Human Services Commission · Wednesday, October 15, 2025 · City Council Digest

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of September 17, 2025

packet pp.5–6

Open packet at p.5 ↗

Staff report:

APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) 09-17-25 Human Services Commission Minutes CITY OF ISSAQUAH Human Services Commission 6:30 PM Steelhead Room, 235 1st Ave. September 17, 2025 MINUTES SE, Issaquah

4. AGENDA ITEMS

Friends of Youth: Human Services Non- Profit Organization Presentation(I)

15 min · Brooke Drennon, Senior Director Youth and Family Services

Topics: Equity

▶ Watch from 1:31

4Tomorrow: Human Services Non-Profit Organization Presentation(I)

15 min · Monik Martinez, Executive Director

Topics: Equity

▶ Watch from 25:10

Influence the Choice: Human Services Non-Profit Organization Presentation (I)

15 min · Marnie Maraldo, Executive Director

Topics: Equity

▶ Watch from 48:49

Community Clothing Closet: Human Services Non-Profit Organization Presentation (I)

15 min · Angela Dahrea, Director of Community Engagement Cheryl DeLappe, Director of Operations Lisa Stratton, Director of Communications

Topics: Equity

▶ Watch from 1:12:29

5. REPORTS

Chair and Commissioner Reports

Topics: Boards & Commissions

Youth Report

Staff Report

2635 segments .txt ↗

0:02 ↗ Sorry, I'll figure it. Don't wait for

0:06 ↗ >> All right. Good evening. Welcome, uh,

0:08 ↗ Human Services Commission. Uh, it is,

0:10 ↗ uh, October 15th, 6:36 p.m.

0:14 ↗ on the record here. Uh, call to order.

0:19 ↗ Uh, we'll take attendance. Um yeah, I

0:21 ↗ just want to report um that one of our

0:25 ↗ um alternates uh Bo you all saw in the

0:29 ↗ email he has stepped down um so that's a

0:32 ↗ current vacant position. We will wait to

0:34 ↗ fill that um until our next recruiting

0:37 ↗ cycle. Um those that will start in March

0:40 ↗ and then in May those terms will start.

0:42 ↗ Um, also, um, JD, uh, she's out sick

0:45 ↗ today, so she's an excuse absent.

0:48 ↗ >> And we have Ray and Preston online, and

0:51 ↗ we have some guest speakers that will do

0:53 ↗ introductions when they do their

0:54 ↗ presentations. Welcome everybody.

0:59 ↗ >> All right. Um, next thing we have in

1:01 ↗ order is public comment.

1:04 ↗ >> Nobody in public comment.

1:06 ↗ >> Yeah. And I didn't receive any emails.

1:10 ↗ Um approval for minutes for September

1:13 ↗ 17 2025

1:15 ↗ the commissioners.

1:19 ↗ >> I move to approve. I second.

1:25 ↗ Thank you.

1:29 ↗ >> That's for approval for minutes. Then we

1:31 ↗ have our next agenda items. Number four,

1:34 ↗ we have the view. Uh, we have Brooke

1:39 ↗ >> Drenin.

1:43 ↗ Yeah.

1:44 ↗ >> And, um, I have your PowerPoint, so I'm

1:46 ↗ going to go ahead and share it on the

1:48 ↗ screen up here.

2:04 ↗ >> Okay. and we I might kind of fly through

2:06 ↗ some of these because this is a standard

2:08 ↗ presentation that I've used and don't

2:10 ↗ want to bore you with some of it and

2:12 ↗ want to give time for conversation and

2:14 ↗ questions and things. So, um, as said,

2:17 ↗ I'm Broo Drenan. I'm the senior director

2:19 ↗ of youth and family services at Friends

2:21 ↗ of Youth. So, I oversee our programming

2:23 ↗ here in Isiqua. Um, and I have been with

2:27 ↗ Friends of Youth for about 12 years.

2:30 ↗ Started as a therapist and then, um,

2:32 ↗ worked my way into leadership. So happy

2:34 ↗ to be here and chat with y'all. Uh my

2:36 ↗ plan for today is to do kind of a broad

2:38 ↗ agency overview. We're all over the east

2:40 ↗ side um and then have some services in

2:42 ↗ Isiqua. So I'll specify what those are.

2:45 ↗ Um how folks can access those services,

2:48 ↗ some community partnerships, um emerging

2:50 ↗ needs and trends that we're seeing, and

2:52 ↗ then um I always just have in here how

2:54 ↗ to help um spread the word about stuff.

3:01 ↗ All right. So um agency overview for

3:04 ↗ youth mission is that we partner with

3:06 ↗ youth and families to provide the

3:07 ↗ relationships, resources and skills they

3:10 ↗ need to attain personal growth and

3:12 ↗ success. Um we envision that all youth

3:15 ↗ have every opportunity to succeed. And

3:18 ↗ the values that we hold in everything

3:20 ↗ that we do are um accountability,

3:23 ↗ collaboration equity quality

3:25 ↗ relationships, and putting youth first.

3:32 ↗ Is this okay?

3:32 ↗ >> Um, that building is our main admin

3:34 ↗ building at Kirkland.

3:39 ↗ >> Um, okay. And then homeless youth

3:40 ↗ services is our biggest division. Um,

3:43 ↗ they don't have any buildings directly

3:46 ↗ in Isiqua, but anyone um in King County

3:50 ↗ can access services. So, always good to

3:52 ↗ be aware of. That picture there is our

3:55 ↗ Willows Youth Service Center. It's our

3:57 ↗ 18 to 24 shelter in Kirkland. Um it used

4:02 ↗ to be located in Redmond called the

4:05 ↗ landing if anyone's familiar with that.

4:08 ↗ Um so homeless youth services primarily

4:11 ↗ serves 18 to 24. It does have one minor

4:14 ↗ program that I will tell you all about.

4:16 ↗ Um but they have supportive housing and

4:18 ↗ rapid rehousing. So um helping

4:21 ↗ individuals in the community find

4:23 ↗ permanent supportive um housing. We have

4:26 ↗ Safe Place. I don't know if y'all are

4:28 ↗ familiar with Safe Place, um, but they

4:31 ↗ are a 247 crisis hotline that responds

4:33 ↗ to youth in the community that need

4:35 ↗ support. Um, we have transitional living

4:38 ↗ services. So, we have, um, like on-site

4:42 ↗ housing that provides safe and stable

4:44 ↗ housing to 18 to 24 year olds. We

4:46 ↗ provide behavioral health treatment,

4:49 ↗ case management, and life skills

4:51 ↗ training. Um and then our youth services

4:54 ↗ will youth service center that I

4:55 ↗ mentioned which is the overnight

4:57 ↗ emergency shelter that provides basic

5:01 ↗ needs resources um to young adults

5:03 ↗ experiencing homelessness that are 18 to

5:05 ↗ 24. We have a lot of on-site services

5:08 ↗ there um that includes mental health and

5:11 ↗ substance use individual treatment as

5:13 ↗ well as group. We have our education and

5:16 ↗ employment services on site. Um, and

5:19 ↗ then case managers that help individuals

5:22 ↗ find safe and stable housing to

5:24 ↗ transition and out of emergency shelter.

5:26 ↗ Um, we also have a commercial kitchen on

5:29 ↗ site, so we're able to provide meals to

5:31 ↗ them throughout the day and drop in

5:33 ↗ services. Um, our only minor program

5:36 ↗ within homeless youth services is Youth

5:38 ↗ Haven. This is a youth emergency shelter

5:42 ↗ that's located on our Kirkland campus.

5:45 ↗ Um they depending on staffing levels can

5:48 ↗ house anywhere from typically like 6 to

5:50 ↗ 10 young people. Um and they focus on

5:54 ↗ supporting individuals who or young

5:57 ↗ people who um are not placed at home for

6:00 ↗ whatever reason. So, they work really

6:01 ↗ closely with DCYF um to make sure that

6:04 ↗ individuals can find safe and stable

6:07 ↗ housing, whether that's, you know,

6:09 ↗ reunification, returning to home, or

6:11 ↗ finding alternative placement.

6:13 ↗ >> Which campus is that on?

6:14 ↗ >> It's on our Kirkland campus. Okay.

6:16 ↗ >> Yep.

6:17 ↗ >> Um and then we have affordable housing,

6:20 ↗ which is our IVA place Kirkland. This

6:22 ↗ opened within the last couple years. Um

6:25 ↗ and then Bridge Point is actually our

6:27 ↗ brand new program that opened in July.

6:30 ↗ This is a partnership between homeless

6:33 ↗ youth services and my programs, youth

6:35 ↗ and family services. Um it is a housing

6:38 ↗ program but specifically for individuals

6:40 ↗ that are exiting inpatient treatment and

6:43 ↗ would otherwise be unhoused. Um it came

6:47 ↗ out of a house bill and we're the only

6:49 ↗ one on the east side of Washington that

6:52 ↗ is doing this work. There is one other

6:54 ↗ agency Excelsier on the east side that

6:57 ↗ has a similar program. Um but as far as

6:59 ↗ we know there is um no other programs

7:03 ↗ like it in the state of Washington. So

7:04 ↗ >> how many people can you accommodate?

7:06 ↗ >> 10. Yep. Um and we Yeah.

7:10 ↗ >> And what kind of inpatient treatment are

7:11 ↗ you talking about?

7:12 ↗ >> Mental health or substance use.

7:13 ↗ >> So child um children's hospital.

7:16 ↗ >> Yeah. If they're it's sorry, it's for 18

7:18 ↗ to 24 year olds.

7:19 ↗ >> Oh, I see.

7:20 ↗ >> Yep. And if they would be exiting into

7:22 ↗ homelessness, then they would qualify

7:24 ↗ for this program. It's up to 90 days.

7:27 ↗ Ultimately, the goal is to transition

7:29 ↗ them to, you know, more safe and stable

7:31 ↗ permanent housing. Um, but it's kind of

7:34 ↗ a wraparound program that again has

7:36 ↗ mental health and substance use, peer

7:37 ↗ counselors, case management, um, and

7:41 ↗ really works to support them in finding

7:43 ↗ stability. I'll do a little plug for

7:45 ↗ that one. We're having a ribbon cutting

7:47 ↗ on November 4th for anyone that would

7:49 ↗ like to come. Wow.

7:51 ↗ >> Um, and so I will make sure that

7:53 ↗ everyone has that info. But that's an

7:55 ↗ exciting new program.

7:56 ↗ >> Congratulations.

7:58 ↗ >> Um, our next program is just a it's just

8:02 ↗ foster care. Um, it used to be more

8:04 ↗ expansive than foster care, but we did

8:06 ↗ add some services um when there were

8:09 ↗ some federal um changes. So, we are

8:12 ↗ focusing on expanding foster care. As we

8:14 ↗ know, there are lots of young people in

8:16 ↗ Washington that don't have stable places

8:19 ↗ to be. Um and so we are working on

8:22 ↗ licensing more foster homes and um

8:25 ↗ ultimately our goal is that our old

8:27 ↗ campus, this is Griffin campus that's

8:29 ↗ located in Reton, will kind of become a

8:31 ↗ foster care hub that we can have foster

8:34 ↗ families live on site and also have

8:37 ↗ transitional living as individuals age

8:39 ↗ out of foster care.

8:42 ↗ And then youth and family services. So

8:45 ↗ this is my um programs that little house

8:47 ↗ you see. Hopefully, you've seen it on

8:49 ↗ Front Street down the road. Um, we in

8:54 ↗ youth and family services offer mental

8:55 ↗ health and substance use. And we'll

8:58 ↗ rather than just a kind of broad

8:59 ↗ overview, we'll deep dive into these as

9:01 ↗ we go. Um, which includes assessments,

9:05 ↗ individual, family, and group

9:06 ↗ counseling. We also have a psychiatrist

9:08 ↗ that we work with that does assessments

9:10 ↗ and medication management for our

9:12 ↗ clients. um more specifically our

9:14 ↗ Medicaid clients just because they have

9:16 ↗ more difficulty accessing care. We have

9:19 ↗ our healthy start program that does

9:21 ↗ developmental screenings and support for

9:23 ↗ parents with children under the age of

9:25 ↗ six and provides group and community

9:27 ↗ connections. And then our youth

9:29 ↗ engagement team, which is a small

9:31 ↗ program of two that is a therapist and a

9:34 ↗ case manager that works specifically

9:36 ↗ with youth often located at our youth

9:40 ↗ haven program um who are either

9:42 ↗ experiencing homelessness or at risk of

9:44 ↗ homelessness

9:46 ↗ um for whatever reason they may feel

9:48 ↗ unsafe at home um and want to find a

9:51 ↗ safe and stable place to go. This team

9:53 ↗ will work with it's a collaboration with

9:56 ↗ um Friends of Youth, the YMCA and um uh

10:00 ↗ LCYC

10:02 ↗ um legal team and we support them in in

10:05 ↗ finding placement.

10:08 ↗ >> A

10:10 ↗ >> this is just who we are. I always just

10:12 ↗ like to include a picture so you all can

10:13 ↗ put faces to folks. These are a bunch of

10:15 ↗ our therapists.

10:19 ↗ Um so our team is made up of mental

10:21 ↗ health therapists. So that includes um

10:23 ↗ licensed folks with the department of

10:25 ↗ health for marriage and family therapy,

10:27 ↗ social workers, counselors. We also have

10:29 ↗ substance use disorder professionals,

10:33 ↗ um mental health interns. We have a

10:34 ↗ pretty robust internship program um

10:37 ↗ because we like to put great therapists

10:40 ↗ out into the world. Um and then we have

10:42 ↗ family support specialists that work

10:45 ↗ within our healthy start program. Um and

10:48 ↗ then licensed clinical supervisors and

10:50 ↗ administrative support.

10:53 ↗ Um our funding is made up primarily of

10:57 ↗ Medicaid, um commercial insurance,

10:59 ↗ self-pay, fee reductions, local

11:01 ↗ government grants, and private and

11:03 ↗ individual donors. I would say probably

11:05 ↗ 75% 70% of our clients are on Medicaid.

11:10 ↗ Um so tend to be lower socioeconomic

11:12 ↗ status.

11:15 ↗ Um, we primarily serve clients that are

11:17 ↗ ages 4 to 24 and their families. Um, I

11:21 ↗ would say the majority in our outpatient

11:23 ↗ mental health and substance use programs

11:26 ↗ tend to be between the ages of like

11:30 ↗ 10 and 16 um, with, you know, clients on

11:34 ↗ either end. But we really see that kind

11:37 ↗ of middle school, high school age. Um,

11:40 ↗ substance use program tends to be a

11:42 ↗ little bit older. We do see a lot more

11:44 ↗ clients in that 18 to 24 range.

11:48 ↗ Um race, um based on self-report, 33% of

11:52 ↗ the clients we serve do identify as

11:54 ↗ bipok. Um the gender split of our

11:57 ↗ clients is pretty equal. Um, I would say

12:01 ↗ it's about, last time I looked,

12:04 ↗ four in the 40%

12:06 ↗ female, about the same male, and then we

12:10 ↗ have about 5 to 10% clients that

12:13 ↗ identify as either non-binary,

12:15 ↗ trans, or chose not to self-report.

12:18 ↗ Um, and then sexual orientation. Um, we

12:21 ↗ have about 30% of our clients identify

12:24 ↗ as being a part of the LGBTQIA plus

12:26 ↗ community. Um last fiscal year we served

12:31 ↗ in youth and family services

12:32 ↗ approximately 12,000 individuals um or

12:36 ↗ provided about 12,000 services um Isa

12:39 ↗ residents specifically this year so year

12:42 ↗ to date from January to September um is

12:45 ↗ about 1,350

12:48 ↗ services provided

12:50 ↗ um and then every year we serve about

12:52 ↗ 250 new clients so we

12:56 ↗ Yeah.

13:00 ↗ >> Um, we I'll just focus kind of on the

13:03 ↗ modalities here. We provide a lot of

13:05 ↗ kind of trauma based therapy. Um, so

13:08 ↗ trauma focus CBT. We do EMDR for those

13:12 ↗ of you that have heard of it. Um, it is

13:14 ↗ a, you know, more I would say

13:16 ↗ upandcoming treatment specifically for

13:19 ↗ trauma. Um and then recently started a

13:22 ↗ in the past couple years a dialectical

13:24 ↗ behavioral therapy a DBT program um and

13:27 ↗ CBT for psychosis.

13:32 ↗ We have groups um that we have our

13:36 ↗ groups are kind of on a rolling basis of

13:38 ↗ what we see based on need. Um, so right

13:41 ↗ now we have

13:43 ↗ games and feeling exploration groups for

13:45 ↗ younger kids, some anime and

13:47 ↗ relationship groups, art and

13:48 ↗ neurodeiversity. Um, our DBT and CBT

13:52 ↗ groups are just kind of always ongoing.

