Sustainable Seattle and Communities Count partner to develop Action Agenda

In late 2005, when the latest version of Communities Count was released, a Seattle PI Editorial Board commentary stated, “Solutions begin with understanding a problem. Knowing about conditions in our own back yard ought to empower everyone here who wants to make their neighborhood, their city and King County a better place to live.” 

Two important local groups are joining together in an effort to spur action for communities across King County.  Sustainable Seattle and the Communities Count Partnership are pleased to announce the launching of the Action Agenda for a more sustainable King County.  The first step is hiring an Action Agenda Coordinator funded by the Communities Count Initiative and housed at Sustainable Seattle. 

The Action Agenda will build on the Regional Sustainability Indicators Commons, which will organize and integrate the mass of sustainability-related data, including indicators developed by Sustainable Seattle and Communities Count, and make the information easily accessible at a single interactive website to develop a comprehensive program for action to improve public health and overall community and environmental sustainability in King County.

“While Communities Count and Sustainable Seattle have a long history of working together, the joint hiring of the Action Agenda Coordinator is truly a ground-breaking step for both organizations and goes a long way toward the type of collaborative approach to sustainability that both organizations strongly support,” said Chantal Stevens, Executive Director of Sustainable Seattle.

Ben Perkowski, the Action Agenda Coordinator, has worked in natural resource management and on environmental issues in the Northwest for more than 12 years.   Mr. Perkowski’s background includes extensive work in community outreach, watershed planning, water quality protection, habitat restoration, strategic planning and policy development.  Mr. Perkowski holds a master’s degree in environmental management and has a strong interest in all aspects of sustainable living and development, which includes training in sustainable building.

“I am truly excited to join the collaborative effort represented by Communities Count and Sustainable Seattle and look forward to working with all the partners involved as part of a strong commitment to produce credible and useful information about the public, social, economic and environmental health of King County and translating that information into clear action to address real needs affecting our county’s future.”

The aim of Communities Count is to improve community conditions through information advocacy -- providing accurate and timely reports on the conditions that matter to King County families and communities in order to stimulate action.  We are taking a step forward to achieve this aim by joining with Sustainable Seattle in developing an action agenda,” said Sandy Ciske, Regional Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. 

Communities Count summarizes social, health, environmental and arts trends in a report published every three years and available at www.communitiescount.org.   The 2005 report includes sections on basic needs and social well-being, positive development through life stages, safety and health, community strength, natural and built environment, and arts and culture.  The next report will be published in 2008.  Major partners for Communities Count include City of Bellevue Parks and Community Services Department, City of Federal Way, City of Seattle Human Services Department, King County Children and Family Commission, Public Health-Seattle and King County, Sustainable Seattle, The Seattle Foundation, and United Way of King County.

Sustainable Seattle (www.sustainableseattle.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the long term quality of life in the Seattle/King County area. Founded in 1991, it is best known for its path-breaking work on community sustainability indicators; its set of indicators became an international model for how citizens can track and monitor the quality of life in their communities