HIGHLANDS COUNCIL
2550 NE PARK DRIVE, ISSAQUAH, WA 98029 issaquahhighlands.com

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE MISSION OF THE HIGHLANDS COUNCIL IS TO FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF A VIBRANT AND CARING COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO SERVICE, DIVERSITY, STEWARDSHIP AND WELL-BEING. HIGHLANDS COUNCIL ENSURES THE COMMUNITY EMBODIES THE VALUES OF ITS RESIDENTS AND REMAINS POSITIONED TO SERVE CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

HIGHLANDS COUNCIL WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY CREATING A LEGACY OF COMMUNITY THAT WILL LAST FOR GENERATIONS. THE COUNCIL WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS BY FOSTERING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A VIBRANT AND CARING COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO SERVICE, DIVERSITY, AND WELL BEING.

COMMUNICATIONS: HIGHLANDS COUNCIL MANAGES ALL THE OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY. COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT INCLUDES ISSAQUAHHIGHLANDS.COM, BLAKELYHALL.COM, THE MONTHLY CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER, WEEKLY E-LETTER, AND OFFICIAL SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE. CONNECTIONS NEWS IS A VERY IMPORTANT OUTREACH TOOL FOR OUR MISSION OF BUILDING COMMUNITY AT HIGHLANDS COUNCIL. CONNECTIONS NEWS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, SPONSORSHIP BY LOCAL BUSINESSES, AWARENESS OF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, MEDIA SUPPORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER NON-PROFITS IN THE AREA, PROMOTION OF OUR OWN PROGRAMMING THAT IS MOSTLY FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND BRANDING OF OUR COMMUNITY AS THE MOST DESIRABLE PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY!WE AVERAGE 15-20 VOLUNTEER WRITERS AND CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS ANNUALLY. WRITING AND PHOTOGRAPHY ARE ALSO WONDERFUL WAYS FOR THE TEENS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO BUILD WRITING SKILLS, GET PUBLISHED, AND CREATE A PORTFOLIO FOR THOSE IMPORTANT COLLEGE APPLICATIONS! WE LOVE OUR VOLUNTEER WRITERS; THEY LEND CREDIBILITY TO THE CONTENT WE PUBLISH BECAUSE THEY ARE TOLD BY A NEIGHBOR.HIGHLANDS COUNCIL SEEKS TO KEEP OUR READERS ENGAGED CIVICALLY. OUR STAFF FOLLOWS CLOSELY ISSUES AROUND LAND DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, TRAFFIC AND COMMUNITY SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, AND EDUCATION. WE ATTEND CITY COUNCIL AND SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND REPORT BACK WHAT WE LEARNED AND HOW IT IMPACTS COMMUNITY LIFE IN ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS. WE ARE CAREFUL NOT TO TELL OUR READERS WHAT TO THINK BUT PROVIDE THE FACTS SO OUR READERS CAN FORM THEIR OWN OPINIONS AND KNOW WHEN PUBLIC FORUM OPPORTUNITIES EXIST TO ENGAGE OUR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS. WE ALSO HOST CAMPAIGN FORUMS IN THE SUMMER AND FALL FOR LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL CAMPAIGNS WHEN OUR AREA IS DIRECTLY IMPACTED. NEWSPRINT MAY BE A DYING INDUSTRY, BUT CONNECTIONS NEWS IS A HIGHLY-DESIRED PUBLICATION IN OUR AREA. MANY LOCAL WEEKLY PAPERS HAVE FINANCIALLY-FOLDED IN SURROUNDING CITIES. WHEN OUR STAFF IS NETWORKING IN THE GREATER COMMUNITY, WE OFTEN HEAR FROM NEIGHBORING CITIES, "THEY WISH THEY HAD A CONNECTIONS NEWS." WE ALSO GET ASKED HOW WE FUND SUCH A HIGH-QUALITY PUBLICATION. OUR SMALL BUSINESS ADVERTISER-SPONSORS CREDIT CONNECTIONS NEWS AS A KEY TO THEIR SUCCESS. AND MOST FLATTERING IS WHEN A RESIDENT FROM A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS INQUIRES HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO CONNECTIONS NEWS OR PITCHES A STORY THEY WANT US TO COVER IN THEIR PART OF TOWN. WE ARE CAREFUL TO STAY TRUE TO OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND STAY ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS SPECIFIC EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE SO MANY WONDERFUL STORIES TO TELL IN OUR REGION.