13:53 ↗ Um, and then parenting groups as needed.

13:56 ↗ Those kind of come and go as as folks

13:59 ↗ are engaged. Um, and then a music

14:01 ↗ therapy group that has actually been

14:04 ↗ really exciting. We have a um substance

14:06 ↗ use disorder counselor that has joined a

14:08 ↗ mental health therapist. He actually

14:10 ↗ works for the school of rock and we got

14:12 ↗ a donation for a bunch of guitars and

14:14 ↗ drums. So, he's been teaching kids how

14:17 ↗ to play instruments and process their

14:19 ↗ feelings which has been wonderful.

14:22 ↗ >> Yeah.

14:24 ↗ Um substance use, we focus on um a lot

14:28 ↗ of harm reduction. So, really how to

14:30 ↗ keep um individuals in the community

14:33 ↗ safe. Um we have alcohol and drug

14:36 ↗ information school that we provide to

14:38 ↗ kind of the individuals who don't

14:40 ↗ necessarily qualify for outpatient

14:41 ↗ treatment but need to be educated on

14:44 ↗ substances and what they could do to

14:45 ↗ your body. Um we provide we have a

14:49 ↗ partnership with the U Washington

14:51 ↗ recovery helpline to provide next day

14:54 ↗ assessments for substance use. So if you

14:56 ↗ ever run into somebody in the community

14:58 ↗ and they're in urgent need of a

15:00 ↗ assessment, they can call the Washington

15:02 ↗ Recovery Helpline and get in with us

15:04 ↗ next.

15:06 ↗ They work with us to set aside

15:07 ↗ appointments specifically for them. Um

15:10 ↗ we focus a lot on Narcan access and

15:12 ↗ distribution. Again, just harm reduction

15:14 ↗ and making sure that folks in the

15:15 ↗ community can stay safe regardless of

15:17 ↗ where they are at.

15:21 ↗ um our healthy start program, so kind of

15:23 ↗ shifting gears, works with families um

15:26 ↗ with children under the age of six. The

15:29 ↗ um person enrolled does not have to be a

15:31 ↗ biological parent. Um they work with the

15:35 ↗ family. Um we have I would say we're

15:38 ↗ about 50/50 bilingual on the families

15:40 ↗ that we work with. Most of our um family

15:43 ↗ support specialists are also bilingual,

15:44 ↗ which is great. And we serve all of kind

15:47 ↗ of East King County.

15:51 ↗ Um they use an evidence-based practice

15:54 ↗ called parents as teachers that focuses

15:56 ↗ on um decreasing CPS involvement,

16:01 ↗ increasing school readiness, um really

16:03 ↗ working with the parent on parent child

16:06 ↗ interactions

16:07 ↗ um to help support them both emotionally

16:10 ↗ and physically in their development. Um,

16:13 ↗ they're also really focused on group

16:14 ↗ connections and connecting individuals

16:16 ↗ with each other in the community so that

16:18 ↗ parents or guardians can help build a

16:21 ↗ like natural support system outside of

16:24 ↗ our services. So, they take them out in

16:26 ↗ the community and do fun stuff this

16:28 ↗ month. They'll probably go to the

16:28 ↗ pumpkin patch.

16:32 ↗ Uh, we can go ahead and skip this one.

16:34 ↗ Um, and then the youth engagement team.

16:36 ↗ forgot to put the goals on there, but

16:38 ↗ that's the program for youth under the

16:40 ↗ age of 18 who are at risk or

16:42 ↗ experiencing homelessness. It is free um

16:45 ↗ to kind of anyone in King County, and

16:47 ↗ they offer case management, housing

16:49 ↗ navigation, and mental health counseling

16:52 ↗ um to really work with the youth and

16:54 ↗ their natural supports on finding a a

16:56 ↗ safe placement for them.

17:00 ↗ So accessing our services, our

17:02 ↗ behavioral health services are located

17:04 ↗ in Isiqua, Northbend, and Duvall. Our

17:06 ↗ healthy start services are community

17:09 ↗ based all over the east side, as well as

17:11 ↗ the YET services. Um there's emails and

17:16 ↗ phone numbers on there, but all of our

17:17 ↗ information is on our website to share

17:19 ↗ out as you all see fit.

17:23 ↗ Um we have lots of community

17:25 ↗ partnerships. Um, I kept this, you know,

17:27 ↗ rather small to just Isiqua. Um, we have

17:30 ↗ partnerships with school district, city,

17:33 ↗ state, county, influence the choice. Um,

17:37 ↗ I'm the board chair for influence the

17:39 ↗ choice and then, um, Kid Vantage works

17:42 ↗ really closely with our healthy start

17:44 ↗ program. Um, our SUD folks are part of

17:46 ↗ Esqua Community Court. Um, and then work

17:49 ↗ closely with primary care and emergency

17:51 ↗ department.

17:55 ↗ emerging needs. I had mentioned

17:57 ↗ parenting groups. We kind of come and

17:59 ↗ there's we see parents that kind of

18:02 ↗ waxes and wanes on on involvement. Um

18:05 ↗ but this last year there was a surge in

18:06 ↗ general warning on parent mental health.

18:09 ↗ So have really tried to make a focus of

18:11 ↗ providing support to parents in the

18:13 ↗ community. Um we kind of we keep seeing

18:16 ↗ an increase in co-occurring needs. So

18:18 ↗ mental health and substance use combined

18:21 ↗ and just a overall intensity of need. um

18:24 ↗ seeing more trauma, more severe anxiety,

18:28 ↗ um youth really feeling like they're

18:31 ↗ alone and it's difficult to find

18:32 ↗ supportive people in their lives. um

18:36 ↗ continuously which I'm sure almost

18:38 ↗ everyone in this room probably is famil

18:40 ↗ with a need for basic or support for

18:42 ↗ basic needs. Um although we provide

18:45 ↗ mostly behavioral health and um you know

18:48 ↗ home visiting services, we get a lot of

18:50 ↗ our families coming to us expressing

18:51 ↗ that you know how are we supposed to

18:53 ↗ make it to therapy when we can't afford

18:54 ↗ gas? Um how are we supposed to then do

18:57 ↗ tellahalth if we can't afford a

18:59 ↗ computer, right? And so um working with

19:02 ↗ folks in the community to make sure that

19:03 ↗ our clients can get access to bas basic

19:06 ↗ needs so they're able to show up and and

19:07 ↗ work on their mental health. Um and then

19:11 ↗ yeah we see increase in physical health

19:13 ↗ concerns, need for financial assistance.

19:15 ↗ So it feels like everything lately is

19:18 ↗ very intertwined, right?

19:22 ↗ Um and then I always just like to put in

19:24 ↗ here how to help is just talk about

19:26 ↗ behavioral health to reduce the stigma.

19:29 ↗ Um let people know that there's folks in

19:31 ↗ the community that are here to support

19:32 ↗ them if they need it. Um and spread that

19:35 ↗ word and facilitate the connection.

19:38 ↗ So, any questions? I know that was a

19:41 ↗ lot.

19:42 ↗ >> Great job getting it through.

19:44 ↗ >> What sort of supplies

19:46 ↗ should we donate?

19:48 ↗ >> Yeah. I mean, the biggest need that we

19:51 ↗ see in Isiqua is really transportation

19:53 ↗ and grocery support. You know, we refer

19:56 ↗ to the food bank. We, you know, um

19:59 ↗ Medicaid clients have access to Hope

20:01 ↗ Link, and it's just not as reliable as

20:03 ↗ as you would hope for. Um, as far as

20:06 ↗ supplies go, I would say we have Giving

20:09 ↗ Tree come up coming up. So, um, any

20:12 ↗ support with Giving Tree and our little

20:14 ↗ tags will be all around the community.

20:16 ↗ So yeah.

20:18 ↗ >> And when you say transportation,

20:21 ↗ >> yeah, transportation as far as like

20:25 ↗ gas to get to therapy.

20:29 ↗ >> Okay. Do you know that there's gas

20:30 ↗ vouchers at Isqua Community Services?

20:32 ↗ You and I can talk offline.

20:34 ↗ Yeah.

20:35 ↗ >> Okay.

20:36 ↗ >> Uh Ray over here um has a question. Go

20:39 ↗ ahead Ray.

20:41 ↗ >> Um hi. Can you hear me? Okay.

20:45 ↗ >> Hi, Brooke. It's a pleasure to meet you.

20:47 ↗ Uh thanks for being here. Um that one

20:49 ↗ slide for funding. Uh you've listed

20:52 ↗ several sources. What I don't know if

20:55 ↗ you can go back to that, but what's

20:56 ↗ what's the primary funding source? I saw

20:59 ↗ Medicaid on there. So

21:00 ↗ >> yeah, about 75 yeah about 75% of the

21:04 ↗ clients that we serve are on Medicaid.

21:06 ↗ Um the other 30% is commercial

21:09 ↗ insurance. So Promera, Etna, um the

21:12 ↗ major ones that you all probably know.

21:14 ↗ And then we have some that are on fee

21:16 ↗ reductions or no pay um like

21:20 ↗ uncompensated care.

21:22 ↗ >> Okay. And I I did a presentation and

21:25 ↗ pardon me if you were there for at

21:27 ↗ influencer choice and also um for the

21:30 ↗ Isiqua Nursing Network group where

21:35 ↗ um organizations like yourself who have

21:37 ↗ an affiliation with a provider who is on

21:39 ↗ Medicare or Medicaid, should that

21:41 ↗ provider utilize a community-based

21:43 ↗ organization such as yourself to

21:47 ↗ um provide ongoing care for any of their

21:50 ↗ patients, they get a cut of their

21:51 ↗ reimbursement. Are you are you aware of

21:53 ↗ that program?

21:54 ↗ >> I somewhat but not entirely. So happy to

21:58 ↗ chat.

21:59 ↗ >> Yeah, that would be good because those

22:01 ↗ programs are continuing.

22:03 ↗ >> Absolutely. We're in a position right

22:05 ↗ now that you know there's lots of

22:08 ↗ potential cuts coming and so happy to

22:11 ↗ have any conversations that kind of

22:13 ↗ diversify what that funding looks like.

22:16 ↗ >> Okay, we will get connected. Thank you.

22:18 ↗ >> Thank you.

22:20 ↗ and Friends with Youth are going to be

22:22 ↗ back in the school district, right?

22:24 ↗ >> Yeah. I've currently been in

22:25 ↗ conversation with um I think Noah, the

22:28 ↗ director of student services. I mean,

22:31 ↗ >> yeah. Um about um getting back into the

22:35 ↗ school district and and seeing clients

22:37 ↗ who are on Medicaid specifically. So,

22:40 ↗ that's great. Um hoping to get that

22:42 ↗ started here soon.

22:43 ↗ >> Yeah. Preston, our youth representative,

22:46 ↗ go ahead.

22:48 ↗ >> Yeah. So first of all, thank you so much

22:50 ↗ for being here and also this is also

22:53 ↗ really important to me as a youth myself

22:55 ↗ and having um other friends who have

22:58 ↗ participated with this organization. So

23:01 ↗ you talked about um Narcan distribution

23:03 ↗ and some other um similar services that

23:06 ↗ you perform. So, I wanted to know if

23:08 ↗ Friends of Youth has um Narcan training

23:10 ↗ programs to know how to administer it,

23:13 ↗ especially for um teens that are that

23:16 ↗ plan to like you distribute or carry

23:19 ↗ Narcan. So,

23:21 ↗ >> do you do training programs in addition

23:23 ↗ to um supply?

23:25 ↗ >> Yep. We don't have what I would call a

23:27 ↗ training program, but any youth can stop

23:30 ↗ into our office any time of the day and

23:32 ↗ get Narcan. And when they grab that

23:34 ↗ Narcan, we do talk through how to use it

23:37 ↗ and there is a little QR code that talks

23:39 ↗ through how to use it.

23:40 ↗ >> But it's just like nasal spray. So, it's

23:43 ↗ pretty easy to go over and we're happy

23:44 ↗ to have those conversations. But any

23:47 ↗ anybody can stop into our office and ask

23:49 ↗ for Narcan.

23:51 ↗ >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you. That was just my

23:53 ↗ question.

23:59 ↗ >> Any other questions?

24:01 ↗ >> Thank you so much. Yeah, absolutely.

24:03 ↗ >> Yeah, really appreciate your time,

24:04 ↗ Brooke. Um we enjoy our partnership with

24:07 ↗ Friends of Youth and it's so great to

24:08 ↗ see

24:09 ↗ >> how much you do in King County on the

24:11 ↗ east side.

24:12 ↗ >> Yeah.

24:12 ↗ >> Um it it expands way further than

24:15 ↗ Isaqua, but you do a lot for our city.

24:17 ↗ So, thank you.

24:18 ↗ >> Absolutely.

24:19 ↗ >> We really appreciate you being here in

24:20 ↗ person with us and your time.

24:22 ↗ >> Yeah, of course.

24:24 ↗ >> All right. Well, you can leave now

24:26 ↗ >> or you can stay

24:29 ↗ >> or you can stay.

24:30 ↗ >> Yeah. We do have Nexus for tomorrow.

24:34 ↗ >> Yep. Monique, hello. Thanks for joining

24:36 ↗ us. I saw you pop on earlier. You're

24:38 ↗ welcome to

24:42 ↗ jump on in.

24:46 ↗ >> Hello. So, good to see you. Thanks for

24:49 ↗ joining us online.

24:50 ↗ >> Of course. Yes. Thanks for having me.

24:53 ↗ >> Um, just want to double check. Do you

24:54 ↗ have access to share your um screen if

24:57 ↗ you had a presentation or

24:59 ↗ >> I think so, but let me go ahead and test

25:02 ↗ it.

25:05 ↗ Okay, I think you can see that.

25:07 ↗ >> Yeah, we're we're in.

25:09 ↗ >> Perfect. So, I'll just jump right in. I

25:11 ↗ mean, um I'm really happy to be here and

25:14 ↗ happy for you all to get to know for

25:16 ↗ tomorrow a little bit more. U as you

25:18 ↗ probably know, this is the first time

25:19 ↗ that we've partnered with the city of

25:21 ↗ Isiqua. So, we have a contract with them

25:23 ↗ for this year and next year uh or with

25:26 ↗ you all for rental assistance. Um and

25:29 ↗ we're really grateful for that expanded

25:31 ↗ partnership and to be able to work um

25:34 ↗ with community members in the city of

25:35 ↗ Isiqua and across all East King County.

25:38 ↗ So, first I just wanted to give just a

25:40 ↗ really brief overview of some of our

25:42 ↗ other services and programs and kind of

25:44 ↗ what um our organization does and then

25:47 ↗ get into some more specific information

25:49 ↗ for from the rental assistance program.

25:53 ↗ So, on the screen you'll see our

25:55 ↗ sixmonth impact report. It's actually on

25:57 ↗ our website as well, so you can um go to

26:00 ↗ our website and review that further. Um

26:02 ↗ but one of the programs that we have um

26:04 ↗ is we are actually located in the

26:06 ↗ Kirkland Teen Union Building. Um so

26:09 ↗ that's a partnership between the city of

26:10 ↗ Kirkland uh youth east side services and

26:13 ↗ ourselves. Um so each kind of take uh

26:16 ↗ our specialty of the services that we

26:19 ↗ have um at KUB and what Forto does is we

26:22 ↗ really um operate the art studio, the

26:26 ↗ art programs and the recording studio

26:28 ↗ program. So, we have a producer, we have

26:32 ↗ an amazing recording studio, and we have

26:34 ↗ teens that are going through the program

26:35 ↗ right now. That's why I can't be there

26:36 ↗ in person with you all today. I just got

26:38 ↗ done with our teens in the recording

26:40 ↗ studio, and we're just about to finish

26:42 ↗ our second song, which is really

26:44 ↗ exciting. Um, but so that's some of our

26:47 ↗ work that we're doing um in person with

26:50 ↗ some teens in Kirkland.

