Highlands Council

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.

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 HAS SERVED THE BROAD COMMUNITY OF ISSAQUAH BY OFFERING A WIDE VARIETY OF FREE, PUBLIC PROGRAMMING AS WELL AS A GATHERING PLACE FOR COMMUNITY MEETINGS, COFFEE DATES, AND YOUTH CLASSES.

COMMUNICATIONS: HIGHLANDS COUNCIL MANAGES ALL THE OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY. COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT INCLUDES ISSAQUAHHIGHLANDS.COM, BLAKELYHALL.COM, THE QUARTERLY 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 10-15 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. NEWSPRINT MAY BE A DYING INDUSTRY, BUT CONNECTIONS NEWS IS A HIGHLY DESIRED PUBLICATION IN OUR AREA. CONNECTIONS NEWS CONTINUES TO BE RECOGNIZED BY NEIGHBORHOODS USA AS A TOP COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER IN THE COUNTRY!

SOCIAL PROGRAMMING: ONE OF HIGHLANDS COUNCIL'S PRIMARY OBJECTIVES ARE TO FOSTER COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMMING THAT "BUILDS COMMUNITY." AS WE TRANSITIONED DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE PIVOTED TO VIRTUAL EVENTS, HYBRID EVENTS AND OUTDOOR, SOCIALLY DISTANCED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.VIRTUAL EVENTS INCLUDED BINGO NIGHTS, WEEKLY TRIVIA LUNCH BREAKS, CAMPAIGN FORUMS, AND VETERANS DAY CEREMONIES. WE ALSO COLLABORATED WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO BRING VIRTUAL EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS TO OUR RESIDENTS. PRE-PANDEMIC, SOCIAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDED OVER 25 RESIDENT-LED, CULTURALLY DIVERSE, COMMUNITY GROUPS FOR ALL AGES: FROM TODDLERS TO TEENS, TO SENIORS, MANY OF WHICH ARE CONTINUING TO MEET VIRTUALLY, INCLUDING MEDITATION, KNITTING, BOOK CLUB AND PHOTOGRAPHY.COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDED OUTDOOR SCAVENGER HUNTS AND GEO CACHING, SNOWMAN BUILDING COMPETITIONS, AND HOLIDAY HOME DECOR COMPETITIONS DURING THE FALL AND WINTER MONTHS. HIGHLANDS COUNCIL ALSO MANAGES A 140-PATCH COMMUNITY GARDEN PROGRAM. FACILITATING COMMUNITY TRADITIONS THAT ENGENDER PRIDE IN ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS IS A CORE COMMUNITY VALUE. OUR STAFF DID A REMARKABLE JOB CREATING AND MANAGING SAFE EVENTS THAT PROVIDED AN OUTLET OF ACTIVITY, SOCIALLY DISTANCED ENGAGEMENT WITH NEIGHBORS, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.