In case you did not get the mailed copy here is what the Neighborhood Grant helped us produce.
Please read this press release from the City of Olympia;
The City of Olympia’s Community Work Group on Reimagining Public Safety wants to hear
from YOU!
The City has launched a community-led process to ensure our public safety system works for
everyone. This process is being led by a Community Work Group who is hosting a series of
Listening-and-Learning Sessions during April and May.
We invite you as neighborhood representatives and members of your community to join us on
the evening of April 20, 6:00-8:00 PM for a virtual conversation on:
- What is working well with the City’s public safety system? What is not working well with the City’s public safety system?
- What the City can do today to make a difference with our public safety system?
- How will you know we are making progress with improving our public safety system, and what will that look and feel like to you?
The City of Olympia is dedicated to deeper exploration of racism, and specifically anti-Black
racism. Marginalized communities such as people with disabilities, the LGBTQ+ community and
specifically people who are transgender or non-binary, immigrants, people in poverty, and
many others also have important concerns.
Together, we’re committed to a better understanding of these to ensure that everyone in our
community feels that the public safety system works for them. To do that, we need to hear
from neighborhood residents. The listening-and-learning sessions are brave spaces for honest
sharing and conversation about what’s important to you, your experiences, and your ideas for
reimagining public safety for our community.
Together, we’re committed to ensuring that everyone in our community feels that the public
safety system works for them. To do that, we need to hear from you. The listening-and-learning
sessions are brave spaces for honest sharing and conversation about what’s important to you,
your experiences, and your ideas for reimagining public safety for our community.
Background
While recognizing that many far-reaching societal factors (education, housing access, racism,
etc.) can influence public safety, this process takes a closer look at specifically the City’s public
safety system, which includes areas like policing, crisis response, corrections, prosecution,
defense, courts, and medical and fire response.
This effort is being led by a Community Work Group made up of nine community members who
represent a cross-section of Olympia’s demographics, expertise, and experiences. The
members are dedicated to listening carefully to community members, with an emphasis on
voices of people that have often been excluded from decision-making. Using what they learn, they will work together to prepare recommendations for the Olympia City Council that
represent the needs of our community.
The work group’s intention is to provide a facilitated opportunity for safe, intimate discussion.
However, please share this invitation with specific members of your community who you feel
would be an asset to this important conversation.
To learn more about this process, including how to join the listening-and-learning session, and
view helpful pre-discussion materials, visit engage.olympiawa.gov/publicsafety.
To stay informed on this process, sign up to receive Community Safety, Health & Livability e-
mail notices at www.olympiawa.gov/news.
The Eastside Neighborhood Association is worked with City Parks Department to replace two trees in Lions Park. These trees they replaced were dead or diseased and removed by park staff. Through ENA efforts a planting party was held, Saturday 26th February 2022. This effort helps us maintain the beauty of Lions Park and our neighborhood.
From one of the volunteers, “There was a very successful project to plant two trees at Lion’s Park this morning. I think the attached picture shows most if not all the volunteers. Also, some good discussion on how to build on this effort, e.g., planting oak trees on Legion Way all the way to Edison.”
No matter your abilities, knowledge or age, there are opportunities often to get involved within our neighborhood and help build community. If you know of a project, effort or need, feel free to reach out the ENA to get support.
Join New Bridge Community Church for one of three Candlelight Services (December 23rd, 6pm; December 24th, 4pm and 6pm). They will be singing some of the carols so many of us love that bring hope to our lives and we’ll end the evening with a traditional candle lighting. They love being a part of the Eastside neighborhood and hope that you’ll come celebrate with them. *We are following CDC guidelines for indoor gatherings.
THE ENA Board’s Subarea Planning Core Team would like to invite all interested neighbors to a Community Discussion at the Swantown Inn & Spa during Community Clubhouse operation on December 19th between 11am and 12 noon.
The lack of a continuous sidewalk on 7th Avenue SE, linking the lower neighborhood with Lion’s Park has been an issue brought up constantly over the past 20 years. The Core Team has made real progress with the city in fixing this and would like to share developments.
Attendees will be treated to full coffee service and snacks, courtesy of the Swantown Inn & Spa.
For those who do not already know, the Community Clubhouse is a partnership between the Swantown Inn & Spa and ENA. You can read more about it here.