26:53 ↗ Next, uh I want to talk a little bit

26:55 ↗ about our homelessness programs. So the

26:57 ↗ one on the screen is the emergency

26:59 ↗ temporary housing and homelessness

27:00 ↗ recovery program. So this is really a

27:03 ↗ short-term hotel or motel stay plus a

27:06 ↗ little bit of navigation from our

27:07 ↗ coordinators for anyone who's

27:09 ↗ experiencing homelessness or who is

27:11 ↗ unhoused in our community. Um this is

27:14 ↗ more of a regional effort. Um so just

27:17 ↗ within the first six months of this year

27:18 ↗ of 2020 2025 um we've been able to

27:22 ↗ provide 351 nights or beds um for

27:26 ↗ families or individuals across East King

27:28 ↗ County. Um and that includes it that's

27:31 ↗ serving 85 um households. Um so through

27:36 ↗ that program like I said we're doing

27:37 ↗ some navigation to help them figure out

27:39 ↗ what their next step is while they're

27:41 ↗ having that short-term hotel stay. Um

27:44 ↗ sometimes they're there's just a break

27:47 ↗ in their housing or sometimes they've

27:48 ↗ been chronically unhoused. Um it really

27:51 ↗ just depends on, you know, where they're

27:54 ↗ at and we kind of help meet where

27:56 ↗ they're at and find their next step or

27:58 ↗ refer them to a program or if we can

28:01 ↗ intake them into one of our programs

28:03 ↗ like um the safe parking program in

28:05 ↗ Belleview, then we go ahead and do that.

28:07 ↗ Um so this is another big program that

28:10 ↗ we have. Uh we completed our first year

28:13 ↗ of the program in May of 2025. Um

28:17 ↗ unfortunately there was some structural

28:19 ↗ issues with our building. Um so we had

28:22 ↗ to pause the services inside. We're

28:24 ↗ currently operating without a day center

28:26 ↗ which is really really challenging. Um

28:28 ↗ but we're still providing services to

28:30 ↗ families in a limited capacity. Um so we

28:33 ↗ still have a parking lot. We're still

28:34 ↗ serving families. is just looking a

28:36 ↗ little bit different until we can find a

28:38 ↗ new home for our day center and all the

28:40 ↗ services that go inside of that. Um, but

28:43 ↗ in this program in a year, we serve 211

28:46 ↗ individuals. Um, that's 58 families. And

28:50 ↗ as you can see, the biggest demographic

28:52 ↗ in ages under 18. So, there was a lot of

28:55 ↗ children on site. We saw a lot of single

28:58 ↗ parents, single mothers with multiple

29:00 ↗ children coming through the program. Uh

29:03 ↗ gratefully we've been able to help them

29:06 ↗ um help a lot of them be housed and

29:08 ↗ become housed. So 49 families out of

29:10 ↗ those 58 were housed in permanent or

29:13 ↗ transitional housing, which transitional

29:15 ↗ usually means a 2-year program or a

29:17 ↗ one-year program for transitional

29:19 ↗ housing, which leads us to an 84%

29:23 ↗ success rate of um housing families in

29:26 ↗ the safe parking program, uh which we're

29:28 ↗ really grateful for and proud of.

29:32 ↗ Uh next we have our mental health

29:35 ↗ program. Uh it's a two-pronged approach.

29:38 ↗ Uh but we really focus on um our

29:40 ↗ community members who are falling within

29:44 ↗ the gaps or between the gaps, right? So

29:46 ↗ we have a coordination program that is

29:49 ↗ super low barrier. Anybody can call um

29:52 ↗ and this one's not related to service

29:53 ↗ area. So, anybody can call and talk to a

29:55 ↗ therapist or talk to one of our people

29:57 ↗ who can help them navigate resources in

30:00 ↗ regards to their mental health. They can

30:02 ↗ also join the coordination program where

30:04 ↗ they can learn some coping skills and

30:07 ↗ get some help in finding a sustained

30:09 ↗ therapy program or a support group or

30:12 ↗ something that can help them ongoing

30:13 ↗ more long term. Um, but then the second

30:16 ↗ part of that program, um, it it is a

30:20 ↗ requirement that they live in our

30:21 ↗ service area. Uh and most of the time um

30:25 ↗ the individuals that are entering this

30:27 ↗ program are also uninsured. Um so they

30:29 ↗ have a lot of barriers to getting um

30:32 ↗ therapy elsewhere um especially in

30:34 ↗ Spanish. And so all of our therapists

30:37 ↗ speak Spanish and English. Um and so

30:39 ↗ we've been able to provide um a lot of

30:41 ↗ support to our community members here in

30:43 ↗ East King County and beyond. Um and so

30:46 ↗ you'll see kind of some of the numbers

30:48 ↗ there for our therapy sessions, our

30:50 ↗ support group, and then our coordination

30:53 ↗ um sessions as well.

30:57 ↗ Uh last but not least, we have our life

31:00 ↗ services program and our rental

31:02 ↗ assistance program. So we started with

31:04 ↗ rental assistance way back a few

31:07 ↗ probably like 5 years ago and we noticed

31:10 ↗ that rental assistance oftent times the

31:14 ↗ same families are kind of coming back

31:16 ↗ and and struggling with the same issues

31:19 ↗ year after year. Um and there was some

31:23 ↗ things missing where maybe they just

31:25 ↗ didn't have a budget in place or they

31:27 ↗ had never been able to have those

31:28 ↗ conversations on, you know, how to

31:30 ↗ navigate different resources.

31:33 ↗ um or they're coming with multiple

31:36 ↗ months of backdue rent and in order to

31:40 ↗ save their housing they need multiple uh

31:42 ↗ programs or multiple months which uh a

31:45 ↗ lot of times not just one provider can

31:47 ↗ do that. So, we really have the life

31:50 ↗ services program to provide more

31:52 ↗ comprehensive support for the family um

31:55 ↗ to engage them in kind of navigating

31:57 ↗ those difficult resources or navigating

31:59 ↗ when they do have to um come up with

32:02 ↗ multiple months or come up with um a

32:05 ↗ plan to really save their housing.

32:07 ↗ That's a lot of what the program does,

32:09 ↗ but it also does a lot of other things

32:11 ↗ like helps people with their education

32:13 ↗ goals, helps with basic needs, um some

32:16 ↗ immigration related things, uh job

32:19 ↗ resources, and and so much more. Um when

32:22 ↗ it comes to the immigration stuff as

32:23 ↗ well, I forgot to say, but our mental

32:25 ↗ health program um is now providing some

32:28 ↗ free um psychological evaluations for

32:32 ↗ the immigration process. Um, so we have

32:34 ↗ a really great therapist that's able to

32:36 ↗ do that now for us, which is amazing.

32:38 ↗ Um, and it's a great resource for our

32:41 ↗ communities, especially, you know, in

32:43 ↗ the times that we're in, our communities

32:45 ↗ that are undocumented or going through

32:47 ↗ that process are really struggling with

32:50 ↗ just a lot on their plates. And so,

32:52 ↗ anything we can do to kind of lighten

32:53 ↗ that load um is what we're trying to do

32:56 ↗ to fill the gaps. Um, with that, uh,

33:00 ↗ I'll just say, um, that we have some

33:04 ↗ specific numbers over here, uh, when it

33:06 ↗ comes to the rental assistance in

33:08 ↗ Isiqua. Um, so the program, uh, so far,

33:11 ↗ and actually we're nearly out of funding

33:14 ↗ now. Um, but from March to about May or

33:19 ↗ June, we were able to help about nine

33:21 ↗ households. That's 26 people. Um, seven

33:25 ↗ of the households were from 0 to 30% AMI

33:28 ↗ and then two of the households were from

33:30 ↗ 30 to 50% AMI. Um, you'll see the

33:34 ↗ different types of assistance that were

33:35 ↗ requested and that were we were able to

33:38 ↗ provide on the bottom right. So that

33:41 ↗ includes one mortgage assistance. Um,

33:44 ↗ there's rental assistance is the next

33:47 ↗ one, but they um the prerequisite was

33:51 ↗ they had to have a a notice. So, 14-day

33:53 ↗ or 30-day notice, eviction summons,

33:56 ↗ things like that. Um, so there was at

33:58 ↗ least five or there was five that had a

34:01 ↗ 30 or 14-day eviction notice. Um, there

34:05 ↗ was also two occurrences of movein costs

34:08 ↗ um so that someone could move into

34:10 ↗ Isiqua. Um, and then one had an actual

34:13 ↗ eviction summons which meant a very

34:15 ↗ imminent eviction um coming up. So, we

34:19 ↗ were able to help in those cases for

34:22 ↗ these Isiqua residents to maintain their

34:24 ↗ housing. And then on the left, the

34:26 ↗ bottom left, you'll see some

34:27 ↗ demographics um by race of um the

34:31 ↗ households that access this funding and

34:34 ↗ this program through through us and the

34:36 ↗ city of Isiqua. Um so, with that, I'll

34:39 ↗ say thank you so much for having me and

34:41 ↗ I hope um that information was um

34:44 ↗ helpful to you all. Um, and I'm here for

34:48 ↗ any questions that you may have.

34:52 ↗ >> Thank you.

34:53 ↗ >> Thank you so much. I think it's really

34:55 ↗ helpful, especially since Sport Tomorrow

34:56 ↗ is a new organization um for city of

34:59 ↗ Isiqua. It's really helpful to see the

35:02 ↗ um how much you all do. I mean, we know

35:05 ↗ you for rental assistance and funding

35:06 ↗ you for that, but to see how much you

35:08 ↗ support the east side um in all

35:11 ↗ different areas, I think is wonderful.

35:13 ↗ So, appreciate the walkthrough of that.

35:16 ↗ Thank you.

35:17 ↗ >> I have a quick question. So, um, and

35:19 ↗ yeah, thank you for the presentation.

35:21 ↗ Did Did I hear you say you do mortgage

35:23 ↗ assistance?

35:25 ↗ >> Yes. Yeah. All of our, um, assistance

35:27 ↗ programs, well, financial assistance

35:29 ↗ programs are also open to mortgage

35:30 ↗ assistance

35:32 ↗ >> and we've done one so far in Isukqua.

35:36 ↗ >> And did I hear you say you've run out of

35:39 ↗ money?

35:40 ↗ >> Yes.

35:41 ↗ >> Okay. And

35:43 ↗ >> for the year.

35:44 ↗ >> For the year. Mhm.

35:45 ↗ >> Yeah. They'll receive another

35:47 ↗ >> Oh, for the year. You've run out of

35:48 ↗ money for the year. Okay.

35:50 ↗ >> Yes. Just for the rental assistance.

35:52 ↗ Yeah. Peace.

35:53 ↗ >> Okay.

35:55 ↗ >> All right. Thank you.

35:56 ↗ >> Thanks.

35:56 ↗ >> Course. Thank you.

35:59 ↗ Any other questions?

36:06 ↗ >> Well, we really appreciate your time.

36:07 ↗ Thank you so much for jumping online and

36:09 ↗ providing that. Um I know evenings can

36:11 ↗ be tough, so really do appreciate. All

36:14 ↗ right. Thank you. Have a good rest of

36:15 ↗ your meeting. Bye.

36:17 ↗ >> Enjoy your evening.

36:21 ↗ Great.

36:23 ↗ >> All right. We're on to next influence of

36:26 ↗ choice uh by Marne.

36:28 ↗ >> Welcome, Marne.

36:29 ↗ >> Hi. Let me pull.

36:31 ↗ >> Can I email?

36:32 ↗ >> I think you got it here. Let me just

36:35 ↗ pull it up.

36:38 ↗ >> While she's doing that, I'm Marty

36:40 ↗ Moraldo. I'm the executive director of

36:42 ↗ influence of choice. Um I've been in

36:44 ↗ this position in four years. I was a

36:47 ↗ member of the board of directors for

36:49 ↗ influence to choice prior to that as a

36:52 ↗ representative of schools. I've been on

36:53 ↗ the Isiqua school board for 16 years.

36:59 ↗ So first I wanted to come here and say

37:01 ↗ thank you. So through your grant um uh

37:04 ↗ that is really important uh

37:06 ↗ sustainability funding for us. We

37:08 ↗ started as a drug-free coalition. So for

37:10 ↗ 10 years, we were able to receive a

37:13 ↗ substantial G grant from the federal

37:15 ↗ government. Um and so we are actually in

37:18 ↗ year 14.

37:20 ↗ Um beginning year 14. So um so it's

37:24 ↗ really good for us to have this to be

37:26 ↗ able to carry on past that substantial

37:29 ↗ grant. Um your funds allow us to reach

37:31 ↗ parents and community members. And I'll

37:33 ↗ talk a little bit more about how we uh

37:36 ↗ provide uh our work. Um, so that's

37:38 ↗ mainly our hidden in plain sight, which

37:40 ↗ I'll explain a little later. Our action

37:42 ↗ form for youth and resource fairs are

37:44 ↗ the ways that we're able to touch and

37:47 ↗ reach out to community and parent

37:48 ↗ members the most. Um, and for us,

37:51 ↗ prevention requires an ongoing effort to

37:54 ↗ continue to reach new generations. So,

37:56 ↗ we are really trying to um do our work

38:00 ↗ um for the next set of students that

38:02 ↗ come in. So, um that's a little bit

38:05 ↗ about our work. Our thank you. Um, our

38:08 ↗ mission, Influence of Choice is

38:10 ↗ committed to reduce youth substance use

38:12 ↗ and promote overall well-being by

38:14 ↗ addressing root causes, fostering

38:17 ↗ resilience, and providing education and

38:19 ↗ prevention services to youth, families,

38:21 ↗ and communities because we know we can

38:24 ↗ we we really have to use the whole

38:26 ↗ family and community to um to do the

38:30 ↗ prevention work that we're doing.

38:33 ↗ So, some of our key programs for

38:35 ↗ parents, I talked about it before,

38:37 ↗ hidden in plain sight action form for

38:39 ↗ youth. And in the resource fairs, what

38:41 ↗ we do, one of the things that we hand

38:43 ↗ out the most is our table talk flyers,

38:45 ↗ and I'll talk a little bit more about

38:46 ↗ that. Um, because that's the key of what

38:50 ↗ you're funding. So, I've put up more

38:51 ↗ time on that. I did want to say that we

38:53 ↗ bifurcate our work. So, we work with

38:55 ↗ parents and community members and we

38:56 ↗ also work directly with students. Um our

38:59 ↗ um youth board is called teens

39:02 ↗ encouraging community health. So we have

39:04 ↗ an intrad district advisory board that

39:06 ↗ meets once a month um with kind of the

39:09 ↗ leadership uh team members uh teens that

39:12 ↗ want to work with us. And then there's

39:14 ↗ teen club tech clubs at each of our

39:16 ↗ three comprehensive high schools. So one

39:18 ↗ at Skyline, Liberty and Isqua High. And

39:21 ↗ they each have about 10 to 15 members um

39:24 ↗ of their clubs. Um, one of our programs,

39:27 ↗ our key program that kind of um, kicked

39:30 ↗ off influence of choice is our art with

39:32 ↗ influence. It is a video and 2D art

39:35 ↗ contest. Um, and actually we get support

39:38 ↗ from that from the, uh, art commission

39:40 ↗ here in Isiqua. So, we do appreciate

39:42 ↗ that as well. Um, but it allows students

39:44 ↗ um, for the videos, they create a

39:46 ↗ two-minute um, video for us. It's kind

39:48 ↗ of like a PSA. And so we asked them

39:50 ↗ about refusal skills or um you know a

39:53 ↗ note to my older self or a note to my

39:55 ↗ younger self. Um with the 2D art we've

39:58 ↗ let that be more expressive although I

40:00 ↗ think this year we want it to be more

40:02 ↗ like posters that we could put up. Uh we

40:05 ↗ really um utilize positive community

40:08 ↗ norms. So rather than focusing on the

40:10 ↗ negative, we try to focus on the

40:12 ↗ positive and I want students to drive

40:14 ↗ towards being part of that positive

40:16 ↗ norms in our community. Um, Power of Me,

40:19 ↗ Power of We is a youth conference for

40:21 ↗ middle schoolers. So, we do actually

40:23 ↗ work with students from 6th grade

40:25 ↗ through 12th. Um, although our tech

40:27 ↗ clubs right now at the high schools, uh,

40:29 ↗ we do do our work from sixth grade

40:31 ↗ through 12th grade. And the Power of Me

40:33 ↗ Power of We is focused on those middle

40:35 ↗ schoolers. It's usually our first

40:37 ↗ interaction with them. So, that's a

40:39 ↗ great uh tool for us. But it gives them

40:41 ↗ it's a five-hour program that they come

40:43 ↗ on a Friday on a Saturday and we really

40:46 ↗ talk about more leadership skills,

40:48 ↗ giving them courage to stand up for

40:51 ↗ themselves. Uh we talk about substance

40:53 ↗ use and the impact. So it's a great

40:55 ↗ opportunity for us to start building

40:57 ↗ those resiliency skills that will help

41:00 ↗ them later on. Um youth advocacy day, we

41:03 ↗ will take a ton of kids down to Olympia.

