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Kent Mayor Dana Ralph highlights graduations, new space-industry collaboration and community events
Summary
In a weekly update, Mayor Dana Ralph congratulated local graduates, described a new 'US space mayors' collaboration formed at the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and previewed community events including the farmers market, a 5K run, pet adoptions, and Juneteenth observances. She also noted a nearly $2,000 employee donation to Meals on Wheels.
Kent Mayor Dana Ralph used her weekly update to congratulate local students and families on recent graduations and to announce a series of community events and local initiatives.
Ralph opened by thanking listeners and celebrating commencements held at the Showare Center, calling them "huge milestones" for kindergarten, high school and college graduates. "These are huge milestones whether it's kindergarten graduation, high school, or college," she said, adding her appreciation for families who supported the graduates.
She recapped attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Long Beach and said she and other mayors formed a group she described as the "US space mayors," bringing together cities with space-industry employers. "We're going to work on some united messaging both to those companies regarding investment in our cities and then the federal government around funding," Ralph said, saying the effort is intended to bolster local investment and federal support for space-related employers.
Ralph noted routine community outreach: she visits fifth graders at Kent Elementary (she said it was her ninth year visiting) and thanked "Miss Saledo" for arranging the visits. She also summarized a Kent Valley CEO roundtable and legislative breakfast at Orion Industries in Auburn that convened aerospace and advanced manufacturing executives to discuss workforce development and business needs.
On community engagement, Ralph thanked East Hill neighbors for organizing a "Drinks in the Driveway" event at Bandon Estates and said such gatherings help city leaders hear local concerns.
Ralph also highlighted recent local projects and events: city employees presented a check for nearly $2,000 to Meals on Wheels in partnership with Sound Generations from the city's spring fundraiser, and two pet-adoption events resulted in 14 kittens and two cats being adopted from council chambers at a "Kitty Hall" event. "Every year, uh, twice a year, our employees get together and we have a fundraiser," she said, describing the spring "spring fling" that supported the donation.
She reminded residents that the shirt deadline for the 2026 Kent Cornucopia Days 5K was that day and that the run is scheduled for July 11, directing listeners to mykantparks.com for registration. Ralph also promoted the Kent Farmers Market kickoff on Second Avenue and a residential recycling event at Canyon Ridge Middle School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., providing a web link for recycling details.
Ralph announced the first of two evening nature walks at Clark Lake Park on June 18, thanking Beavers Northwest for hosting, and reminded listeners that city services will be closed on June 19 for Juneteenth. She encouraged the public to attend a Juneteenth celebration described in the transcript as the Linda Swezer Memorial Junth celebration on June 20 at Morrow Meadows Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., sponsored in the transcript by an organization named "Kback."
Ralph closed by again congratulating graduates and thanking city communications staff and volunteers for recent events. "We are super grateful. Um we will see you next time," she said.
Next steps: this was an informational mayoral update; no formal council votes or motions were announced in the transcript.
