Family Empowerment Center $1 million&~5600 direct actions

Juneteenth 2024, King County Equity Now celebrated four years of steadfast advocacy and significant victories for the Black community. We extend heartfelt thanks to YOU, our incredible supporters. Your support is driving an impressive 300,000 actions towards advancing equity over the past four years! Despite persistent attempts to undermine KCEN’s Juneteenth celebration, the event once again triumphed as a resounding success. Featuring electrifying sets by Dead Prez, performances, DJ Holiday, and the culmination of a season of local action, advocacy, and storytelling, it was a vibrant intergenerational gathering that provided space for Black joy and jubilation alongside our ongoing fight for justice and equity.

KCEN Wins: Moving the Dial for Black Equity

We measure success by the tangible investments and improvements in the lives of Black people. Through nearly 315,000 direct actions of community members, we have made strides in securing land and other forms of equity for the Black community.To date our collective achievements include:

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  $200 Million for the Community Reinvestment Program for the Community Reinvestment Program, safeguarded from redirection by opportunistic politicians.

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  $150 Million for affordable housing development from the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, supporting projects like Africatown Plaza, the Ethiopian Community Center, Elizabeth Thomas Homes, Beacon Pacific Village, Village (North Lot), and the NP/Eastern Hotel.

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  $100 million from City of Seattle.

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  $14 Million allocated for the Keiro acquisiton (now Benu Community Home), preventing predatory development and creating opportunities for Black community equity.

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  Transfer of Fire Station 6 to become the William Grose Center which opened in 2022.

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  Land Transfer for the development of the Youth Achievement Center led by Community Passageways & Creative Justice and Africatown Community Land Trust.

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  State Funding for Tubman Center for Health & Freedom’s two community-owned health sites in South Seattle, and a new 40,000-square-foot center set to open in 2027.

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  $1 Million secured for Black land ownership in Othello, supporting the East African-centered Family Empower Center and Community Housing.

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  Supported New Birth Center for Community Inclusion in securing legislative funds for phase 1 of Petah Villages, a trauma-informed early childhood education program in Skyway.

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  Over 4,000 actions to secure the Covenant Homeownership Act that provides up to $150K in down payment assistance to homebuyers who's families endured racial housing covenants.

Challenges Ahead

Despite these advancements, significant obstacles persist. Nationally and locally, there are ongoing efforts to disenfranchise the Black community, destabilize progress, and fund initiatives like the Fairness and Families agenda. Efforts in Evanston, IL, and even the state of reparations to Tulsa Race Massacre survivors are alarming.

Locally, attempts to divert funds from the Community Reinvestment Program, Participatory Budgeting, and the Equitable Development Initiative are concerning. Additionally, recent city planning lacks equitable strategies to protect vulnerable communities from displacement.