Hourglass: United Way of King County

Good news happens. This week's episode features a conversation about civic engagement with NAWDIM, the Native American Women’s Dialog on Infant Mortality. NAWDIM is a Seattle-based, United Way-supported collective of Indigenous care providers, community members, grandmothers, and allies who provide advocacy, education, and support for Indigenous infants, mothers, and families in Washington St...

Good news happens. This week's episode features a conversation with our new president and CEO, Blair Hamilton Taylor, who once served as chair of United Way’s Board of Directors. We will chat with Blair about topics including his decision to return to United Way, his time on the board, his vision for the organization, and the words of wisdom he lives by.  We will discuss an event celebrating...

Good news happens. The FIFA Men’s World Cup has taken our area by storm, and on July 1, six youths from the United Way-supported nonprofit 4-C Coalition will take part in the flag-bearing ceremony for the Round of 32 World Cup matchup at Seattle Stadium.  For this episode of Hourglass, we sat down for a chat with 4-C director Hazel Cameron and Toroid Ryan, Community Strategies Consultant for 4-C,...

The FIFA World Cup men’s soccer tournament is underway, and the area’s first match will be held on Monday, June 15, at the newly renamed Seattle Stadium. But for all its excitement, the World Cup has raised local concerns, particularly regarding some of our area’s most vulnerable populations.  Hourglass recently sat down with Derrick Belgarde of the Chief Seattle Club, a United Way-funded organiza...

Good news happens. This week's episode features a conversation about the Blake Nordstrom Scholarship, which each year provides 20 local college students with $5,000 each for basic needs and other expenses. We sat down with Emily Portillo, United Way Bridge to Finish Senior Program Manager, to discuss her work with the Nordstrom Scholarship, its impact on local students and colleges, and how s...

Good news happens. This week's episode features a conversation with United Way partner Symetra Financial Corporation, a Bellevue-based diversified financial services company. Symetra has partnered with United Way for more than 15 years through programs such as Bridge to Finish, a United Way one-stop resource on local college campuses that helps students access services to complete their educa...

Good news happens. This week's episode is about Mary's Place, a United Way supported, Seattle-based organization that provides resources and support to King County families experiencing homelessness.  We’ll chat with Mary’s Place’s prevention & stability director Miriam Clithero, and its community impact director, Alyson Moon, about the organization’s approach to addressing homelessn...

Good news happens. This week's episode features a conversation about Pack the Bus, United Way’s May 20th volunteer initiative in partnership with Communities in Schools Greater King County.  Pack the Bus is designed to support students and families during the summer months by providing a busload of essential items, including food, hygiene supplies, and activities. We sat down with Communities...

Good news happens. This episode is the second in a two-part series on United Way of King County staff members visiting Washington, D.C., to meet with federal lawmakers from Washington state.  Today’s episode looks at our visit to the recent United Way Worldwide Advocacy Forum and Capitol Hill Day in D.C.   More than 300 United Way leaders from 47 states and Puerto Rico gathered for the Advocacy Fo...

Good news happens. This week's episode is the first of a two-part series on United Way of King County staff members visiting Washington, D.C., to meet with federal lawmakers from Washington state. This episode looks at our visit to last week’s Food Research and Action Center National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference in D.C., where we and other advocates nationwide spoke with members of Congress...

Good news happens. This episode features a conversation about homeownership with Anzhane Slaughter of the Seattle-based organization Young Black Homeowners and Dawn Bennett of the Kent-based, United Way-supported organization African American Leadership Forum. Anzhane and Dawn have partnered on a program that provides six-figure down payment assistance to Black and Brown families seeking to purcha...

Good news happens. This episode is the third installment of a three-part series on 2026 state, county, and city policy.  We'll chat with Nancy Lu, United Way public policy coordinator, and Amanda Sandoval, United Way's director of systems change and policy, on topics such as takeaways from this year's State Legislative Session, updates on city and county policies, and an upcoming Un...

