Submitted by Olympia Downtown Alliance
The Olympia Downtown Alliance understands a clean, safe and welcoming environment is essential to a thriving Downtown Olympia. In order to support this environment, downtown stakeholders have come together to form the Downtown Safety Team.
This team, staffed by the Downtown Guides, will provide visitors to downtown information about all the great opportunities and experiences the area offers, while also working to create an environment that the community can feel safe and comfortable in. The Guides will also seek to connect individuals experiencing homelessness and suffering from mental health and substance abuse issues with local resources.
“We’re excited to introduce the Guides to the community and visitors to our Downtown. We’re passionate about our amazing Downtown and can’t wait for our Guides to help our visitors explore the area,” said Todd Cutts, Executive Director of the Olympia Downtown Alliance.
To prepare for their work, the Guides have trained with the Olympia Police Department, Downtown Ambassadors, Crisis Response Unit, and representatives from the Community Care Center. They have also received training on de-escalation techniques, mental health and substance abuse basics, CPR and first aid, and social services available in the community.
The Downtown Guides will begin serving the core of downtown on Sunday, July 7, and will be present seven days a week. Most days, they will be present from 2 p.m.- 10 p.m. The Guides will be outfitted in bright orange polo shirts, wearing “Ask Me” buttons.
For more information about Downtown Guides, please visit downtownolympia.org/guides
