Thank you for reading Monroe This Week.

This week’s edition includes details on tonight's Monroe Senior Parade; vacancies on City Boards, Commissions, and Committees; an ARP success story; this weekend's second annual PRIDE event; a Bloodworks Northwest Pop-Up Blood Drive next week; and the Juneteenth Celebration taking place next weekend.

Please contact me with any and all feedback regarding the articles below. I can be reached at GThomas@MonroeWA.gov.

Yours in Service,

MONROE SENIOR PARADE TONIGHT

The Monroe community will celebrate our graduating seniors this evening with the Monroe High School Senior Parade. Beginning at 6:00 p.m., the parade route will slow travel along Fryelands Blvd. and W. Main Street. Please expect traffic impacts as we celebrate our graduating seniors. Come out and wish a hearty Congratulations to the Class of 2022! 

CITY RECRUITING FOR VACANCIES ON MULTIPLE BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES

The City of Monroe is currently recruiting for vacancies on multiple boards, commissions, and committees. Current vacancies include:

• 1 - Planning Commission (mid-term vacancy ending 12/2022)
• 1 - Economic Development Advisory Board (mid-term vacancy ending 12/2024)
• 2 - Park Board (1 mid-term vacancy ending 12/2022 and 1 mid-term vacancy ending 12/2024)
• 3 - Salary Commission (mid-term vacancies ending 12/2022, 12/2023, and 12/2024, respectively)

The Planning Commission reviews and makes recommendations to the City Council concerning land use issues including zoning, code changes, and revisions to the comprehensive plan; the Economic Development Advisory Board recommends priorities and provides advice to myself and the City Council related to economic development; the Park Board advises the City Council on the management, supervision, improvement, and budgeting for parks and recreation facilities and programs; and the Salary Commission reviews and establishes the salaries of the Mayor and City Councilmembers.

For more information on the duties of each board or commission, please visit our Boards, Commissions, and Committees page. To apply, please visit our Boards, Commissions, and Committees vacancies page.

ARP FUNDS SUPPORT YOUTH HEALTH AND FITNESS

In recent editions of Monroe This Week, I've shared information about the application process for and allowed uses of American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) funds made available by the City. I'd like to share this story, from the staff of Take the Next Step, of how an ARP award is supporting the mental and physical health and fitness of youth in our community.

Take the Next Step received funds to support mental health services for Monroe School District students, and to provide scholarships for local youth to participate in sports programs. To date, fourteen students have been referred to free mental health programs through the School District, and Take the Next Step's Mental Health Counselor is collaborating with the School District on ways to provide more group therapy opportunities for students. Two students have also utilized sports scholarships so far. Being active and positively engaging with peers is another fantastic way to support mental health and build community. More scholarships are anticipated to be utilized later this fall.

Thank you to Take the Next Step for applying for, and administering these important programs! I will share further stories of how ARP funds are impacting our community in future editions of Monroe This Week.

SECOND ANNUAL PRIDE EVENT THIS WEEKEND

Monroe’s second annual PRIDE event returns this Sunday from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. at Sky River Park, hosted by the Monroe Equity Council. Last year over 700 people came together to celebrate and honor the LGBTQ+ community. Many people who live in, work in, and visit Monroe are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Our LGBTQ+ siblings are welcomed, and their presence in and contributions to our community are and will continue to be recognized, supported, and celebrated. Save the date, and come together in the celebration of who you are. 

POP-UP BLOOD DRIVE SET FOR NEXT WEEK

Did you know that 6.6% of the population has O- blood type? This is the universal blood type that can be transfused to any patient. Bloodworks Northwest is in need of donors, especially O- donors. Join the lifesaving effort and give blood during the Pop-Up Monroe Blood Drive on June 16 and 17. Hosted by St. Mary of the Valley Catholic Church, the blood drive will take place at 601 W. Columbia from 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. each day.  Donation appointments can be made online. Help save a life! 

Donors need to be at least 16 years old, and everyone is required to wear a facial covering for the duration of their appointment. Those 16 and 17 years old will need to bring a Signed Parent Permission Slip.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION NEXT WEEKEND

Next Saturday, June 18, the Monroe Equity Council will be celebrating Juneteenth from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. at Sky River Park. There will be food, education, and a small vendor presence. Please contact the organization at juneteenth@monroeequitycouncil.org if you are interested in being a vendor (food or commerce), main stage demonstration / entertainment (e.g. dance, spoken word, sing, etc.), or having an educational booth on Black culture.

Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in 2021. While Juneteenth has been celebrated since 1865 and was declared a state holiday in Texas in 1980 (Emancipation Day), many Americans are still unfamiliar with its history. I invite you to learn more about Juneteenth and the contributions Black Americans have made and continue to make to our country.

The City Council will next meet in a Regular Business Meeting on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The meeting will be held in a hybrid format; members of the public may participate in Monroe City Council meetings both in-person at City Hall and remotely via the Zoom remote meeting platform. Participation information will be posted with the June 14 agenda, which can be accessed by clicking the button below.