41:06 ↗ They do the advocacy work with the

41:08 ↗ legislators. So right now we're starting

41:11 ↗ our work of preparing them. What polit

41:13 ↗ what policies or programs are you

41:15 ↗ interested in talking about and um

41:18 ↗ really setting them up for success. But

41:20 ↗ they do all the speaking with the

41:21 ↗ legislators which is really great and

41:24 ↗ that really builds that leadership, that

41:26 ↗ resiliency, that confidence um that

41:28 ↗ helps them when it comes to refusal

41:30 ↗ skills, right? So you have to layer on

41:32 ↗ how to build those skills. And then a

41:34 ↗ new program that we've developed in

41:36 ↗ partnership with friends of youth is

41:38 ↗ called substance free athletes. We kind

41:40 ↗ of we are using the moniker protect your

41:42 ↗ game. Uh we've gotten permission uh and

41:45 ↗ actually licensed through uh but it's

41:47 ↗ working with coaches. So the coaches

41:49 ↗ will give two to three minute

41:50 ↗ discussions like little chats after

41:53 ↗ practice that are prevention related.

41:56 ↗ And um so that is a brand new program

41:58 ↗ that we have and much of our student

42:01 ↗ work is funded through a stop grant

42:04 ↗ through the federal government. So a lot

42:07 ↗ of our focus will be alcoholrelated

42:09 ↗ um because that's what that grant is

42:11 ↗ for. So um that's our our key programs.

42:16 ↗ Um I think I put this slide in twice.

42:18 ↗ >> Yep.

42:19 ↗ >> The other one was fancier.

42:21 ↗ >> Um hidden in plain sight. So, this is a

42:25 ↗ major program that we do with uh parent

42:28 ↗ education and that's related to we put

42:30 ↗ together a mock uh teen bedroom which

42:33 ↗ you can see my kids were messy. This

42:35 ↗ definitely emulates them. Um where

42:38 ↗ parents can look for items which might

42:40 ↗ indicate that they're um are substance

42:42 ↗ uh substance use and kind of giving them

42:45 ↗ some tips because there's so many things

42:47 ↗ out there that they would not recognize.

42:49 ↗ Our newest one is things like Zen or

42:51 ↗ Bellow, the um nicotine patch that you

42:54 ↗ can fit in. A lot of parents don't know

42:56 ↗ what those look like, what the packaging

42:58 ↗ looks like.

42:59 ↗ >> Um so our emphasis is highlighting

43:01 ↗ awareness rather than, you know,

43:02 ↗ inviting them to go snooping through

43:04 ↗ their uh child's room. But then what

43:06 ↗ happens is with then we have a

43:08 ↗ presentation and we guide parents

43:10 ↗ through how to have a conversation with

43:12 ↗ their child. So how do you start that?

43:15 ↗ It's very cumbersome to try to start a

43:17 ↗ conversation. What does that look like?

43:19 ↗ Uh we've partnered with Friends of Youth

43:21 ↗ over the past three hidden plain sites

43:23 ↗ to give important information related to

43:25 ↗ substance use. So Friends of Youth of

43:28 ↗ course is a great partner of ours. And

43:30 ↗ then finishing with clearly defined

43:31 ↗ expectations because we know that if

43:34 ↗ students know how their parents feel

43:36 ↗ that their parents are opposed to

43:37 ↗ substance use, they're 50% likely less

43:40 ↗ likely to use. And so um that is a

43:43 ↗ really important program for us um that

43:45 ↗ we are able to do about once a year.

43:51 ↗ Uh action forum for youth. This actually

43:53 ↗ just occurred last month. Uh we hold it

43:55 ↗ every September as we kick off the

43:57 ↗ beginning of school. We provide

43:59 ↗ information and data specific to youth

44:01 ↗ substance use in Isiqua in the Isiqua

44:04 ↗ school district which is our service

44:05 ↗ area. Um and then we talk about the

44:08 ↗ healthy youth survey which is offered

44:09 ↗ every other year. And we have an an

44:12 ↗ individual ITC survey that um I can send

44:15 ↗ you all the the link to because we are

44:18 ↗ actively collecting that now. Um we also

44:21 ↗ have a panel of youth that talk about

44:23 ↗ what they're seeing in schools, what

44:24 ↗ they're seeing with their friends. And

44:26 ↗ it's a great time for the community to

44:27 ↗ be able to ask youth directly um as to

44:31 ↗ um what's going on in the community. And

44:33 ↗ we usually have between 25 and 35

44:35 ↗ community members, leaders um uh that

44:40 ↗ will come. So, we'll have elected

44:41 ↗ officials there, um some school people

44:43 ↗ there, and then just people in general

44:45 ↗ who are interested in um supporting

44:47 ↗ students.

44:51 ↗ And then at our resource fairs, um this

44:53 ↗ is a one pager. We also have a three a

44:55 ↗ three-fold um handout that we give um

44:59 ↗ really how to talk to your in this case

45:01 ↗ that says teens, how do you talk to your

45:02 ↗ child about um substance use? So again,

45:05 ↗ taking those key points that we give at

45:07 ↗ the hidden in plain sight, how do we

45:09 ↗ give that in something that we can

45:10 ↗ interact with somebody shortly and have

45:12 ↗ them walk away with many of those same

45:14 ↗ tools. Um, so we have versions

45:17 ↗ differentiated by age. So we actually

45:19 ↗ have one for your younger child because

45:21 ↗ we would get so many people would come

45:22 ↗ up to the re at resource fairs and say,

45:24 ↗ "Oh, my kids are little. I don't need to

45:26 ↗ worry about that yet." And so we really

45:28 ↗ wanted to talk about how it is a

45:30 ↗ lifetime of letting students know how

45:32 ↗ you feel about substance use. Uh so we

45:35 ↗ have our flyer for teens is also

45:37 ↗ available in Spanish and Hindi as well

45:39 ↗ as English and um you in fact the Hindi

45:42 ↗ one I had one of our tech students did

45:44 ↗ the translations for us.

45:46 ↗ >> So um that's been great. This is the

45:48 ↗ onepage version. It's on our website so

45:50 ↗ you can go there if you wanted to um

45:53 ↗ take a look at that. Um you're welcome

45:56 ↗ print it out, take it to your friends.

45:58 ↗ Um, so we specifically hand these out at

46:00 ↗ the resource fairs such as national

46:02 ↗ night out, the isocross cultural fair

46:04 ↗ and salmon days.

46:08 ↗ So some of our program trends and

46:11 ↗ successes and challenges. By the way,

46:13 ↗ this is our students did a skate park

46:15 ↗ hangout and so we had um just pizza and

46:19 ↗ food and trying to create a a a fun

46:22 ↗ environment around the skate park. Um

46:24 ↗ and then we had them ask we asked

46:26 ↗ questions um of the people that were

46:29 ↗ there. So we were able to get some um

46:31 ↗ just some anecdotal data while we were

46:34 ↗ there. Um so some trends is program

46:37 ↗ participants appreciate the information

46:38 ↗ provided. So we always get really

46:41 ↗ positive feedback in our surveys from

46:43 ↗ those that attend. Um attendance at the

46:46 ↗ action forum for youth has been

46:47 ↗ consistent between 25 and 35 attendees

46:50 ↗ every year. Um and we have the

46:53 ↗ superintendent of the school district

46:55 ↗ will come and speak as well at that

46:57 ↗ event. And we're seeing greater

46:59 ↗ increased engagement um at our resource

47:02 ↗ fairs. In fact, I think we had over a

47:04 ↗ thousand attendees stop by um this past

47:07 ↗ salmon days.

47:09 ↗ >> So, which was probably double what we

47:11 ↗ had last year.

47:12 ↗ >> Wow. It's great.

47:13 ↗ >> Challenges. One is in-person attendance

47:16 ↗ limit is limited after COVID. it's still

47:18 ↗ difficult to get people to get out of

47:20 ↗ their house and do something. So, we're

47:22 ↗ looking at, especially with our hidden

47:24 ↗ in plain sight, is there a smaller

47:25 ↗ truncated version that we could do like

47:28 ↗ at PTSA meetings or to say if you're

47:30 ↗ having a community event, we can come in

47:32 ↗ and talk for 20 minutes. So, um I have a

47:35 ↗ staff member and I that are going to

47:37 ↗ look at what can we do to truncate that

47:39 ↗ so that then we can get out to more

47:41 ↗ people. Um it's also difficult to find

47:43 ↗ the right participants for our listening

47:45 ↗ sessions. Um and then also getting

47:48 ↗ feedback for the community survey. Same

47:50 ↗ kind of thing. How do we ensure we're

47:51 ↗ getting deeper, better data than the

47:54 ↗ healthy youth survey is able to provide

47:55 ↗ us? Um staffing inconsistencies over

47:58 ↗ that past 18 months. Although I am happy

48:00 ↗ to say I have found a unicorn is what

48:03 ↗ I've called my news member um Erica and

48:06 ↗ um she's been really fantastic. And so,

48:09 ↗ um, you know, my biggest concern is when

48:12 ↗ we're working with youth that they have

48:13 ↗ a consistent person that they can begin

48:16 ↗ to build relationships with. And so, um,

48:18 ↗ I'm really excited about, uh, what

48:20 ↗ she'll be able to bring to the table.

48:22 ↗ And then our last big challenge is

48:24 ↗ federal funding pause. Um, because I

48:28 ↗ think it's probably like 70% of our

48:30 ↗ funding is through the federal

48:31 ↗ government. and then the lack that the

48:33 ↗ of the county and state funding

48:35 ↗ opportunities. They look at our programs

48:37 ↗ and say that's great work but we find

48:40 ↗ our resources better spent somewhere

48:42 ↗ else. Um so I think that's difficult and

48:45 ↗ you'll see why we're victims of our own

48:48 ↗ success and I'll get into that in just a

48:49 ↗ moment. Um significant increase in tech

48:52 ↗ student involvement is a key success. So

48:55 ↗ we have nearly tripled the number of

48:57 ↗ students involved just in our um intra

49:00 ↗ district and then it's um exponential

49:03 ↗ when you look at the clubs a great

49:06 ↗ turnout engagement from salmon days as I

49:08 ↗ mentioned increased volunteers so the

49:10 ↗ parents of our tech students are now

49:12 ↗ engaged with the work that we're doing

49:15 ↗ um which I had never witnessed before so

49:17 ↗ I'm really excited about that and then

49:20 ↗ um continued increase in the percentage

49:22 ↗ of students not using alcohol and other

49:24 ↗ drugs And I'll get into that when we

49:26 ↗ talk about that specific data, which I

49:29 ↗ think is the next slide. So, here is

49:31 ↗ where I talk about victims of our own

49:33 ↗ success. When before we started or when

49:36 ↗ we actually started as an organization

49:37 ↗ trying to go out for a drug-free

49:39 ↗ community grant, we were at 433% of 12th

49:43 ↗ graders saying that they'd had alcohol

49:45 ↗ in the past 30 days.

49:47 ↗ >> In the last healthy youth survey, that

49:48 ↗ was down to 13%.

49:51 ↗ A 70% reduction. So that's why I say

49:54 ↗ people go, I really appreciate the work

49:56 ↗ you're doing. It's good work. I could

49:58 ↗ use my money elsewhere where they have a

50:00 ↗ greater need. So they don't see that we

50:03 ↗ have a greater need. But of course, we

50:04 ↗ know it's new students every year.

50:07 ↗ >> And so we have to keep up the work if

50:09 ↗ we're going to keep up the numbers. Um

50:10 ↗ so you can see that's 30-day alcohol

50:13 ↗ use. And um you know, you can take a

50:16 ↗ deeper dive when you get these slides.

50:18 ↗ Um the next one

50:20 ↗ is um for marijuana use. So 30 days. So

50:23 ↗ the question in the healthy youth survey

50:25 ↗ is, have you used, you know, um,

50:28 ↗ marijuana in the past 30 days? There's

50:30 ↗ actually, it's asked several different

50:32 ↗ ways. People ask us all the time like,

50:34 ↗ okay, what if the kid just says no, no,

50:36 ↗ no, no, no, or yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

50:38 ↗ Um, so it's asked in different ways at

50:40 ↗ different points so that they're able to

50:42 ↗ throw out things where there's

50:43 ↗ inconsistencies.

50:45 ↗ Um, so you'll see a 16 point reduction

50:48 ↗ or a 16 point reduction, 64% reduction

50:52 ↗ in uh 30-day Mary want to use in 12th

50:55 ↗ grade. And the reason I focus on 12th

50:56 ↗ grade is one, it can track how their

50:59 ↗ behavior has changed over the years and

51:02 ↗ what are they doing as they are entering

51:04 ↗ into adulthood. And you can see it's it

51:07 ↗ spikes. That's when they have the

51:08 ↗ highest use.

51:10 ↗ And then the last one is use of

51:12 ↗ prescription drugs to get high.

51:15 ↗ um by Isqua school district students.

51:17 ↗ And so that's gone from 5% in 12th grade

51:20 ↗ down to 2%. So again, a 60% reduction.

51:24 ↗ Um and um

51:26 ↗ >> you can say there's been a little bit of

51:28 ↗ an increase, but when you're talking 1%

51:29 ↗ to 2%,

51:31 ↗ >> it's almost nominal, right? Um, and I do

51:34 ↗ think that the biggest impact in 2019,

51:37 ↗ we had two students die of fentanyl

51:39 ↗ poisoning um, at the Skyline area. And,

51:44 ↗ you know, I think that that was a coming

51:47 ↗ together of the community, but we've

51:49 ↗ also in a health in a hidden in plain

51:52 ↗ sight that we held in 2021, we had the

51:54 ↗ DEA there and they kind of called out

51:56 ↗ like we have programs and we're not in

51:58 ↗ the schools. and the superintendent was

52:01 ↗ at that event and she's like, "Well, I

52:02 ↗ can solve that problem." And so they put

52:04 ↗ together um a training that is now in

52:07 ↗ all of the health classes that kids will

52:09 ↗ see every year regarding fentanyl and

52:12 ↗ and its dangers. So I think that that

52:14 ↗ was helpful. So it's nice to know that

52:16 ↗ we were a catalyst for building that

52:18 ↗ relationship

52:21 ↗ and that was what I had. I'm open to

52:24 ↗ questions. When you do the healthy youth

52:27 ↗ survey, is that um administered

52:30 ↗ exclusively in Iska school districts? I

52:32 ↗ know you do some stuff in the Lake

52:33 ↗ Washington school district as well,

52:36 ↗ >> right? So the healthy youth survey is

52:39 ↗ done by the district, but it's um it's a

52:41 ↗ statewide test, so it's available.

52:42 ↗ >> Okay, thanks.

52:43 ↗ >> Got it.

52:44 ↗ >> Um there are some requirements that you

52:46 ↗ have to meet a threshold of 40% or more

52:49 ↗ of the students in that class to take it

52:51 ↗ in order to have that data available. So

52:53 ↗ when we look at these numbers, there's

52:55 ↗ also, you know, well, how many students

52:56 ↗ is that really? It's actually a large

52:59 ↗ number of students.

53:00 ↗ >> Okay.

53:00 ↗ >> Um, but we are getting dangerously close

53:03 ↗ to that 40%. Um, so I had a lot of

53:06 ↗ conversations with the superintendent.

53:08 ↗ We have a joint letter that goes out to

53:09 ↗ the teachers administering the test. And

53:12 ↗ then I was talking about what day of the

53:14 ↗ week, when is that test administered?

53:16 ↗ Because if you do it on their Wednesday

53:18 ↗ flex time at the end of the day, all the

53:20 ↗ seniors are going to jump in their car

53:21 ↗ and go home.

53:22 ↗ >> Yeah. So that was one of the things. I

53:24 ↗ don't know what the result of when

53:25 ↗ that's going to be, but and it's being

53:27 ↗ taken this month. So it's every two

53:29 ↗ years. It's administered in October. Um

53:32 ↗ we skipped 2020 because of COVID. Um

53:35 ↗ none of the kids are in school. Um so

53:37 ↗ then so that's that's why there's an

53:39 ↗ asterk by 21. It's because it was a

53:42 ↗ different cadre of kids. Um but yeah, so

53:46 ↗ we're pretty confident in those numbers

53:48 ↗ and they are similar. Now then the

53:51 ↗ amount is is you know um remarkably down

53:55 ↗ in our district but across the nation

53:58 ↗ there has been drops in substance use

54:00 ↗ not to the levels that we're at but

54:02 ↗ definitely across the nation. So this

54:04 ↗ generation of students and some ponder

54:07 ↗ you had kids at home that watched there

54:10 ↗ was a lot of joking about daydrinking

54:12 ↗ amongst parents

54:14 ↗ >> and that was real

54:16 ↗ >> and were students watching that and

54:18 ↗ making decisions about healthy decisions

54:21 ↗ for themselves after that? It's just a

54:23 ↗ pondering um that there hasn't been a

54:26 ↗ lot of data about why students aren't

54:28 ↗ using. Have we just been really good at

54:30 ↗ showing them um the dangers? Is it is

54:34 ↗ our education better? So, that's some of

54:36 ↗ the information that we're trying to do

54:38 ↗ some listening sessions with youth to

54:40 ↗ get at. What is it that is um causing

54:44 ↗ that significant drop in

54:47 ↗ >> in use of

54:47 ↗ >> I was I was reading statistics that Gen

54:49 ↗ Z is like the least interested in

54:51 ↗ alcohol.

