Whatcom County & City of Bellingham Offering More Time to Submit Applications for the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission

Whatcom County and City of Bellingham are now offering more time to submit applications to join the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission (WREC). The new deadline for applications is March 15, 2024. This is a unique opportunity for community members to play an active role in shaping a more just and equitable future for Whatcom County and will be instrumental in weaving together the strengths and voices of our diverse community to achieve lasting change.

"We’ve received incredible applications from this community. We’ve also received feedback that community members learned of the opportunity without enough time to submit the application they wish they could have. Our goal is to support applicant success, and we are rising to that call from the community for more time,” Shu-Ling Zhao, Community Advancement Director, Chuckanut Health Foundation. “This new deadline of March 15th offers more opportunities for the community and extends the process to a similar length to the County’s processes over the holiday season for their January advisory group appointments. We are confident that this process will result in seating the Commission with a spectacular group of dedicated individuals ready to support its first years.”

Applications are due March 15th, 2024 at 11:59pm (PST).

The application link is here and includes a list of all available positions on the WREC. Applicants must live in Whatcom County and meet the specific requirements of the positions.

Applications can be submitted via email to WREC@ChuckanutHealthFoundation.org or mail to the Chuckanut Health Foundation offices P.O. Box 5641, Bellingham, WA 98227. We recognize there may be barriers to completing a written application. Please contact the Foundation Staff for assistance in identifying alternatives. Applications will be reviewed initially by the group of community members seated on the WREC’s Appointment Committee before member recommendations and made by both the County Executive and the Mayor of Bellingham to their respective Councils.

The Whatcom Racial Equity Commission is inviting passionate community members; students; young people; immigrants, migrants, and refugees; parents and caregivers; people working in our education systems; human service providers; multilingual healthcare providers, advocates and activists; people working in philanthropy, and faith leaders to play an active role in ensuring fairness and opportunity are woven into the fabric of Whatcom County.

We acknowledge that Whatcom County is located on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples. They cared for the lands that included what we’d call the Puget Sound region, Vancouver Island and British Columbia since time immemorial. This gives us the great obligation and opportunity to learn how to care for our surrounding areas and all the natural and human resources we require to live. We express our deepest respect and gratitude for our indigenous neighbors, the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe, for their enduring care and protection of our shared lands and waterways.