Thank you to ALL those who attended our 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration from parents/guardians who drove their kids for rehearsals to day before, after a long day of work, to community leaders and community members.  We had amazing performers from all ages and cultural backgrounds and want you all to know, your wonderful voices were heard. We SEE you and appreciate you sharing your gifts with the City of Federal Way communities.   

Our 2023 Dr. King Jr. celebration had HISTORIC turnout off hundreds of guests inside our beautiful Performing Arts and Event Center (PAEC). We value everyone contributing to honoring Dr. King Jr., one of the world’s most amazing leaders who showed us how to have brave conversations and advocated for equity and social justice for us all.  

Please click here MLK Celebration 2023 to view our amazing 2023 Dr. King Jr. Celebration.  

Due to generous sponsors from Federal Way Black Collective and Delta Dental for the Dr. King Jr. celebration the City of Federal Way’s Diversity Commission is able to award more Roger Freeman Memorial Scholarship and have EXTENDED previous deadline of January 9, 2023, to February 6, 2023, at 5pm. 

Please share Roger Freeman Memorial Scholarship with all 9^th-12th graders who are enrolled in Federal Way Public Schools OR live within City of Federal Way city limits. 

Please review the application very carefully and completely to be qualified for this amazing scholarship opportunity.

Responsibilities: The Diversity Commission advises the City Council on policy matters involving the community’s cultural and ethnic differences, ensuring that these differences are considered in the decision-making process. Read the Commission’s 2022 Work Plan. It is our aim to help Federal Way in becoming a community that is united amidst diversity, where each individual is respected, equally valued, equally needed, and equally cherished. Equality is not sameness; it is equivalent value.

To review past agendas or summary minutes please view click here to be routed. 

OUR MISSION:
To advise City government to ensure Federal Way is a community that is united amidst diversity, where everyone is equally respected, valued, needed, and cherished.  Equality is not sameness; it is equivalent value.

BRAND PROMISE:
The Diversity Commission is dedicated to helping Federal Way become a city where all people have a feeling of belonging and sharing community, where there is equal access to information and resources for all, and where there are equal opportunities for all.

ONE-YEAR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:
The City of Federal Way Diversity Commission shall engage with Federal Way residents and businesses at the neighborhood level during the next year. The intention is to build the Commission’s knowledge about local and regional equity issues facing our city’s residents. We will document this knowledge and use it to achieve our mission.

Statement from the Diversity Commission regarding the death of Mr. George Floyd
6/3/2020

The City of Federal Way’s Diversity Commission exists because of the rich diversity of our city. We see it as our duty to make a statement because our black community is struggling to simply exist and to co-exist in a nation engulfed with racial discrimination and heightened turmoil. We stand with Federal Way Mayor and City Council in condemning the actions of the Minneapolis Police Officers in the death of Mr. George Floyd and call for a complete investigation and prosecution. We also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the unjust recent murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and others not mentioned.

We thank the organizers and the many members of the Federal Way community at the protest yesterday and those who are advocating and combating oppressive systems. We see you, uplift your efforts, and stand with you.

We thank the police officers for protecting all, especially the most vulnerable. We also want to acknowledge that a larger enforcement presence can induce fear, provoke anxiety, and reintroduce trauma elicited by instances of police brutality across the nation. We encourage that police officer to continue to grow in their knowledge of equity, criminal justice, and intrinsic biases as they continue to protect our community.

Despite gathering restrictions, the Diversity Commission will meet remotely to bring our passions for diversity, justice, and equity together to confront racism and discrimination. Although we are physically separate, we stand united for our community.

The Diversity Commission’s aim is to bring our community together amidst diversity, where each individual is respected, equally valued, equally needed, and equally cherished. To do so, we collectively affirm that black lives matter. To help us in our mission, we challenge our leaders and citizens of Federal Way to lean into the discomfort and injustices happening in our nation; discover forms of allyship or solidarity for the disenfranchised; continue to educate yourselves and people around you of structural privileges; listen to those hurting and struggling to exist and confront racism when you witness it.

Current members:            

• Vacant Chair Position
• Lisa Wallace, Vice-Chair
• Vacant Voting Position
• Vacant Voting Position
• Allison Fine
• Tirzah Idahosa
• Shante Lane
• Trenise Rogers
• Ron Walker
• Saudia Abdullah, Alternate
• Chika Onyejiaka, Alternate

Meeting logistics: 

• Time: 5:30 pm
• Date: The second Thursday of each month.
• Location: Hylebos Conference Room (ZOOM access available per request 24 hours before meeting.)
  33325 8th Ave. S.
  Federal Way, WA 98003
• Current and past meeting packets and agendas

Jury Diversity Committee

One of the ways we want to educate the community on jury service is by publishing articles through the newspaper. Our goal is to publish a three-part series that focuses on the history of racial disparities in jury service participation, the overall importance of jury service, and exploring solutions to the racial disparities in jury service participation. 

• Here is a link to the first of a three-part Op-Ed series featured in the Federal Way Mirror: http://www.federalwaymirror.com/opinion/overcoming-the-disparities-in-jury-selection/ 
• Part 1 provides a historical perspective and focuses on racial disparities in jury service participation. 
• Part 2: http://www.federalwaymirror.com/opinion/the-importance-of-participating-in-jury-service/.