54:52 ↗ >> So, we're curious.

54:53 ↗ >> Yeah.

54:55 ↗ >> So, maybe there's some

54:58 ↗ >> Ray I sorry

55:00 ↗ >> I was just going to say whatever you

55:01 ↗ call this high school generation. Are

55:02 ↗ they also Gen Z?

55:03 ↗ >> They still still are Gen Z. Yeah.

55:06 ↗ >> Middle school though I think I think is

55:08 ↗ still in elementary is Gen Alpha. So I

55:10 ↗ think middle school there might be some

55:12 ↗ transition in there.

55:13 ↗ >> Starting back over a

55:18 ↗ >> learning Greek this time. Oh yeah, mom's

55:21 ↗ gonna be boomer.

55:25 ↗ >> They should be Gen AI because that's

55:26 ↗ what's

55:28 ↗ >> Yeah, that's

55:30 ↗ >> I want to welcome Ray I thought his hand

55:32 ↗ up. So did you have a question Ray?

55:35 ↗ >> Yeah. Yeah. Hi Marne. It's nice to see

55:36 ↗ you again.

55:37 ↗ >> Um what's what's prompted the the sudden

55:40 ↗ the the in which is a great report the

55:43 ↗ the engagement of parents?

55:45 ↗ >> You've mentioned that. What's what

55:47 ↗ something you did differently? Um well,

55:49 ↗ yeah, we actually did um change up our

55:52 ↗ resource fair a little bit this year to

55:54 ↗ try to draw people in. Um one is

55:56 ↗ apparently it word got out about these

55:58 ↗ spinners and you just spin and pick a

56:01 ↗ number, but we wanted to make sure that

56:03 ↗ we weren't just having them spin for a

56:04 ↗ prize. You actually spun and based on

56:07 ↗ the number you picked, we had age

56:09 ↗ appropriate questions. So because adults

56:11 ↗ would want to spin, you know, older kids

56:13 ↗ and when they were little, you have to

56:15 ↗ have different questions, but we would

56:16 ↗ ask them questions related to

56:19 ↗ substances.

56:20 ↗ >> My kid did that at your school.

56:22 ↗ >> Oh, that's great.

56:23 ↗ >> They had to identify uh which pack was a

56:27 ↗ no no and the one with the marijuana

56:29 ↗ leaf was a no no, but he's never seen

56:31 ↗ one. So then it was a great opportunity

56:32 ↗ for me to explain it to him.

56:34 ↗ >> He actually knows about it in Hindi but

56:36 ↗ not in English. And so then I was able

56:38 ↗ to

56:39 ↗ >> connect those dots

56:40 ↗ >> and it was really wonderful.

56:41 ↗ >> That's great. That was the second piece

56:43 ↗ that changed is we did like a small we

56:45 ↗ did an a second table that was like a

56:48 ↗ small setup of our hidden in plain

56:49 ↗ sight. So we could have some of those

56:51 ↗ items and the number of parents we would

56:53 ↗ show them like a real c a bag of normal

56:56 ↗ candy and a bag what the what it looks

56:58 ↗ like a bag of candy that's actually

57:01 ↗ infused with THC

57:03 ↗ >> and how little the the the

57:07 ↗ um packaging requirements were

57:10 ↗ >> and we had another one that was from

57:11 ↗ another state. So because it's not

57:14 ↗ federally allowed, there's no federal

57:16 ↗ standards. And so while ours actually is

57:19 ↗ big and huge compared to this other one

57:21 ↗ that had this smallest thing that said

57:23 ↗ 100 milligrams of THC in a mint,

57:26 ↗ right? So it was a great opportunity and

57:29 ↗ so I think it was compelling enough

57:31 ↗ where we were located. We're on the

57:33 ↗ corner so we were able to have kind of

57:34 ↗ this corner

57:36 ↗ >> display and parents came up and

57:40 ↗ was very effective. Thank you.

57:42 ↗ >> That's great feedback. And the weather

57:43 ↗ was great and the grand was great.

57:46 ↗ >> Now you uh you had the percentage and

57:49 ↗ you had points on some of those. What

57:51 ↗ was the point?

57:52 ↗ >> So that so if it went from 43% to 13%

57:57 ↗ that's actually 30 points percentage

58:00 ↗ points that it went down.

58:03 ↗ And then the other one was the

58:04 ↗ percentage of you know how much is 30

58:07 ↗ points?

58:08 ↗ >> Math.

58:08 ↗ >> It's math.

58:09 ↗ >> Math. I'm sorry. just math.

58:14 ↗ >> I was a math teacher.

58:19 ↗ >> Well, any other questions for Marty?

58:20 ↗ What a wonderful presentation and learn

58:22 ↗ all the great events that you do. It's a

58:24 ↗ great it's impactful.

58:26 ↗ >> Yeah.

58:29 ↗ >> And I do want to point out I'm I'm also

58:31 ↗ I'm the treasurer of Influence of

58:32 ↗ Choice. Um but the service area is the

58:37 ↗ Isiqua School District. So, we're very

58:40 ↗ specific to helping the the kids in this

58:43 ↗ area.

58:44 ↗ >> Huge. Yeah.

58:46 ↗ >> Thank you. Thank you so much, Marty.

58:48 ↗ Great to see you this evening.

58:52 ↗ >> All right. Next is the community

58:54 ↗ clothing closet. You folks are Angela,

58:56 ↗ Cheryl, and Lisa.

58:58 ↗ >> Okay. We got three of you. So, let's get

59:00 ↗ you let's get you comfortable here. Um

59:03 ↗ Amy, why don't you sit right here? Give

59:05 ↗ them your chair.

59:07 ↗ Just gonna scooch over so you all have

59:09 ↗ the head of the table.

59:11 ↗ >> Don used to be thanks

59:18 ↗ to I was listening to you with the

59:21 ↗ passage.

59:26 ↗ >> Why don't you do an introduction? Just

59:28 ↗ give me a second. I had it up but it

59:29 ↗ disappeared.

59:30 ↗ >> Yeah. No problem. Yes. Um well, thank

59:32 ↗ you. I mean this has been really great

59:34 ↗ being here with all these other

59:35 ↗ organizations. like it it's amazing all

59:38 ↗ that goes on in Isakqua. So, thank you

59:40 ↗ for the time that you're giving us

59:42 ↗ tonight. Um we're very excited to talk

59:45 ↗ to you about the the newest I think

59:46 ↗ probably nonprofit in Isaakqua, our

59:49 ↗ community clothing closet. Um, we'll

59:51 ↗ just start tonight um telling you a

59:53 ↗ little bit about who we are and about

59:56 ↗ what we do um and um and then talk about

1:00:00 ↗ the small impact we've had so far um and

1:00:03 ↗ how that may align with commission goals

1:00:05 ↗ and then we'll have time set for some

1:00:07 ↗ questions. So, um I am Angela Duria. I

1:00:10 ↗ am the director of community engagement.

1:00:14 ↗ >> And I am Cheryl Daf and I'm the director

1:00:16 ↗ of operations. and I'm Lisa Stratton and

1:00:18 ↗ I'm the director of communications.

1:00:22 ↗ >> So, I think, you know, like most

1:00:25 ↗ nonprofits, there's um some real uh

1:00:28 ↗ grassroots and heart and compassion

1:00:32 ↗ uh to our origin story.

1:00:35 ↗ Um I will try to make this brief, but

1:00:37 ↗ there's a there's a lot to how we got

1:00:39 ↗ started, but um I will try to try to

1:00:42 ↗ keep it to a minimum. Um the three of us

1:00:45 ↗ met uh at the at the um Isqua food and

1:00:48 ↗ clothing bank um where you know since co

1:00:52 ↗ and since um since co they have seen a

1:00:55 ↗ need in the increase in um food and

1:00:58 ↗ nutrition support and so they've had to

1:01:01 ↗ reduce their um their clothing

1:01:03 ↗ operations there and we have seen that

1:01:05 ↗ firsthand um you know whenever whenever

1:01:08 ↗ we're there um volunteering um but

1:01:11 ↗ before that um before the three of us

1:01:13 ↗ met. Actually, Cheryl and I um back in

1:01:17 ↗ 2024

1:01:18 ↗ um assisted at the um school district's

1:01:22 ↗ back to re back to school resource fair

1:01:24 ↗ where we helped out with the with the

1:01:26 ↗ clothing closet there. Um, and uh, Lorna

1:01:29 ↗ Gilmore, who I think many of you

1:01:31 ↗ probably know, um, who is the, um,

1:01:34 ↗ equity and family partnerships

1:01:38 ↗ director, I guess you could call her, at

1:01:40 ↗ at the school district, um, was head of

1:01:43 ↗ that head of head of that project. Um,

1:01:46 ↗ and really convinced planted the seed

1:01:49 ↗ for Cheryl and I.

1:01:51 ↗ >> She challenged us.

1:01:52 ↗ >> Challenged us definitely. she did

1:01:54 ↗ >> um to think about the clothing need and

1:01:57 ↗ is involved particularly on her end

1:01:59 ↗ particularly with students that kid

1:02:01 ↗ manage can't support. Um and so you know

1:02:04 ↗ we we talked about that and we we

1:02:07 ↗ brought it back to the food bank and we

1:02:09 ↗ connected with Lisa and it all just just

1:02:12 ↗ sort of came together.

1:02:14 ↗ Um and then um through our partnership

1:02:18 ↗ with the city um this past spring um we

1:02:24 ↗ saw, you know, what we could what we

1:02:26 ↗ could do with a community clothing swap

1:02:28 ↗ um and who we could serve. And that

1:02:30 ↗ really just gave us the encouragement to

1:02:31 ↗ be like, "Okay, this is this that we can

1:02:33 ↗ do it. We can do it." And so we we we we

1:02:37 ↗ dove in

1:02:39 ↗ >> and we're doing it.

1:02:40 ↗ >> And we're doing it. And we're doing it.

1:02:42 ↗ Yep. Um,

1:02:46 ↗ so our mission, um, is pretty pretty

1:02:49 ↗ basic, I would say. Um, I'm going to

1:02:51 ↗ read it to you. To provide quality

1:02:53 ↗ clothing at no cost to those who need it

1:02:55 ↗ most. To unite communities through

1:02:58 ↗ events grounded in compassion over

1:03:00 ↗ commerce and champion sustainability by

1:03:02 ↗ keeping clothes out of landfills and

1:03:04 ↗ into deposits where they belong. Um,

1:03:08 ↗ simply put, our goals are to fill that

1:03:11 ↗ that clothing need that's in our

1:03:13 ↗ community. Um, for for everyone, for for

1:03:16 ↗ for youth, for adults, for teens, um,

1:03:19 ↗ for our seniors. Um, we um, you know, we

1:03:23 ↗ want to provide um, opportunities for

1:03:26 ↗ our community to come together um, in

1:03:29 ↗ all aspects and work together for a

1:03:30 ↗ common goal. So for you know provide

1:03:33 ↗ opportunities for for people to donate,

1:03:35 ↗ for people to volunteer, and then for

1:03:37 ↗ people just to come together and reap

1:03:40 ↗ the benefits of that um no matter what

1:03:42 ↗ their need is. Um and then just to do

1:03:44 ↗ our small part um environmentally um by

1:03:48 ↗ by reducing waste and and reducing the

1:03:50 ↗ things that are going into our

1:03:51 ↗ landfills.

1:03:53 ↗ >> All right. So, um, in a moment, Lisa is

1:03:56 ↗ going to tell us how we do this, but I'm

1:03:59 ↗ going to tell you a little bit of

1:04:02 ↗ reiteration as to why we're doing it

1:04:04 ↗ because we feel pretty strongly about

1:04:05 ↗ what it is we're doing.

1:04:07 ↗ >> Um,

1:04:09 ↗ first of all, there's a great need in

1:04:10 ↗ this community for clothing resources. I

1:04:12 ↗ think everyone agrees with that.

1:04:15 ↗ >> Um, the food bank, which you just

1:04:17 ↗ toured, did you the first time you've

1:04:19 ↗ been there?

1:04:21 ↗ >> It's a great It's a great organization.

1:04:23 ↗ Yeah. Um, you know, they made the very

1:04:25 ↗ difficult decision to to close their

1:04:27 ↗ clothing bank during COVID and they're

1:04:29 ↗ just not able to resurrect it because of

1:04:33 ↗ the need for food. So, because of the

1:04:37 ↗ amazing generosity of the cities of of

1:04:40 ↗ the people of Isqua, we're able through

1:04:42 ↗ our events to provide free

1:04:48 ↗ >> high quality clothing to anyone who

1:04:51 ↗ needs it. um in our events. It's quite

1:04:54 ↗ something. There's no barriers. We ask

1:04:56 ↗ no questions. Everyone is free to come

1:04:59 ↗ and participate in it. Um the second

1:05:02 ↗ thing we feel strongly about is uh we

1:05:04 ↗ think there's a community need in every

1:05:06 ↗ community really to come together and do

1:05:09 ↗ some work for good especially now this

1:05:12 ↗ at these times. Um, as Angela mentioned,

1:05:16 ↗ we have these these we had one in May.

1:05:18 ↗ We're having another one next week, a

1:05:21 ↗ free shopping event. Did were any of you

1:05:23 ↗ able to come in May when we had our

1:05:25 ↗ first event? Well, I hope you can come

1:05:28 ↗ next week. We're having a donation day

1:05:30 ↗ on Monday, shopping day on Tuesday. It

1:05:32 ↗ brings everyone together, the donors,

1:05:35 ↗ the volunteer, the shoppers in this

1:05:37 ↗ fabulous environment of fun. There's

1:05:41 ↗ respect, there's dignity, and there's

1:05:43 ↗ joy in it because we discovered that

1:05:47 ↗ people really like free clothing. Really

1:05:50 ↗ do like it, and we like to give it. Um,

1:05:53 ↗ we're so grateful to the city of Isqua

1:05:55 ↗ and Pickering Barn for allowing us to

1:05:57 ↗ use that beautiful event space that we

1:06:00 ↗ get in Pickering Barn. Um, we're also

1:06:03 ↗ encouraging civic participation by

1:06:06 ↗ inviting everyone to come volunteer who

1:06:08 ↗ wants to with us. Um, you know, we have

1:06:11 ↗ been working at the food bank for a

1:06:13 ↗ number of years and we recognize the

1:06:16 ↗ power of a great group of of dedicated

1:06:19 ↗ volunteers and so we're using them as

1:06:22 ↗ our role model to put together um a

1:06:26 ↗ volunteer court made up of Isuka

1:06:28 ↗ residents. It's just their community and

1:06:31 ↗ and they're participating is quite

1:06:32 ↗ awesome. And finally, we feel strongly

1:06:35 ↗ about sustainability. We're passionate

1:06:37 ↗ about it actually and we want to do our

1:06:40 ↗ part so future generations can enjoy

1:06:44 ↗ this beautiful place that we live,

1:06:46 ↗ Isuzu. And um so our clothes are keeping

1:06:50 ↗ our events are keeping clothes out of

1:06:52 ↗ landfills and into closets where they

1:06:54 ↗ really belong. Um, we call it a circular

1:06:57 ↗ closet actually because we have found

1:07:00 ↗ that when you provide a place for people

1:07:02 ↗ to donate clothes that they feel good

1:07:05 ↗ about, then they will absolutely do it.

1:07:08 ↗ It's shocking the amount of clothes that

1:07:09 ↗ we got in this first event and then

1:07:12 ↗ leading up to the second event. I think

1:07:14 ↗ we have as many clothes now

1:07:16 ↗ >> pre-event that we had at our event in

1:07:20 ↗ May. And so people will donate and

1:07:22 ↗ they're so generous. And so what happens

1:07:25 ↗ is they donate their clothes to us. We

1:07:29 ↗ curate those clothes and we turn around

1:07:31 ↗ and regift it back out into the

1:07:33 ↗ community to people who need it. Is

1:07:35 ↗ quite something how it works.