BLAKELY HALL: ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS IS AN URBAN VILLAGE WITH A DIVERSITY OF INCOMES, HOUSEHOLD MAKEUPS, LIFESTYLES, ETHNICITIES AND BACKGROUNDS THAT PROVIDE A UNIQUE AND MEMORABLE NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY WITHIN THE CITY OF ISSAQUAH. NOW REPRESENTING 1/3 OF THE CITY'S POPULATION, RESIDENTS ARE COMPRISED OF AN ENGAGED, MULTI-CULTURAL DEMOGRAPHIC. HIGHLANDS COUNCIL HELPS FACILITATE COMMUNITY TRADITIONS THAT ENGENDER PRIDE IN ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS. THESE TRADITIONS ARE BORN FROM THE VOICES OF THE DIVERSE RESIDENTS, WHERE COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOSTER A SENSE OF INCLUSIVENESS AND A CULTURE OF COMMUNITY. BLAKELY HALL SERVES THE BROAD COMMUNITY OF ISSAQUAH BY OFFERING A WIDE-VARIETY OF FREE, PUBLIC PROGRAMMING. OVER 500 ISSAQUAH RESIDENTS PASS THROUGH THE BLAKELY HALL DOORS EACH WEEK. BLAKELY HALL SERVES AS A WELCOME CENTER FOR THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING DAILY TELECOMMUTERS ENJOYING OUR FREE WIFI, HOME BUYERS SEEKING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR URBAN VILLAGE, AND HIKERS COMING DOWN FROM THE GRAND RIDGE TRAIL FOR A COMFORT BREAK. OVER 25 RESIDENT-INITIATED AND RESIDENT-LED, FREE-TO-ATTEND, AFFINITY GROUPS MEET AT BLAKELY HALL ON A MONTHLY BASIS. WE STRIVE TO MAKE BLAKELY HALL AS INCLUSIVE AS POSSIBLE. BLAKELY HALL IS THE LOCATION OF CHOICE FOR COMMUNITY-WIDE MEETINGS AND CIVIC GATHERINGS HOSTED BY THE CITY OF ISSAQUAH, HIGHLANDS COUNCIL, AND THE ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION. BLAKELY HALL IS ALSO UTILIZED AS A VENUE BY A VARIETY OF LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. BLAKELY HALL OUTREACHES SPECIFICALLY TO UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING SPACE FOR CELEBRATIONS AND MEETINGS. FOR EXAMPLE, OUR INDIA CULTURE CLUB CELEBRATES HOLI AND DIWALI EACH YEAR. THE LATINO CLUB USES THE FACILITY FOR DIA DE LOS MUERTOS AND 3 KINGS DAY. CHINESE HERITAGE CLUB CELEBRATES THE NEW YEAR AND MOON CAKE FESTIVAL. WE MAKE ALL OUR PROGRAMMING ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, INCLUDING LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. OUR PROGRAMMING IS FREE TO ATTEND OR HAS A NOMINAL ADMISSION FEE OF $10.00 OR LESS. AS AN URBAN VILLAGE, ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS IS UNIQUELY DESIGNED AND PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY. THERE IS A VARIETY OF HOUSING TYPES MIXED TOGETHER; FROM MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR ESTATES TO LOW INCOME HOUSING ALL JUST BLOCKS FROM BLAKELY HALL.

SOCIAL PROGRAMMING: HIGHLANDS COUNCIL'S PRIMARY OBJECTIVES ARE TO FOSTER COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMMING THAT "BUILDS COMMUNITY." SOCIAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDES OVER 25 RESIDENT-LED, CULTURALLY DIVERSE, COMMUNITY GROUPS FOR ALL AGES; FROM TODDLERS TO TEENS, TO SENIORS. HIGHLANDS COUNCIL ALSO MANAGES A 140-PATCH COMMUNITY GARDEN PROGRAM. HIGHLANDS COUNCIL OFTEN COLLABORATES WITH OTHER AREA NONPROFITS TO BRING ENRICHING AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES TO THE COMMUNITY. HIGHLANDS COUNCIL IS ACTIVE CIVICALLY; HOSTING POLITICAL FORUMS AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY OF ISSAQUAH. FACILITATING COMMUNITY TRADITIONS THAT ENGENDER PRIDE IN ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS IS A CORE COMMUNITY VALUE. WHAT STARTED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTY HOSTED BY THE MASTER DEVELOPER 20 YEARS-AGO HAS EVOLVED INTO A 4-HOUR, FAMILY-FRIENDLY FESTIVAL FOR 4,000+ GUESTS PRODUCED BY HIGHLANDS COUNCIL AND OVER 100 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, THE ANNUAL HIGHLANDS DAY FESTIVAL. THE FESTIVAL INCLUDES LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, MECHANICAL AND INFLATABLE ATTRACTIONS FOR ALL AGES, FOOD TRUCKS AND OVER 80 BUSINESS AND NONPROFIT VENDORS. REMAINING TRUE TO THE ORIGINAL GRASSROOTS INVOLVEMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE GOAL OF THE FESTIVAL REMAINS THE SAME AS IT WAS WHEN ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS WAS SMALLER AND BRAND NEW: CELEBRATING COMMUNITY TOGETHER.ATTENDANCE AND GUEST EXPERIENCE ARE OUR PRIMARY EVALUATION OF THE FESTIVAL EACH YEAR. VOLUNTEERS, SPONSORS, VENDORS AND A SELECTION OF FESTIVAL GUESTS ARE SURVEYED AFTER THE FESTIVAL TO COLLECT FEEDBACK ON THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE FROM ALL ANGLES. WE MAKE THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR SPONSORS A PRIORITY TO ENSURE THEY FEEL THERE WAS GREAT VALUE AND RETURN ON THEIR FUNDING INVESTMENT. FEEDBACK FROM FESTIVAL GUESTS, VOLUNTEERS, SPONSORS, VENDORS, AND OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES GUIDE OUR RECAP OF EACH YEAR'S EVENT AND HELP US IMPROVE ANNUALLY. HIGHLANDS DAY PROVIDES ENTRY-LEVEL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THAT GROW INTO LARGER LEADERSHIP COMMITMENTS. WHAT BEGINS AS A 3-HOUR SHIFT AT HIGHLANDS DAY OFTEN INSPIRES SERVICE TO A COMMUNITY GROUP OR COMMITTEE. MANY OF OUR BOARD TRUSTEES STARTED OUT AS FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS YEARS AGO.

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