SouthCORE

These organizations are rooted in South Seattle and South King County created to be at the forefront of shaping the future of the city, county and region. Each of the organizations involved plays a distinct role in advocating for and serving its diverse racial, ethnic and faith-based memberships.

SouthCORE was developed in 2012, recognizing the need in the region for community organizations to come together to:

• Support strong cultural and community institutions, affordable housing, and local community owned business
• Advocate for nurturing and edifying schools, living wage jobs and a safe and healthy environment
• Develop awareness of the impacts of institutional and structural discrimination so that new development and investments support families of color and families of low income to thrive in place

Since its creation, SouthCORE has deepened the understanding of issues related to housing, transit oriented development, and job quality for over twenty organizations rooted in South King County.

It has provided a foundation for community based organizations to understand the crisis and opportunity of transit oriented development, realizing their overlapping interests within the larger context of development and displacement. SouthCORE has also provided capacity building support of grassroots allies through trainings, support and leadership development.

Puget Sound Sage staffs the coalition and assists with research, policy, and communication as needed.

Coalition Success

The coalition has been influential in multiple city and county-wide campaigns including winning legislation for Mandatory Housing Affordability Residential (MHA-R), adding meaningful racial equity framing to Seattle's 2035 Comprehensive Plan, ensuring the inclusion of Graham Street station in Sound Transit 3, the Mount Baker rezone, and numerous other equitable development policies.