1:07:37 ↗ >> Um and then within our organization,

1:07:40 ↗ we're also um very committed to buying

1:07:43 ↗ used equipment. I swear Lisa has driven

1:07:46 ↗ around the county in search of used

1:07:49 ↗ clothing racks. We have many now, many

1:07:52 ↗ for free. Actually, we've um collected

1:07:56 ↗ 75 boxes of used hangers from a retail

1:08:00 ↗ store in Auburn that were they were just

1:08:02 ↗ going to throw it away

1:08:03 ↗ >> and so we have them now. We're going to

1:08:05 ↗ use them and reuse them. Um we're using

1:08:08 ↗ >> paper bags

1:08:11 ↗ for shop for our shoppers.

1:08:12 ↗ >> Yes, absolutely. Excuse me. We have

1:08:15 ↗ closet um shelving that we're using for

1:08:18 ↗ our clothing displays and we've designed

1:08:22 ↗ um event signage that is evergreen and

1:08:26 ↗ we can use it over and over again. Um

1:08:29 ↗ things are there's movable parts on them

1:08:31 ↗ and so we can use it for any event any

1:08:34 ↗ day.

1:08:34 ↗ >> Do you have a storage space?

1:08:36 ↗ >> We do a storage space. Yes, we do. We'll

1:08:39 ↗ get to that.

1:08:39 ↗ >> We do. We'll get to that. Yeah.

1:08:42 ↗ >> Um okay. So, next slide. the need in is

1:08:44 ↗ appla I'm sure I'm preaching to the

1:08:46 ↗ choir here but you know is applaud

1:08:50 ↗ community but there's also great need

1:08:52 ↗ here we see it every week when we

1:08:55 ↗ volunteer at the food bank and we

1:08:57 ↗ absolutely see it at our clothing events

1:09:00 ↗ um and you know clothing is a basic need

1:09:03 ↗ it is not optional um it's critically

1:09:07 ↗ important for employment school

1:09:10 ↗ attendance mental health and social

1:09:12 ↗ inclusion

1:09:13 ↗ And as we all know, the cost of

1:09:15 ↗ clothing, like everything else,

1:09:16 ↗ continues to rise. So, you know,

1:09:20 ↗ statistically, almost 6% of Music

1:09:22 ↗ residents live below the poverty line,

1:09:25 ↗ including 11% of disabled individuals

1:09:28 ↗ and 39%

1:09:30 ↗ of the people without a high school

1:09:32 ↗ diploma. you know, looking at the food

1:09:34 ↗ bank, they serve 8,000 clients or more

1:09:38 ↗ >> annually, and they're no longer able to

1:09:40 ↗ provide clothing services to those

1:09:42 ↗ clients. So, they distribute 2600 power

1:09:46 ↗ packs every month to students who need

1:09:50 ↗ um food support over the weekends. And

1:09:52 ↗ shockingly, there are are a number of

1:09:55 ↗ students in the school district who are

1:09:57 ↗ homeless. They don't have a place to

1:09:59 ↗ live. So, you know, these are these are

1:10:02 ↗ numbers on a slide, but actually these

1:10:04 ↗ are our numbers. These are people and

1:10:07 ↗ they need our help. So, Lisa's going to

1:10:11 ↗ tell us now how we do this, where we

1:10:15 ↗ >> So, we have kind of a novel approach

1:10:17 ↗ like you asked about storage. Um, and we

1:10:20 ↗ do we partner really closely with the

1:10:23 ↗ Isiqua um food bank. They uh let us use

1:10:27 ↗ the upstairs space in their warehouse.

1:10:29 ↗ It's like over by Target. It's not an

1:10:32 ↗ optimal space because we can only get

1:10:34 ↗ into it when they're there. It's

1:10:36 ↗ upstairs, so everything gets carried up

1:10:39 ↗ the stairs and everything goes down the

1:10:40 ↗ stairs. There's not an elevator. We

1:10:43 ↗ packed seven pallets to prepare for

1:10:46 ↗ Monday's event and they have like a

1:10:49 ↗ forklift that they have to bring it

1:10:51 ↗ down. So, it's a whole thing. But as of

1:10:53 ↗ tomorrow, we are going to rent our own

1:10:55 ↗ storage space. We got a small grant and

1:10:58 ↗ that's going to use to fund it. We're

1:11:00 ↗ very excited because then we'll have

1:11:01 ↗ access to a small a very small space and

1:11:05 ↗ it's a way to get started.

1:11:07 ↗ >> Yes.

1:11:08 ↗ >> Um but what what we do is we manage by

1:11:10 ↗ popup events. So we don't have a

1:11:12 ↗ dedicated store um where people can come

1:11:15 ↗ in and shop. We have these pop-up

1:11:17 ↗ events. Our next one um is a big one.

1:11:20 ↗ It's coming up at Pickering Barn on

1:11:22 ↗ Monday. Um, we have them in that that

1:11:25 ↗ large venue and then we also are

1:11:27 ↗ offering them in smaller venues where we

1:11:29 ↗ will show up at Isqua Food Bank, Renewal

1:11:31 ↗ Food Bank in Belleview. We bring our

1:11:33 ↗ four racks and our, you know, 25 boxes

1:11:36 ↗ of clothing and hang them there and like

1:11:38 ↗ we instantly have like a mini store for

1:11:40 ↗ for those clients to shop in

1:11:42 ↗ immediately. So, our large events are

1:11:46 ↗ where the previously where the biggest

1:11:49 ↗ influx of clothing would come from. Now,

1:11:51 ↗ we have a conversation with someone and

1:11:53 ↗ they're like, "Oh my god, take my

1:11:55 ↗ clothes."

1:11:57 ↗ >> But we have these large donation days.

1:12:00 ↗ Monday is our donation day at Pickering

1:12:02 ↗ Barn and community members will come

1:12:04 ↗ come by and what we found last we put up

1:12:06 ↗ signage around Pickering Barn and what

1:12:08 ↗ we found was that there were people who

1:12:10 ↗ like had it on their calendars and they

1:12:11 ↗ planned to come and then there were

1:12:13 ↗ people who just drove by, saw the sign,

1:12:15 ↗ drove home, came back and were like,

1:12:18 ↗ "This has been sitting in my front

1:12:20 ↗ entryway. I've been wanting to donate it

1:12:23 ↗ but I don't feel comfortable bringing it

1:12:25 ↗ to Goodwill. I don't want to give it to

1:12:26 ↗ Value Village. I want it to go to

1:12:28 ↗ someone in need and they are delighted

1:12:31 ↗ to bring it to us. And so then what we

1:12:34 ↗ do is we turn it into a free shopping

1:12:37 ↗ day. So every anyone from the community

1:12:39 ↗ is invited to come back on Tuesday and

1:12:42 ↗ for no catch, no registration, just go

1:12:45 ↗ in. We provide the shopping bag and they

1:12:47 ↗ can take whatever they need from the

1:12:50 ↗ floor. At this time we're entirely

1:12:53 ↗ volunteerrun, us included. We had a

1:12:57 ↗ small but mighty crew of 22 volunteers

1:13:00 ↗ who helped piece together our May event.

1:13:03 ↗ We hope to have close to or over a

1:13:06 ↗ hundred volunteers for our Tuesday

1:13:09 ↗ Monday Tuesday event because there there

1:13:12 ↗ is such a need like we're going and then

1:13:15 ↗ some.

1:13:16 ↗ >> So now let me talk a little bit about

1:13:18 ↗ the impact that we've had so far. Um, so

1:13:21 ↗ our big communitywide event back in May,

1:13:24 ↗ over a hundred people donated, again,

1:13:27 ↗ you know, driving by or pre-planning it,

1:13:30 ↗ they brought 250 bags or more of

1:13:32 ↗ clothing um clothing shoes and

1:13:35 ↗ accessories for kids, men, and women,

1:13:38 ↗ >> which which was two tons.

1:13:41 ↗ >> Two tons of of clothes. Yeah, it was a

1:13:44 ↗ lot. Um, and we had, as I mentioned, we

1:13:48 ↗ had the 22 volunteers who, you know,

1:13:50 ↗ folded, sorted, arranged the clothing

1:13:52 ↗ into the retail space of Pickering Barn.

1:13:56 ↗ And then that next day, we had over 500

1:13:59 ↗ shoppers come in and just joyfully shop

1:14:02 ↗ for free. It was it was really kind of a

1:14:04 ↗ magical.

1:14:07 ↗ >> So, our next event is next Monday and

1:14:10 ↗ Tuesday. Very timely. And I we're

1:14:13 ↗ predicting it's going to be at least

1:14:14 ↗ twice as big, if not more. We've been

1:14:17 ↗ promoting it for the last several

1:14:18 ↗ months. We're now an established

1:14:20 ↗ nonprofit. We've got a website. I love

1:14:22 ↗ that you've been looking at it. And

1:14:24 ↗ we've got a Facebook page. Like we're,

1:14:25 ↗ you know, there are people who are very

1:14:27 ↗ excited about it. We already have a

1:14:30 ↗ bunch of clothing going into it. And so

1:14:32 ↗ it's it's just going to be enormous. So

1:14:35 ↗ that's okay because um Oh, let me This

1:14:39 ↗ is this is um couple of pictures. No.

1:14:42 ↗ Um, yeah, there's a couple pictures of

1:14:43 ↗ to give you a small sense for what it

1:14:46 ↗ was like. It's hard to capture the size

1:14:48 ↗ of Pickering Barn. This that's standing

1:14:51 ↗ halfway

1:14:52 ↗ in like in between. So, there's like a

1:14:56 ↗ bunch of clothing on the left and a

1:14:58 ↗ bunch of clothing behind me. We have

1:14:59 ↗ rows and rows of shoes, but tables,

1:15:02 ↗ racks. We're going to have all hopefully

1:15:05 ↗ all racks. Very few tables this time.

1:15:08 ↗ Are we doing it anyway? Like this. This

1:15:10 ↗ is generally what what you can expect at

1:15:12 ↗ it. So then in addition to this large

1:15:16 ↗ event that we're having twice a year,

1:15:18 ↗ we're doing smaller targeted events.

1:15:22 ↗ These are, you know, with partners like

1:15:24 ↗ Isqua Food Bank, um, Renewal Food Bank.

1:15:27 ↗ I also gave my card to Brooke and was

1:15:29 ↗ like, "Hey, we can give you guys free

1:15:31 ↗ clothes." Like it's it's that kind of

1:15:33 ↗ thing. We're always looking for

1:15:34 ↗ connections. YWCA like how Hutcherson

1:15:38 ↗ House like we have all these

1:15:39 ↗ conversations floating around where

1:15:41 ↗ we're like we've got all of this

1:15:44 ↗ clothing. We know that there are people

1:15:46 ↗ out there in need. We just need to

1:15:48 ↗ connect to them and we show up with our

1:15:51 ↗ four racks and our 25 boxes of clothing

1:15:56 ↗ >> up and a tent and we are ready to go.

1:16:01 ↗ Bring it to them. We're bringing it

1:16:03 ↗ bring it to them. Yeah.

1:16:04 ↗ >> So, we've distributed through these

1:16:06 ↗ three events that we had 75 boxes of

1:16:10 ↗ clothing. We've sort of learned along

1:16:12 ↗ the way. We started out with 10

1:16:14 ↗ volunteers. Spent an hour and a half

1:16:16 ↗ hanging before our first event. I got

1:16:18 ↗ smart and I had the the neighbor kids

1:16:20 ↗ help us hang and we went into our third

1:16:22 ↗ event with like bags ready to just pull

1:16:25 ↗ out everything onto the hangers. The

1:16:28 ↗ kids had a great time. Like we were

1:16:30 ↗ like, "This is so great." Um, and that

1:16:32 ↗ was fantastic. Every time we do

1:16:34 ↗ something, every conversation we have,

1:16:36 ↗ every every event we do, we learn

1:16:38 ↗ something. It's

1:16:40 ↗ >> No, I can learn so much.

1:16:44 ↗ >> Um, I'll just add something if you don't

1:16:46 ↗ mind, L, because I think what's

1:16:48 ↗ beautiful about um these kind of two

1:16:51 ↗ formats that you're you've started with

1:16:53 ↗ the pop-up smaller version is that you

1:16:55 ↗ are meeting the needs where you know the

1:16:58 ↗ needs are. What's really impactful and

1:17:00 ↗ powerful about like the Pickering Barn

1:17:02 ↗ is you don't know who really needs it,

1:17:04 ↗ right?

1:17:05 ↗ >> You don't know who just is excited to

1:17:06 ↗ like, you know,

1:17:08 ↗ >> which which is part of the the the

1:17:10 ↗ community building because when we were

1:17:13 ↗ there in May, we we you literally didn't

1:17:16 ↗ know

1:17:17 ↗ >> was unhoused

1:17:18 ↗ >> who who where the need was, who why why

1:17:21 ↗ the why they were there. Yeah.

1:17:23 ↗ >> But every person was happy to be there.

1:17:25 ↗ I mean, there were people that were

1:17:27 ↗ excited because they could get that

1:17:29 ↗ these clothes weren't going, you know,

1:17:31 ↗ environmentalists that were excited that

1:17:32 ↗ clothes weren't going into Orlando.

1:17:34 ↗ There were teens there that were excited

1:17:36 ↗ to be getting a dress for for prom or

1:17:39 ↗ shoes for prom. There were, you know,

1:17:40 ↗ there were there were people that needed

1:17:42 ↗ it. There were

1:17:43 ↗ >> vintage vintage shoppers

1:17:46 ↗ >> that were looking for certain brands

1:17:47 ↗ that were finding things. I mean, it was

1:17:49 ↗ pretty cool.

1:17:51 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:17:52 ↗ >> The the diversity of people. Um, so

1:17:55 ↗ these are a couple of photos from the

1:17:57 ↗ three popups that we've had. The like I

1:18:00 ↗ I love both the events that we do. Like

1:18:03 ↗ it's great that we sort of normalize the

1:18:06 ↗ idea of of you know reusing clothing as

1:18:10 ↗ we should. Like I've been thrifting for

1:18:12 ↗ my whole lifetime and I'm like everybody

1:18:14 ↗ catch up. This is a great thing. Um but

1:18:17 ↗ also these events that we do where we go

1:18:20 ↗ directly to the clients like

1:18:22 ↗ >> these are really emotional because

1:18:25 ↗ because the people come and they're

1:18:27 ↗ wearing their one pair of jeans that

1:18:31 ↗ they have and they're filled with holes

1:18:33 ↗ and they're like do you have any jeans?

1:18:35 ↗ This is the only pair I have. Do you

1:18:37 ↗ have a jacket? I live outside and I'm

1:18:40 ↗ freezing. Like c I need something for

1:18:43 ↗ the winter. How can how can you help me?

1:18:45 ↗ and like these are the people that we

1:18:47 ↗ really want to get in front of and you

1:18:49 ↗ know try to help them as much as we can.

1:18:51 ↗ So we'll be rotating through these

1:18:53 ↗ places hopefully expanding to you know

1:18:55 ↗ more places as we make those those

1:18:57 ↗ connections and that's part of why we're

1:18:59 ↗ here is is to you make sure you guys

1:19:01 ↗ know about us so that we can continue to

1:19:04 ↗ help more people.

1:19:05 ↗ >> Yeah. So, as as you probably heard,

1:19:08 ↗ figured out that we're really, you know,

1:19:10 ↗ obviously really feel passionate about

1:19:12 ↗ community and that's what first I love

1:19:14 ↗ about our name. It's right the first

1:19:17 ↗ word in the name of our organization and

1:19:19 ↗ we, you know, we really try to stand by

1:19:21 ↗ that. Um, we're I mean, we're so happy

1:19:24 ↗ to to be partnering with the city on

1:19:26 ↗ these huge events. Um, they've really

1:19:28 ↗ like that was that was the our

1:19:30 ↗ springboard for for what we're doing

1:19:32 ↗ now. um uh the you know and the issu

1:19:35 ↗ bank is just I mean our our gateway to

1:19:38 ↗ to the people that need it um to to our

1:19:41 ↗ storage space currently. Um we're really

1:19:44 ↗ excited to have the have the circle on

1:19:46 ↗ board too um because of uh you know the

1:19:49 ↗ need of our immigrant families that you

1:19:51 ↗ know new here that need just need to get

1:19:54 ↗ started on on navigating life through

1:19:57 ↗ through the United States. Um we just

1:20:00 ↗ recently partnered too with um the Isla

1:20:03 ↗ School District PTSA Council. Um and so

1:20:06 ↗ you know there's there's a great a great

1:20:09 ↗ network of volunteers and a great

1:20:10 ↗ network of communication for our

1:20:12 ↗ families and our students. Um and then

1:20:14 ↗ as you can see on this slide too there's

1:20:16 ↗ all the all the places that you aren't

1:20:18 ↗ official partners but that we that we

1:20:20 ↗ work with. You know is Nursing Network

1:20:23 ↗ helps helps us get the word out for

1:20:25 ↗ sure. um you know, Kid Vantage. We've

1:20:27 ↗ started working with I mean, we're both

1:20:28 ↗ clothing war organizations and we

1:20:30 ↗ certainly have, you know, sometimes a

1:20:32 ↗ plethora of youth clothes that we're

1:20:34 ↗ like, "Hey," and they're like, "Yeah,

1:20:35 ↗ it's winter time. Let's take those extra

1:20:37 ↗ coats." Like, so it's, you know, working

1:20:39 ↗ together with them, you know, and school

1:20:41 ↗ district obviously is someone that we um

1:20:43 ↗ is another gateway of communication. Um

1:20:46 ↗ so, lots, you know, just and really

1:20:49 ↗ everyone like that, you know, everyone

1:20:50 ↗ that we can partner with. Yeah. So

1:20:53 ↗ that's that's it's it's huge a huge part

1:20:55 ↗ of who we are.

