Earlier this year Western Washington University (WWU) expanded its community-based education project with LIHI and mobilized Seattle community college students to work with residents to develop digital literacy skills such as e-mail, internet navigation, resume writing, and job search. LIHI residents benefit from developing new technology skills and WWU volunteers learn too.

Cindy, who is tutoring Kathy, said, "My perspective on homelessness changed through interactions and tutoring sessions with Kathy. She is very intelligent and very capable. I would have never guessed that she lived in tents for several months before finding a home at LIHI."

The WWU/LIHI collaboration kicked off with its third cohort of participants in February and just last week we celebrated three graduations! Ten more residents are scheduled to graduate this summer. Congratulations LIHI residents Kathy, Ilai and Maurice for successfully completing our Computer Technology & Job Search Training Program! Thank you Joe, Cindy & Amanda for your dedication to advancing digital literacy skills of LIHI residents!

 
Special thanks to Dr. Sondra Cuban for leading this effort on WWU's behalf! For more information about the LIHI/WWU project and its participants click here.

Making healthy choices is a challenge, especially for families and individuals living on very tight budgets. To help increase access to nutrition, and safe, age-appropriate exercise opportunities among communities we work with, LIHI is promoting a new wellness initiative. After collaborating with the Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition to create a plan of action, we welcomed Seattle University's Sports and Exercise Program intern Dara Fong to begin its implementation. 

As LIHI's Wellness Program Intern, Dara has focused on working with LIHI vending machine contractors to increase healthier snack choices. In preparation for her project she surveyed over 40 residents who were overwhelmingly excited about the possibility of vending machines at their site offering healthier options, and created a coding system to make picking healthy snacks easy. Dara also developed an "Eat Well Move More Feel Better" community board and helped kick off a walking group for LIHI's senior residents! Congratulations Dara on your successful internship and graduation. Interested in unique & impactful internship opportunities with LIHI? Email volunteer@LIHI.org today!