United Way has forged partnerships with local organizations of color to create coalitions that share best practices and work together to tackle issues in the communities they know best. We then provided the groups with no-strings-attached funding to address concerns.

The Black Community Building Collective, the Indigenous Communities Fund, and the Racial Equity Coalition work to combat structural and institutional racism and reduce inequities so we can build an equitable future—together.

These communities host or participate in many events you should know about. Here are just a few:

Technology Access Foundation (Black Community Building Collective) is hiring! The organization seeks a Lead Storyteller who will bring their expertise, a creative spirit, a demonstrated passion for racial equity, and a willingness to participate in Technology Access Foundation’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its anti-racist practices.

Lead Storytellers at Technology Access Foundation are creative wordsmiths with a knack for crafting compelling stories and an ability to captivate audiences across various platforms. The Lead Storyteller also plays a pivotal role in amplifying the voices and stories of their communities through impactful content creation and storytelling. To apply for this position, click here.

The Black Community Building Collective is a group of 14 Black-led organizations brought together by United Way of King County to build relationships, share strategies, and craft solutions to issues in King County’s Black community. For more about the Black Community Building Collective, click here.

At Rainier Beach Action Coalition (Black Community Building Collective), the food justice team has brought back its Community Supported Agriculture boxes for the 2024 season. After a successful launch last year, Rainier Beach Action Coalition has continued to grow, meet customers’ needs, and make locally-grown produce more accessible to the community.

The Community Sponsored Agriculture boxes feature a sliding-scale purchasing option. This allows folks to pay what they can for their produce, choosing home delivery or pick-up at the Rainier Beach Action Coalition Food Hub. This year’s boxes include a “Fruit Only” option. The Community Supported Agriculture program supports local farmers of color. For more information or to sign up for the boxes, click here.

Chief Seattle Club (Indigenous Communities Fund) is accepting new and/or unused clothing & other items for its Summer Clothing Drive, which runs through August 30th. Donors can stop by Chief Seattle Club’s ʔálʔal Café or drop items in the organization’s donation bin. Chief Seattle Club says that during the summer months, it prefers the following items for donation:

• Light Clothing: zip-up/pullover sweaters, sweatpants, shorts, jeans, and T-shirts.
• Undergarments: underwear, sports bras, and tank tops.
• Sun Protection: wide-brimmed hats, visors, sunglasses, tents, and sunscreen.
• Shoes: sandals, sneakers, and shower shoes.

Clothing is needed for all genders in sizes from XS to 4XL. For more information, click here.

United Way launched the Indigenous Communities Fund in 2020 to provide Indigenous communities with resources to address COVID-19’s impact. For more about the Indigenous Communities Fund, click here.

Native Action Network (Indigenous Communities Fund) will host the Native Nonprofit Learning Network’s Native series, Nonprofit 101, on Aug. 8 at noon. Native Nonprofits 101 is designed to give Indigenous organizations tools to run their nonprofits more effectively. 

The Native Nonprofits 101 series is offered monthly, both online and in person, at four locations statewide through Sep. 5. The Aug. 8 session will focus on support for finances and fundraising. For more information, click here.

El Centro de la Raza (Racial Equity Coalition) is hosting the Ignite the Change Rally to mark the 60th anniversary of the passing of the Civil Rights Act and to highlight the importance of voting and civic engagement leading up to the November General Election.

The event is slated for Aug. 2 at 2 p.m. It is being held in partnership with the Seattle Office of Civil Rights, the African Housing and Development Committee, The Washington Bus, Native Action Network, League of Women Voters, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Alphabet Alliance of Color, Sunrise Movement, and Intercultural Child and Family Services.

El Centro de la Raza says that the upcoming election will focus on issues such as climate change, education funding, and healthcare. Ignite the Change will feature music, food, and speeches from local leaders who will share their stories and educate the public on the voting process to help people make informed decisions on Election Day. For more information, click here.

The Racial Equity Coalition is a group of 14 nonprofits funded by United Way to use after school programs to help youth celebrate their cultural identities and stay engaged in school. For more about the Racial Equity Coalition, click here.

Join Powerful Voices (Racial Equity Coalition) on July 27 at Columbia City Theatre for a teach-in and celebration with BIPOC youth activists, storytellers, and leaders. Powerful Voices’ Activistas, a project-based cohort of young activists and the organization’s youth-created PV Radio podcast, will partner for a teach-in featuring girls of color and gender-expansive youth.

The teach-in will include workshops, presentations, booths, and panels by youth focused on different forms of activism and storytelling. The event will begin at 11 a.m. For more information, click here.