Strategic Partnerships for Outreach and Engagement

The Department of Neighborhoods (DON) partners with other City departments, regional agencies, and community groups to provide strategic advisement, coordination, and support for City programs and projects. DON staff serve as connectors, building trusting relationships between government and community and ensuring that outreach and engagement efforts are centered on equity and those most impacted by the City’s growth and infrastructure needs. Below is a selection of some of the projects that DON staff support.

Seattle Department of Transportation Outreach

DON supports the Seattle Department of Transportation with equitable outreach and engagement. The work centers on a commitment to address historic injustices and inequities by implementing engagement strategies that are grounded in racial equity practices and best serve the communities most impacted by transportation projects. DON partner projects include the West Seattle Bridge, Vision Zero, West Seattle and Ballard Link Extension, Pedestrian Master Plan, Transportation Equity, and others.

Seattle Public Utilities Outreach

DON currently supports Seattle Public Utilities’ programs and projects to help center and grow Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) community centered engagement. This partnership focuses on relationship building with BIPOC community, creating new equity centered programs/pilot projects, and continuing to grow the Seattle Public Utilities Customer Review Panel.

Community Safety and COVID-19 Response

DON regularly holds contracts and programs that support community safety in our neighborhoods. These include managing the Public Safety Coordinators for both the Chinatown International District and South Park neighborhoods and supporting the Rainier Beach: A Beautiful Safe Place for Youth community-led initiative. DON is also a member of the Chinatown International District Public Safety Council and an active participant in the Regional Peacekeeper Collective and Regional Community Safety and Well-Being Plan efforts. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, DON staff have been essential in the dissemination of vital public health information and mask distribution. They also provide community outreach and engagement for testing sites, vaccination, shelter deintensification, and hygiene stations.