1:20:56 ↗ >> All right. Well, alignment with the

1:20:58 ↗ commission goals. We took a little look

1:21:00 ↗ see at your um your goals, huh?

1:21:04 ↗ >> Little bit. Yeah. And so we believe that

1:21:07 ↗ our goal of meeting the basic need for

1:21:11 ↗ the community um perfectly aligns with

1:21:14 ↗ your strategic goal number five.

1:21:20 ↗ >> Yes. facilitating access to resources,

1:21:24 ↗ right? And you have strategic actions

1:21:27 ↗ 5.2 two and 5.3

1:21:30 ↗ which are facilitate a coordinated

1:21:32 ↗ system of collaboration between human

1:21:34 ↗ services division nonprofit partners

1:21:37 ↗ such as ourselves maybe and the Isiqua

1:21:40 ↗ school district

1:21:41 ↗ >> uh to help address disparities and basic

1:21:44 ↗ needs and to support community resources

1:21:46 ↗ that provide basic needs supplies like

1:21:49 ↗ clothing which is us definitely that's

1:21:52 ↗ what we do. Um so we are serving the

1:21:56 ↗ marginalized community in our within our

1:21:59 ↗ community. Uh people with low incomes,

1:22:02 ↗ immigrants, refugees, those experiencing

1:22:04 ↗ homelessness, no barriers to access

1:22:07 ↗ whatsoever. We ask no questions. So we

1:22:11 ↗ can't give you data about who comes to

1:22:14 ↗ our events because we just don't ask

1:22:16 ↗ question.

1:22:17 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:22:17 ↗ >> Intentionally.

1:22:18 ↗ >> Intentionally we don't. Right. Um and

1:22:20 ↗ because our model is mobile like we

1:22:23 ↗ talked about, we can have high impact

1:22:26 ↗ with basically lowcost operation, we um

1:22:31 ↗ rely on our storage space instead of

1:22:33 ↗ high cost retail space. We just don't

1:22:35 ↗ need it. Um it allows us to be nimble

1:22:38 ↗ and flexible and decide how, when, and

1:22:41 ↗ where we're going to help in our

1:22:44 ↗ community and who we partner with. Um,

1:22:47 ↗ at in May when we had our event, we

1:22:49 ↗ didn't know how many clothes we were

1:22:52 ↗ going to get and we didn't know how much

1:22:54 ↗ was going to be left over. And so we had

1:22:57 ↗ a plan, right? We're going to store what

1:22:59 ↗ was left over. We got a ton of clothes

1:23:02 ↗ and you know what? Almost every piece of

1:23:04 ↗ it walked out the door with

1:23:07 ↗ >> almost every piece. So we are not in the

1:23:10 ↗ business of storing clothes. We are in

1:23:12 ↗ the business of intaking clothes and

1:23:14 ↗ then gifting them back out. So that's

1:23:16 ↗ what we do.

1:23:17 ↗ >> Um, we're also scalable, right? If we

1:23:19 ↗ had the funds,

1:23:22 ↗ >> we could expand. We could expand our

1:23:24 ↗ outreach. We could we could make new

1:23:25 ↗ partnerships. There's no limit to what

1:23:27 ↗ we could do because we're so nimble and

1:23:29 ↗ so flexible. We can make all sorts of

1:23:31 ↗ decisions about how we want to operate.

1:23:34 ↗ And then, as we talked before, we're

1:23:35 ↗ providing opportunities for the

1:23:37 ↗ community to come together, to

1:23:39 ↗ volunteer, to learn about

1:23:41 ↗ sustainability, to practice

1:23:43 ↗ sustainability. I mean all of these

1:23:45 ↗ things are important we believe um for

1:23:48 ↗ the qua. So finally we have asked but we

1:23:53 ↗ have um offers as well for you all um to

1:23:57 ↗ be viewed by you um as a trusted partner

1:24:00 ↗ in the community would be so meaningful.

1:24:02 ↗ It would we would just love it, right?

1:24:05 ↗ Um and we intend to ask next spring for

1:24:08 ↗ you to consider us for your funding. Um,

1:24:11 ↗ of course, um, we would welcome your

1:24:14 ↗ assistance in promoting our programs and

1:24:17 ↗ our organization to the extent that you

1:24:20 ↗ can. Um, and finally, we'd love to

1:24:23 ↗ integrate even more with the with the

1:24:25 ↗ community. And so, anything that we can

1:24:28 ↗ do to help you with your programs, we

1:24:31 ↗ are so happy happy to do. So, thank you

1:24:35 ↗ for having us. It's been such a

1:24:37 ↗ pleasure. We love talking about great

1:24:39 ↗ things.

1:24:41 ↗ That was their first.

1:24:42 ↗ >> It was our first.

1:24:43 ↗ >> Well done.

1:24:44 ↗ >> Well done.

1:24:46 ↗ >> So, I know we get kind of choked up.

1:24:49 ↗ Um,

1:24:50 ↗ >> do you guys have business cards you can

1:24:51 ↗ pass out?

1:24:52 ↗ >> We

1:24:54 ↗ did bring my business cards. No, we did

1:24:56 ↗ not.

1:24:57 ↗ >> But they do. So,

1:24:58 ↗ >> how So, you've done you did an event in

1:25:00 ↗ May. You're doing another one in

1:25:02 ↗ October. You have your popups. What

1:25:03 ↗ would how often do you are you thinking

1:25:06 ↗ you'd like to do the bigger Pickering

1:25:07 ↗ Barn events? We have committed with the

1:25:10 ↗ city um for next year to again May and

1:25:13 ↗ October.

1:25:14 ↗ >> May and October. Okay.

1:25:15 ↗ >> And then we are planning on doing 18

1:25:18 ↗ popups at least next year.

1:25:20 ↗ >> 18. Wow. Over the course of the year.

1:25:23 ↗ >> Absolutely. So two a month we hope. So

1:25:25 ↗ doable.

1:25:26 ↗ >> And what are you doing? Um I assume how

1:25:30 ↗ are you getting the word out about your

1:25:31 ↗ events?

1:25:32 ↗ >> Well, there's lots of people who are

1:25:34 ↗ helping us. We have Facebook, right? And

1:25:36 ↗ we have um Instagram and we have our

1:25:39 ↗ website. We have the city promoting it.

1:25:41 ↗ We have word of mouth, the nursing

1:25:43 ↗ network. Everybody that we talked to,

1:25:46 ↗ they talked to their friends and they

1:25:47 ↗ talked to their friends. It's really

1:25:49 ↗ quite something. So, um

1:25:50 ↗ >> yeah, the school district was fantastic

1:25:52 ↗ with us on that too. The nurses,

1:25:55 ↗ >> the nurses network at the at the school

1:25:57 ↗ district put it in their put it in their

1:25:59 ↗ um

1:26:00 ↗ >> weekly newsletter this past week, which

1:26:02 ↗ is, you know,

1:26:03 ↗ >> something. I mean that's that was that

1:26:05 ↗ was a that was vague.

1:26:06 ↗ >> The food bank the food bank um have been

1:26:09 ↗ promoting us as well and their clients

1:26:12 ↗ and so um I think one thing I want to

1:26:15 ↗ put in perspective for our commissioners

1:26:17 ↗ is um

1:26:20 ↗ >> these three were volunteers who came

1:26:22 ↗ with this idea with us to the city back

1:26:25 ↗ in May. So May was our first event and

1:26:27 ↗ so pretty much between May and now

1:26:29 ↗ October, we're talking five months,

1:26:32 ↗ okay, that you guys have been able to

1:26:34 ↗ establish yourself as a nonprofit with

1:26:35 ↗ the accreditation. You have been able to

1:26:38 ↗ have a website, have titles, have

1:26:41 ↗ business cards, you know,

1:26:46 ↗ so I just really want to applaud the the

1:26:49 ↗ compassion, the motivation, the ambition

1:26:51 ↗ that you all have. So,

1:26:52 ↗ >> not yet.

1:26:53 ↗ >> Thank you so much for a wonderful

1:26:54 ↗ presentation.

1:26:55 ↗ >> Oh,

1:26:58 ↗ really?

1:26:59 ↗ >> You answered my question.

1:27:00 ↗ >> You've done wonder. Yeah, you did a

1:27:02 ↗ great job answering.

1:27:03 ↗ >> Thank you.

1:27:04 ↗ >> Thank you.

1:27:05 ↗ >> We hope you can come. We hope to see

1:27:06 ↗ you.

1:27:08 ↗ >> I'm signed up to volunteer on Tuesday.

1:27:10 ↗ >> I knew I knew there was I knew I knew I

1:27:15 ↗ talked to you guys doing ceremonies. She

1:27:18 ↗ came home and goes, "Did you know?"

1:27:19 ↗ Yeah, I have.

1:27:23 ↗ Oh,

1:27:24 ↗ >> next year. Oh, next year we'll be there.

1:27:26 ↗ >> So, if I go on to your website, I'll

1:27:28 ↗ find find out all the information about

1:27:30 ↗ Monday and Tuesday, right?

1:27:31 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:27:32 ↗ >> We have the flyer, too. If you're

1:27:34 ↗ interested, we just only got a couple

1:27:36 ↗ copies left, but

1:27:37 ↗ >> Well, I can just go to your website.

1:27:39 ↗ >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah, it's all on the

1:27:40 ↗ website. All this information is on

1:27:42 ↗ there. Yeah.

1:27:42 ↗ >> We also were at the the culture fair

1:27:45 ↗ >> and we we've been to the farmers market

1:27:48 ↗ twice, which is very fun. Oh yeah,

1:27:50 ↗ >> that's where they she

1:27:52 ↗ >> and that's where you take your 50 boxes

1:27:55 ↗ and

1:27:55 ↗ >> No, that's where we just have

1:27:57 ↗ information to promote. It's the the

1:28:00 ↗ those 50 boxes that we take her to the

1:28:01 ↗ popups that um we do at various

1:28:04 ↗ locations.

1:28:08 ↗ >> Well, thank you.

1:28:11 ↗ >> Thank you ladies. Very proud of you.

1:28:13 ↗ I'll see you all tomorrow.

1:28:15 ↗ See you tomorrow.

1:28:17 ↗ >> Thank you. Thank you very much.

1:28:21 ↗ All right, keep going.

1:28:24 ↗ >> Yeah, no kidding.

1:28:28 ↗ >> That was a great great time with the

1:28:29 ↗ organizations there.

1:28:30 ↗ >> Really?

1:28:31 ↗ >> Yeah. Great presentation slow.

1:28:33 ↗ >> One, two, three, five organizations. We

1:28:37 ↗ busted out some work tonight.

1:28:39 ↗ >> Thank you ladies. Have a wonderful

1:28:41 ↗ night. Some

1:28:41 ↗ >> good work there from the community. Uh

1:28:42 ↗ we have reports uh chair commission

1:28:45 ↗ reports.

1:28:48 ↗ None from the little vice chair. No.

1:28:52 ↗ Any other questions? You got any updates

1:28:54 ↗ from to the group?

1:28:55 ↗ >> I got nothing.

1:28:57 ↗ >> The only thing I was going to bring up

1:28:59 ↗ and I was going to do it before they

1:29:00 ↗ left, but it's it's a different model,

1:29:02 ↗ but Sam, you know the um central

1:29:04 ↗ Washington how it closed the campus on

1:29:08 ↗ on Seamish? It's closed down and the

1:29:10 ↗ building is empty now. And there's a big

1:29:12 ↗ movement by community members up there

1:29:15 ↗ to um have the city allow them to use

1:29:18 ↗ part of the building. It's huge

1:29:20 ↗ building, but use part of the building

1:29:22 ↗ for a thrift store.

1:29:25 ↗ >> Oh, for a thrift store only like

1:29:27 ↗ >> Yeah. So it's I mean I think the idea is

1:29:31 ↗ you know to get all you know Seamish is

1:29:34 ↗ is a wealthy community is to get all

1:29:36 ↗ that stuff and put it in a building so

1:29:38 ↗ that people and I don't know what their

1:29:39 ↗ pricing structure is going to be like

1:29:41 ↗ but you know to get it recirculated.

1:29:43 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:29:44 ↗ >> Huh. Interesting.

1:29:46 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:29:48 ↗ >> Uh anybody from online? Commissioner Ray

1:29:50 ↗ I know I got next to you uh Preston on

1:29:53 ↗ the youth report. Anything on your end?

1:29:56 ↗ One one thing that sticks out to me, I

1:29:58 ↗ have a question. Um, is there like why

1:30:02 ↗ why is dollar signs not part of their

1:30:04 ↗ presentations? Like we have this amount

1:30:06 ↗ of money this year, we're going to run

1:30:08 ↗ out and we need this amount to stay

1:30:11 ↗ sustainable 2026. Is that not something

1:30:13 ↗ that that would be of value to the group

1:30:15 ↗ to just they're all such wonderful

1:30:16 ↗ organizations. So, how do we discern on

1:30:18 ↗ who who has the greatest need based on

1:30:21 ↗ who's running out of money? Is it gonna

1:30:23 ↗ come to that when you'll have to educate

1:30:24 ↗ me because I'm new to this but

1:30:26 ↗ >> yeah Ray wonderful thank you for

1:30:29 ↗ thinking of that and it's a great

1:30:31 ↗ question um in the application process

1:30:35 ↗ we there is a question that you can

1:30:38 ↗ gather some of that information um but I

1:30:41 ↗ know it's more powerful when you have a

1:30:43 ↗ presentation and you can have them say

1:30:46 ↗ like for tomorrow we learned you know we

1:30:48 ↗ gave them just under $20,000

1:30:51 ↗ on an annual basis

1:30:52 ↗ and October they're out. Um, so we or

1:30:57 ↗ that rental assistant program um, which

1:30:59 ↗ is the only program we're funding them.

1:31:01 ↗ So,

1:31:03 ↗ you know, it it it's more powerful to

1:31:04 ↗ hear it. So, I think that's great for

1:31:06 ↗ like presentations um, is learning about

1:31:09 ↗ more of their funding needs since we are

1:31:11 ↗ funders. Um, but, uh, you will in the

1:31:14 ↗ application have some opportunities to

1:31:16 ↗ learn more about that.

1:31:18 ↗ >> Okay?

1:31:18 ↗ >> And there will be training on that. So,

1:31:20 ↗ you won't be going of detail that they

1:31:22 ↗ would present like one of them had five

1:31:24 ↗ sources of funding like I'd be curious

1:31:26 ↗ to say how much of that like Medicare

1:31:28 ↗ was 75%. That's fantastic. So I mean

1:31:31 ↗ what are you getting from the other

1:31:32 ↗ sources of of income that you've had in

1:31:34 ↗ the past that going down?

1:31:36 ↗ >> They provide a budget so you actually

1:31:38 ↗ can have Yeah, you can look at their

1:31:39 ↗ financials and as well as an audit so

1:31:42 ↗ you can you can go in that details of

1:31:44 ↗ looking at kind of each line item. Um so

1:31:47 ↗ it'll be provided.

1:31:48 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:31:49 ↗ >> Okay.

1:31:50 ↗ >> Yeah. But great thought. Appreciate you.

1:31:54 ↗ >> Are you done right? I'm sorry.

1:31:56 ↗ >> Yes.

1:31:57 ↗ >> Um, also you might have to rethink the

1:32:01 ↗ application process for somebody like

1:32:03 ↗ this because they can't show you how

1:32:06 ↗ many people they work with in in a quad.

1:32:09 ↗ They can't show you.

1:32:09 ↗ >> That's actually very interesting to me.

1:32:11 ↗ Yeah.

1:32:12 ↗ >> Because I love that it's no barrier,

1:32:14 ↗ >> right?

1:32:15 ↗ >> But it there's also

1:32:19 ↗ accountability. I understand why.

