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.

Approved minutes

Extracted from the next meeting's packet, where this meeting's minutes were approved as a consent-calendar attachment.

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Attendance

Council / Members (8)

Jaime Fajardo

Manny Brown

Maury Edwards

Madeline Fish

Huma Mohibullah

Ray Manahan

Trish Bloor

Preston Miele

Staff (6)

Hannah Roberts, Senior Human Services Coordinator

Brooke Drennon, Friends of Youth

Monik Martinez, 4Tomorrow

Marnie Maraldo, Influence the Choice

Angela Dahrea, Cheryl DeLappe, Lisa

Stratton, Community Clothing Closet

Excused

Jaydianette Ramirez

Recommendations & actions (2)

Sentences extracted from the narrative containing words like recommended, requested, directed, moved, or approved. Best-effort — verify against the full minutes for context.

Commissioner BLOOR motioned to approve the minutes of October 15, 2025 as presented.
Commissioner FISH seconded the motion, there was unanimous consent to approve the minutes as presented.