Forum under Together Center and leveraging its staff capacity, we can reduce duplication, strengthen coordination, and more effectively advance the shared goal of building a robust, equitable human services network on the Eastside."
- Brooke Buckingham & Alaric Bien, City of Redmond Human Services
VALUES IN ACTION
Radical compassion: Empathy and support without judgment, honoring the dignity of the whole person.
- The Collaborative treats all beings with dignity and respect, listening to others with open heart and mind.
Ardent equity: Facilitating access to community resources for all, particularly those who have been marginalized or historically disadvantaged.
- The Collaborative seeks to understand, address, and work towards dismantling existing inequities and systematic barriers. The Collaborative is actively anti-racist, and fosters a safe environment with shared values.
Active empowerment: Sharing power and energizing all to claim their power with confidence and accountability.
- The Collaborative promotes participation, leadership, and decision-making to foster a supportive, continuous learning environment towards meaningful change.
Joyful responsiveness: Vigorous communication and timely responses to community needs.
- The Collaborative seeks input, engages honestly, and respectfully responds to community needs.
Intentional inclusion: Ensuring more voices are heard, valued, and engaged.
- The Collaborative actively works to identify unrepresented people/groups, invites, and welcomes them in, appreciating and valuing a diversity of lived experiences.
Creative collaboration: Uniting unexpected partners to solve challenging problems.
- The Collaborative seeks creative solutions, builds trust with and amongst partners, and sustains long-term relationships by fostering a culture that encourages and welcomes different ideas, varying perspectives, and feedback.