SEATTLE (April 28, 2021) – Women from across King County will come together May 1 – 8 for Women Build Week to support Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County, which currently has 200 homes in various stages of development in its pipeline. Activities include a mix of onsite and virtual events, with a team from Prime Electric, the event’s leadership sponsor, onsite at the Lake City site Saturday, May 1 for the first day of activities.
All genders are also encouraged to raise or donate at least $150 to Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County. After signing up, they may choose a date and location to volunteer Saturday through Saturday, May 1 through May 8. People may register as individuals or build teams from among work colleagues, friends neighbors, faith communities and family members. (Youth under the age of 16 are unable to participate due to safety considerations.)
As indicated above, Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County takes safety and the health of volunteers very seriously, and takes proper precautions to follow Washington’s public health and Master Builders Association guidelines.
Notable events planned that commemorate the occasion and build awareness of the need for affordable housing include:
- Building with Beauty Queens (a group from Mrs. Washington America and friends), on Saturday, May 1 at 9:00 amSeveral local and international pageant winners are teaming up to build onsite at Habitat’s La Fortuna project in Renton. The mission statement of the Mrs. Washington/Mrs. America/Mrs. World organizations is to “empower and mentor women to make a difference in their communities,” and the team’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity aligns perfectly with this mission.
- DIY Intro to Power Tools – Led by AmeriCorps – Monday, May 3 at 12:00 pm
Two of Habitat’s female AmeriCorps members, Cari Firriolo & Faren Roth, will teach attendees of this virtual event how to use three of the most common tools used at our sites: Impact Driver, Multi Tool, and Circular Saw. Attendees will learn tool safety, how to operate these tools, and how they can be used. - Better Money Habits Class – Sponsored by Bank of America – Tuesday, May 4 at 6:15 pm
The Better Money Habits Financial Education Virtual Workshop will provide tips, tools and resources to help attendees manage their finances and learn more about what to do to prepare to buy their first home. - Women, Housing and the Impact of COVID-19 Panel – Thursday, May 6 at 4:00 pm
Join Habitat for a virtual panel conversation showcasing the voices of successful and prominent local female leaders who will discuss how to support women who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic – leaving the workforce, staying home with children, becoming homeschool educators, caregivers, and shouldering much of the burden at home, given school and childcare facility closures and longstanding gender inequalities in unpaid work.
This discussion will provide insightful perspectives on how these influential female leaders navigate the disruptions and changes of the world around them and move forward with resiliency. Moderated by KIRO 7’s Tracey Leong, panelists include:
- Erica C. Barnett, editor and publisher at PubliCola (publicola.com)
- Laura Clise, Founder and CEO, Intentionlist
- Mayor Lynne Robinson, City of Bellevue
- Mia Gregerson, Representative, 33rd Legislative District, Washington State
- Patience Malaba, Director of Government Relations & Policy, Housing Development Consortium of Seattle-King County
- Teresa Mosqueda, Seattle City Councilmember, Position 8
Home Preservation Day – Friday, May 7 at 8:45 am
Join our repairs team to preserve and restore homes in the New Holly and Othello neighborhoods of South Seattle. Help homeowners in need complete project including: stair repairs, yard work, pressure washing, minor fence repairs, and more.
Women of Impact Build Community Celebration – Saturday, May 8 at 9:00 amThe culmination of Women Build week will be celebrated by female community leaders and elected officials at Habitat’s La Fortuna site in Renton. This build day is an opportunity for women from across King County to build community while building homes and celebrate the impact women have toward affordable housing solutions. Female volunteers will work on 12 new affordable homes for hardworking, low-income families.
Registration for any or all of the above activities can be facilitated at http://www.habitatskc.org/events/. To learn more about Women Build Week in King County, contact Amy Farrier at amy.farrier@habitatskc.org, 206-456-6943 (office) or 202-439-5315 (cell).