1:32:21 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:32:21 ↗ >> And uh

1:32:23 ↗ >> you know if we're saying that well we

1:32:26 ↗ don't have a number so we can't fund

1:32:27 ↗ you.

1:32:28 ↗ >> I think there's something that has to be

1:32:30 ↗ done around it.

1:32:32 ↗ >> Well they could they could get numbers I

1:32:35 ↗ think. I mean they could stand there

1:32:36 ↗ with

1:32:36 ↗ >> they'll provide some data but like

1:32:37 ↗ demographic data they would

1:32:39 ↗ >> because they're not asking

1:32:41 ↗ >> right. So that's a good point and I

1:32:42 ↗ think one that if you can remember this

1:32:45 ↗ Danny when we talk about our tool our

1:32:48 ↗ toolkit which we'll be reviewing before

1:32:50 ↗ we do the application process this is

1:32:52 ↗ something that maybe we consider adding

1:32:54 ↗ into or

1:32:55 ↗ >> figure out how to consider that.

1:32:57 ↗ >> Okay. I was going to say real quick I

1:32:58 ↗ know we got time here. It I think it

1:32:59 ↗ goes back to the equity conversation. I

1:33:01 ↗ think this was something that got raised

1:33:03 ↗ around

1:33:04 ↗ >> impact. Uh one of the things we decided

1:33:07 ↗ I want to say uh last year was you know

1:33:10 ↗ being more intentional with our

1:33:11 ↗ community members coming in right and or

1:33:13 ↗ doing like site visits because you can

1:33:16 ↗ only read what you can in terms of

1:33:17 ↗ financials their statements mission

1:33:20 ↗ vision values but to actually hear the

1:33:23 ↗ passion here hey this the community is

1:33:25 ↗ important to me that was one of the

1:33:27 ↗ elements we addressed last year like we

1:33:29 ↗ just need to be more involved and

1:33:31 ↗ intentional around just not looking not

1:33:33 ↗ just the numbers but how are they really

1:33:35 ↗ impacting the community from that

1:33:37 ↗ perspective. So, I'm really glad we got

1:33:40 ↗ a a tall list list of folks coming in. I

1:33:43 ↗ think that will serve us down the road

1:33:44 ↗ as we kind of look at applications. It's

1:33:47 ↗ a tricky conversation too because so

1:33:49 ↗ many organizations

1:33:51 ↗ >> spend a lot of time

1:33:53 ↗ >> collecting data to tell their story and

1:33:58 ↗ >> you know and and that's a I don't want

1:34:00 ↗ to say it's a burden but it's an

1:34:01 ↗ obligation we and it's an expectation.

1:34:04 ↗ So it's it's a it's a that's a tricky

1:34:07 ↗ it's a tricky conversation.

1:34:09 ↗ >> Yeah. I appreciate you all thinking

1:34:10 ↗ about this as we're heading into a

1:34:13 ↗ review year.

1:34:14 ↗ >> Yeah. Um, these will be good

1:34:15 ↗ conversations in 2026.

1:34:18 ↗ >> Be ready.

1:34:18 ↗ >> I know. I know. I'm being concerned

1:34:20 ↗ about, you know, people that really need

1:34:22 ↗ the clothes rather than uh vintage uh

1:34:25 ↗ >> Yeah, I know.

1:34:27 ↗ >> or looking for a certain brand, you

1:34:29 ↗ know.

1:34:29 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:34:30 ↗ >> Um, you know, I could just imagine,

1:34:32 ↗ >> you know, people that aren't aren't

1:34:34 ↗ really in need down there walking out

1:34:36 ↗ with clothes. And and and here's the

1:34:39 ↗ deal is people that uh are really in

1:34:42 ↗ need, are they going to be going to

1:34:44 ↗ Bickering Mart? Is that accessible for

1:34:46 ↗ them?

1:34:47 ↗ >> Sure.

1:34:48 ↗ >> And I think what that's why they have

1:34:50 ↗ the popup

1:34:50 ↗ >> the popups

1:34:53 ↗ is

1:34:53 ↗ >> that's a good point.

1:34:54 ↗ >> Um or the Samish Street Fair, you know,

1:34:57 ↗ is that a place where people that are

1:34:59 ↗ really in need. Um, what I think maybe

1:35:02 ↗ it'd be more appropriate to take those

1:35:03 ↗ clothes to places where people are that

1:35:06 ↗ do need it, right?

1:35:07 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:35:08 ↗ >> And, uh, you know, it's too bad that the

1:35:10 ↗ food the food bank isn't doing anymore

1:35:12 ↗ because that's a place where people do

1:35:14 ↗ need it.

1:35:14 ↗ >> They just couple popups at the food

1:35:17 ↗ bank. So,

1:35:17 ↗ >> yeah,

1:35:18 ↗ >> that's exactly

1:35:21 ↗ >> Yeah. But I think it's also important to

1:35:23 ↗ like

1:35:25 ↗ invite folks who would normally just be

1:35:28 ↗ associated with the food bank to go to

1:35:30 ↗ picking barn, right? Like maybe if I'm

1:35:32 ↗ in need,

1:35:34 ↗ >> I shouldn't just be coralled into a food

1:35:37 ↗ bank to take care of all of my needs.

1:35:39 ↗ And that's where the community building

1:35:40 ↗ part comes in. Maybe there's some

1:35:41 ↗ dignity in being able to go to other

1:35:43 ↗ places like

1:35:45 ↗ >> the Samish Arts Fair or whatever and be

1:35:48 ↗ able to afford something over there.

1:35:50 ↗ have a reason to go or you can afford

1:35:52 ↗ it. So, it's a good thing.

1:35:57 ↗ >> All right, we're on uh Preston. Any

1:35:59 ↗ update on your end?

1:36:02 ↗ >> Um I suppose I told

1:36:06 ↗ Hannah this, but there's a new

1:36:08 ↗ announcement. So, there's probably not

1:36:10 ↗ going to be any more youth supports. Um,

1:36:12 ↗ I'm no longer a part of the Isiqua Youth

1:36:14 ↗ Advisory Board, but I'm still happy to

1:36:17 ↗ serve as the youth as a youth voice for

1:36:19 ↗ the Isiqua Human Services Commission,

1:36:21 ↗ but I won't be providing any more um

1:36:24 ↗ backto-back information with IAB

1:36:26 ↗ anymore. I'm still happy here to give a

1:36:28 ↗ youth voice.

1:36:30 ↗ >> Absolutely.

1:36:31 ↗ >> Absolutely.

1:36:32 ↗ >> He's very much a youth star.

1:36:35 ↗ >> Two more years.

1:36:38 ↗ >> Um,

1:36:39 ↗ >> thank you, Preston. We're happy to have

1:36:40 ↗ you. Yeah, thank you, Preston. Uh, staff

1:36:43 ↗ report Adam.

1:36:44 ↗ >> Um, no report other than I need just

1:36:47 ↗ some logistics um figured out from you

1:36:49 ↗ all and how you want to do something for

1:36:51 ↗ the rest of the year. So, typically we

1:36:54 ↗ have our November meeting and then we

1:36:55 ↗ recess in December. Um, November I

1:36:58 ↗ double booked us, so I need to figure

1:37:00 ↗ out who I need to say no to. Um, so, um,

1:37:05 ↗ November we have a joint equity um,

1:37:07 ↗ meeting. So, they're coming to our

1:37:09 ↗ regular meeting and we have um another

1:37:12 ↗ transportation meeting. So, it's just a

1:37:13 ↗ part of the annual plan from Thomas.

1:37:15 ↗ We've had a few of those. Um this one

1:37:17 ↗ should be about an hour long. I think

1:37:18 ↗ it'll be a little more engaged type of

1:37:20 ↗ feedback session. So, an hour if not a

1:37:24 ↗ little

1:37:24 ↗ >> is this one. Visits are normally

1:37:26 ↗ scheduled on November 19th.

1:37:28 ↗ >> Um yep. November uh 19th. It's our

1:37:31 ↗ normal time 6:30. However, we are going

1:37:35 ↗ to meeting in a different location to

1:37:36 ↗ accommodate the larger setting and it's

1:37:39 ↗ going to be Gston Hall.

1:37:42 ↗ Do you know where that is?

1:37:44 ↗ >> I was like, where is that? I'm looking

1:37:45 ↗ around.

1:37:47 ↗ >> Yeah. If you know where the salmon

1:37:49 ↗ hatchery is.

1:37:50 ↗ >> Yeah. Um Gibson Park.

1:37:54 ↗ >> Yeah. Um they just did a remodel in it.

1:37:56 ↗ I saw it. It's beautiful. Um so, yes. So

1:37:59 ↗ we're going to so we're going to be

1:38:01 ↗ there but it is normal time and so um

1:38:05 ↗ the equity board I talked to their lea

1:38:06 ↗ is on um we in the past when we did a

1:38:09 ↗ joint we also had a couple of providers

1:38:12 ↗ present. Um understandably the equity

1:38:15 ↗ board would not want to participate in

1:38:17 ↗ that they would. So we have two options

1:38:19 ↗ either one I can cancel completely or

1:38:23 ↗ cancel and reschedule the three

1:38:24 ↗ potential um presenters which I'll share

1:38:28 ↗ with you. um and just do the

1:38:32 ↗ presentation and then we can be done

1:38:34 ↗ pretty much call it a shorter meeting.

1:38:36 ↗ Um or what we can do is we could still

1:38:38 ↗ have them come at the back end if

1:38:40 ↗ they're willing to come later and um

1:38:42 ↗ they could present. So we would

1:38:45 ↗ basically have kind of two meetings

1:38:47 ↗ where we'd have to do the meeting,

1:38:48 ↗ adjurnn it and then rejourn like start a

1:38:51 ↗ new a new meeting for this sounds a

1:38:55 ↗ little

1:38:56 ↗ >> can these three providers come another

1:38:58 ↗ to another meeting.

1:38:59 ↗ >> So that is the other option is that um I

1:39:02 ↗ would normally say let's bump them up a

1:39:04 ↗ month but we are typically recessing in

1:39:07 ↗ December. So, commissioners, you have

1:39:10 ↗ the option of either not recessing in

1:39:13 ↗ December so we can have providers or or

1:39:16 ↗ January.

1:39:17 ↗ Um,

1:39:18 ↗ >> could they come in January?

1:39:21 ↗ >> I think I uh Yes, I think they could

1:39:23 ↗ come in

1:39:24 ↗ >> if we met in December. Our normally just

1:39:26 ↗ so just for

1:39:28 ↗ >> decision making

1:39:28 ↗ >> decision making that would be Wednesday,

1:39:30 ↗ December 17th. That would be a regularly

1:39:34 ↗ scheduled

1:39:35 ↗ human services commission date.

1:39:40 ↗ >> Yep. And we could do it I mean we could

1:39:41 ↗ do a special meeting and do it on a

1:39:43 ↗ different date earlier in the month

1:39:44 ↗ >> or we could put it off until January

1:39:47 ↗ >> when our normally scheduled date would

1:39:50 ↗ be January 21st.

1:39:53 ↗ >> 21st. Yeah.

1:39:53 ↗ >> Is there any downside to having them

1:39:55 ↗ come in January? The only downside I the

1:39:57 ↗ only hesitancy I have is that in 2026 is

1:40:01 ↗ the year that we are starting to review

1:40:02 ↗ applications. And so that's where I have

1:40:05 ↗ to be careful of not having any um like

1:40:09 ↗ biases or any like um favor look like

1:40:12 ↗ there's like favoritism to these three

1:40:14 ↗ organizations who got to present um in

1:40:18 ↗ January versus 2025 when that was our

1:40:20 ↗ kind of plan because it's January and I

1:40:23 ↗ think we still have like we have room

1:40:26 ↗ and time in preparation for our grants.

1:40:29 ↗ I think it would I would feel

1:40:30 ↗ comfortable doing it in January. Um the

1:40:33 ↗ organizations just so you're aware is

1:40:35 ↗ Bellev College Housing Connector and

1:40:38 ↗ it's Acquas Schools Foundation.

1:40:40 ↗ Um if we do it on a different date, I

1:40:44 ↗ would probably try to get one or two

1:40:45 ↗ more um to add to the list to just kind

1:40:48 ↗ of beef it up, but um

1:40:51 ↗ >> like we had today with five.

1:40:53 ↗ >> So I my vote is to yeah do it in January

1:40:57 ↗ if you're comfortable with that.

1:41:00 ↗ >> But that's just my

1:41:01 ↗ >> No, please. How how do other people

1:41:03 ↗ feel?

1:41:04 ↗ >> Yeah, I thought I would.

1:41:06 ↗ >> January sounds good to me.

1:41:07 ↗ >> Okay. So, we can recess still in

1:41:09 ↗ December and then we can have

1:41:10 ↗ >> five months before we start this this

1:41:12 ↗ really start the cycle.

1:41:13 ↗ >> Yeah. May is when we're going to go

1:41:14 ↗ >> we start the cycle and you're involved

1:41:16 ↗ in it.

1:41:17 ↗ >> Yeah. Yeah.

1:41:17 ↗ >> April you in April you will be presented

1:41:21 ↗ with um the outcomes of it right of how

1:41:25 ↗ many applications whatever our request

1:41:27 ↗ the kind of the bigger numbers. we'll

1:41:28 ↗ make a decision on what um who's

1:41:31 ↗ reviewing what and then you'll starting

1:41:33 ↗ in midappril you'll start reviewing your

1:41:36 ↗ applications and then

1:41:37 ↗ >> so it's a little bit it's a little bit

1:41:39 ↗ earlier but yeah a but um but you'll

1:41:42 ↗ have time

1:41:43 ↗ >> you feel like that's good that's great

1:41:46 ↗ >> how about you commissioner Ray January

1:41:49 ↗ >> sounds good

1:41:50 ↗ >> Preston

1:41:51 ↗ >> January

1:41:53 ↗ >> you know we do have an opening you know

1:41:56 ↗ um Mr. Preston here.

1:41:58 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:42:03 ↗ >> Sounds like do January then.

1:42:05 ↗ >> Okay. Thank you, commissioners. I do

1:42:06 ↗ appreciate your feedback. I do

1:42:07 ↗ appreciate and respect all your time.

1:42:09 ↗ So,

1:42:09 ↗ >> because if we if we did all of that in

1:42:11 ↗ November, it would be

1:42:13 ↗ >> a really long

1:42:16 ↗ and meeting on December 17th. I'm sorry

1:42:18 ↗ that's like it's good.

1:42:21 ↗ >> Yeah. Let's let's be this was we we did

1:42:23 ↗ the work today. This is a long meeting.

1:42:25 ↗ So, really appreciate your time. Let's

1:42:27 ↗ give ourselves an easy November and then

1:42:30 ↗ a nice break in December and then we'll

1:42:33 ↗ get back to work in January.

1:42:36 ↗ >> So, what's scheduled for November 17th?

1:42:39 ↗ Uh, is that right there? Gibson Hall.

1:42:41 ↗ >> Gibson Hall. Okay.

1:42:42 ↗ >> Yeah. So, same time, 6:30, just

1:42:44 ↗ different locations.

1:42:46 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:42:47 ↗ >> No,

1:42:50 ↗ it's across from the back side of the

1:42:52 ↗ fish hatchery. It's where the Kuanas

1:42:54 ↗ always do the salmon bake on um salmon

1:42:57 ↗ attached to Gibson Park. If you just

1:42:59 ↗ Google Gibson Park, it's a little

1:43:00 ↗ playground.

1:43:01 ↗ >> Yeah,

1:43:03 ↗ where they do the salmon bake. There's

1:43:05 ↗ >> a little park right there.

1:43:07 ↗ >> Yeah, you driven past it millions of

1:43:09 ↗ times. I I grew up driving past it and

1:43:11 ↗ that was my first time walking into

1:43:15 ↗ the kids.

1:43:16 ↗ >> Yeah, perfect.

1:43:17 ↗ >> We'll have the what? Equity board and a

1:43:19 ↗ transportation. So equity board it's a

1:43:21 ↗ joint meeting so we're doing it together

1:43:23 ↗ and it's for the intention of a feedback

1:43:25 ↗ session with transportation in in

1:43:27 ↗ regards to the light rail.

1:43:28 ↗ >> Okay.

1:43:30 ↗ >> So you so you will see meeting um emails

1:43:33 ↗ about that.

1:43:34 ↗ >> Okay. Any other announcements from the

1:43:36 ↗ group?

1:43:40 ↗ >> Nope.

1:43:41 ↗ >> All right. One once twice. All right.

1:43:45 ↗ Well we have meeting adjourned at 8:19.

1:43:50 ↗ on Wednesday.

1:43:51 ↗ >> Okay, good. Well done.

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