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Good news happens. This week's episode features a conversation with Andrea Alexander, a Makah Tribal Elder, activist, and community development expert who leads the Northwest Native Asset Building Coalition, an Edmonds-based, United Way-supported nonprofit that empowers Indigenous communities through education and facilitation. 

On the eve of Seattle hosting the National Congress of American Indians’ 82nd Annual Convention & Marketplace this week, we sat down with Andrea to chat about the Northwest Native Asset Building Coalition’s efforts to provide economic empowerment and asset building to Indigenous individuals, families, and communities.

We will also discuss our efforts to help provide food access to residents amid the fallout from the federal government shutdown, as well as our upcoming Free Tax Preparation Campaign.

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Good news happens. This episode features a conversation about contacting elected officials.

Folks say write to your councilmembers, representatives, and your senators when you want issues addressed that you care about. Amid the current federal government shutdown and recent elections that have sent new leaders to the state and local offices, now seems like a good time to contact lawmakers.

 But how do you communicate your concerns to ensure they’re heard? For this episode of Hourglass, we sat down with Nick Federici, United Way’s anti-poverty policy advocate, to discuss the dos and don’ts of petitioning the people we elect to public office.

We will also discuss our efforts to help provide food access to residents amid the fallout from the federal government shutdown, as well as our upcoming Free Tax Preparation Campaign.

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Good news happens. This week’s episode is a conversation with Gabriel Galanda of Huy, a Seattle-based Indigenous organization that provides economic, rehabilitative, educational, and religious support for Indigenous inmates in Washington state and beyond. United Way of King County proudly supports Huy, which ensures that Indigenous people behind bars maintain the rights afforded to all people in our country and receive the cultural support and family connections while serving time.

We will also discuss our efforts to help provide food access to residents amid the fallout from the federal government shutdown, as well as our upcoming Free Tax Preparation Campaign.

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This episode features a conversation about the possible loss of SNAP benefits to millions nationwide. United Way of King County has championed the impact of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which provides families nationwide with the means to keep food on the table. However, due to the current federal government shutdown, funding to SNAP hasn’t been replenished, and the program could soon run out of money. 

We sat down with United Way’s Director for Ending Hunger, Sara Seelmeyer, to discuss what this could mean for the nearly one million SNAP recipients in Washington state and how United Way and our partners are responding to help those already struggling to feed their families.

We will also discuss our Free Tax Preparation Campaign and an upcoming volunteer opportunity.

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Good news happens. This week's episode features a conversation about United Way’s free Home Grocery Delivery Program.

As United Way is set to launch our End of Year Giving Campaign that focuses on Hunger, Hourglass sat down with Cheyenne Stolmeier, United Way food security program manager, and Hannah Gauntz, United Way food security senior program coordinator, to discuss our program that provides free groceries door-to-door to local residents in need. 

We’ll also discuss our upcoming Free Tax Preparation Campaign and a local volunteer opportunity.

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This episode features a conversation with historian and bestselling author Timothy Snyder. 

United Way is partnering with Seattle Arts and Lectures to co-sponsor an evening with Snyder at Benaroya Hall on Oct. 26 as part of our Conversations for Change series.

Hourglass sat down with Snyder to discuss his book On Tyranny: 20 Lessons for the 20th Century, which spent more than 140 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Snyder will discuss his book On Freedom during the Oct. 26 event.

We’ll discuss origins of “On Tyranny” and its lessons that inspire people to engage in acts such as defending our institutions, standing out for one’s beliefs and contributing to good causes.

We’ll also discuss our upcoming Free Tax Preparation Campaign and a local volunteer opportunity.

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Good news happens. This episode features a conversation about Emerging Leaders 365, a United Way of King County-sponsored group of more than 10,000 young adults passionate about engaging in a year of impact to support their neighbors. 

Emerging Leaders support local charities and small businesses, volunteer at nonprofit organizations, and engage in United Way’s Happy Hours & Hellos Series, which allows them to network with fellow professionals over refreshments while learning about United’s work.

The next Happy Hour and Hellos event is scheduled for October 14 at Nordstrom Southcenter. Hourglass recently sat down with Emerging Leader Auriella Varley and United Way associate director of marketing Taylor Roberson to discuss the impact of Emerging Leaders and the upcoming Happy Hour and Hellos.

We’ll also discuss a United Way Conversation for Change event this month with bestselling author Timothy Snyder and discuss a local volunteer opportunity. 

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Good news happens. This week’s episode features a conversation with two members of local Indigenous organization that will host a Seattle Public School Board Candidate Forum on October 4 at North Seattle College. 

We chatted with Lisa Rivera, Board Director of Urban Native Education Alliance and a former Seattle School Board director, and Kamryn Yanchick, Political Navigator at Native Action Network, about hosting the candidate forum and about education issues in local Indigenous communities.

We’ll also discuss an upcoming Happy Hour and Hellos event and a local volunteer opportunity.

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Good news happens. This week's episode features a conversation with Tiffany Kelly-Gray of Byrd Barr Place, a Seattle-based nonprofit that offers essential services—including food, shelter, and financial tools—for Seattle area residents. 

As rising food prices and cuts to federal nutrition programs are impacting people’s ability to put healthy meals on the table, Byrd Barr Place provides innovative ways to meet community needs. We’ll chat with Tiffany about the organization’s efforts to address food insecurity, our communities' current state of need, and Byrd Barr Place’s upcoming Legacy in Motion gala.

We’ll also talk about our upcoming Happy Hour and Hellos event and a local volunteer opportunity.

I’m your host, Joe Burris. Thanks for tuning in!

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Good news happens. This week’s episode discusses United Way’s Indigenous Communities Fund. Since the fund was launched in 2020, we’ve granted about $5 million to local groups to address many needs in King County’s Indigenous Communities.

Hourglass sat down with Marlo Klein, United Way Senior Community Impact Manager of Housing Stability, and Liahann Bannerman, United Way Senior Director of Equitable Philanthropy, to discuss the impact of the Indigenous Fund and recent changes that enable us to partner with more local organizations.

We will also discuss our upcoming Happy Hour and Hellos event, as well as a local volunteer opportunity.

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