Good news happens. This episode features a conversation about taxes with Ryan McFerran, United Way Senior Financial Stability Program Manager, and Ramon Ortiz, an Assistant Teaching Professor at the University of Washington Law School and managing director of the law school’s Federal Tax Clinic. We’ll discuss topics including United Way’s Free Tax Preparation Campaign, which is currently in full s...

Good news happens. For this episode, we’ll talk about financial planning with James McBain, senior vice president and regional director of wealth planning and trust advisory at US Bank Private Wealth Management.  Hourglass was pleased to have James on as a guest for a similar episode this time last year. For this episode, James will discuss topics like planned giving and donor-advised funds, and h...

Good news happens. This week's episode features a conversation about Sacred Land Collective, an Auburn-based, Black-owned, 78-acre partnership that offers programs, retreat spaces, and cultural ceremonies for people to gather, rest, and heal. United Way and its partners have held retreats at Sacred Land Collective, and for this episode, we’ll chat with Sacred Land Collective co-founder and Di...

Good news happens. This week's episode features a conversation with Bookie Gates of Baseball Beyond Borders, a Kent-based, United Way-supported youth development organization that combines baseball and softball with mentorship and education.  We’ll chat with Bookie about Baseball Beyond Borders' recent Seattle-HBCU baseball series and how he’s working to keep interest in the sport alive...

This week's episode features a conversation with Norine Hill, founder and director of Mother Nation, a Seattle-based, United Way-supported organization that provides cultural healing services, housing support, and other resources for Indigenous women and families.  We’ll chat with Norine about Mother Nation’s origins, its impact, and what she believes King County must do to address its housin...

Good news happens. This week's episode is a conversation with Kristi Brown, the renowned chef and owner of That Brown Girl Cooks catering and Communion Restaurant and Bar in Seattle. United Way is proud to say we have supported Kristi on her way to becoming one of our nation’s most highly acclaimed chefs and restaurateurs. For this episode, we will chat with Kristi about her passion and drive...

Good news happens. This week's episode features a conversation about Parent Child Plus with its new CEO, Stephen Cockrell. United Way is proud to support the national ParentChild+ program and its local agencies as part of our commitment to early learning. United Way caught up with Cockrell recently when the new leader of the New York-based national organization visited the Seattle area.  We c...

This week's episode features a conversation about SNAP, namely, who is going to cover the costs to keep the federal nutrition program running? Hourglass recently sat down with Elsa Young, United Way Food Security Impact Manager, about a recent nationwide advocacy effort to delay federal mandates to shift some of SNAP benefits costs to states, how Washington state is responding to impending ch...

Good news happens. This week's episode features a conversation with Teresa Mosqueda, a current King County council member and former member of the City of Seattle council.  Teresa has been a steadfast supporter of United Way programs and services that benefit our community, including our Free Tax Preparation campaign that is up and running at locations throughout King County. In this episode,...

Good news happens. This episode features a discussion about United Way’s Black Community Building Collective, a group of more than a dozen Black-led nonprofits that share best practices, craft strategies, and use United Way resources to help bring power to King County’s Black community.  For this episode, we will chat with four members of the Black Community Building Collective about the Collectiv...

Good news happens. It’s Tax Season, and that means United Way of King County’s Free Tax Preparation Campaign is up and running. From now until April 19, qualified residents can have their taxes done free, either virtually or at one of our 20 locations across King County. In this week’s episode, we sat down with Ryan McFerran, United Way senior program manager for tax credits and financial stabilit...

Good news happens. This week’s episode is the second installment of a three-part series on 2026 state, county, and city policy.  We’ll discuss the City of Seattle and King County governments, both of which gained new leaders from last year’s election.  We sat down with Amanda Sandoval, United Way's director of systems change and policy, to discuss how our elected leaders at the city and count...

Time and again, it seems as if Seattle’s annual King Day march and rally has coincided with moments in our nation’s history that shed light on injustice, inequality, and the progress we haven’t made in eliminating both. Monday’s march and rally at Garfield High School was held two days after Garfield students staged a walkout and demonstration in response to recent actions among members of federal...