October is the month of change in many ways. It  is also a time to reflect and prepare for what is best. Here at DRCC we have been reflecting on our current structure, doing some work planning sessions and goals  and identifying how best serve our community.  

We are pleased to announce some important changes in our organization that will help us achieve our strategic goals to be more intentional. As of today, we have restructured our focus areas a bit to align them with our core values and vision. We have also created new roles and responsibilities for some of our key staff members, who will be leading the implementation of these changes. 

We welcome Jamie Hearn as our new Director of Environmental Law and Climate Policy. Jamie has been very involved with our Superfund Program and will continue to do this work, but in addition, will also be overseeing our Clean Air and Climate Justice Programs.   Jamie's law background and experience on climate justice advocacy projects includes several successful campaigns to hold polluters accountable, and promoting just transition framework to empower grassroots movements for environmental justice. Jamie and her team will also work closely with our partners and allies to amplify the voices and demands of environmental justice communities. 

Christian Poulsen as our Clean Air Coordinator with his background in climate policy, will be leading our Clean Air Program in collaboration with Lissette Palestro as our new  Environmental Health Equity Program Manager.  With her Public  Health background, Lissette will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to address health disparities and promote health equity in our community. They both will work closely with our partners, stakeholders, and staff to ensure that our projects collect, analyze, and report on clean indoor and outdoor air quality and health equity. We are confident they both will bring valuable skills, experience, and perspectives to our organization and help us advance our mission of improving the health and well-being of everyone in our community.

We are delighted to welcome all of them them to their new roles to advance our vision for an empowered Duwamish Valley community thriving in a healthy and just environment 

The DRCC family wanted to express our deep gratitude for contributing to the success of our Annual Beer and Chocolate event at the Georgetown Steam Plant this year.  We had a wonderful night in community, great conversations and inspiring moments and awards with you all.  We could not have done it without you. Thank you for your commitment! 

We are very close to reaching our annual goal for this event. In case you didn't have the opportunity to donate, or if you would like to refer a friend.  Here is the best place to share the love https://www.drcc.org/donate

From the bottom of our hearts. Thank you for supporting our efforts to make the Duwamish River- Valley a better, healthier and just place! 

The Duwamish valley community book club  is here to foster relationships and a sense of belonging and community  in South park and Georgetown . Furthermore, it is important  to empower locals in communities where environmental injustices exist and deal with these problems. This  book club  would be called Cultivating Community Connection to its history  through Books. The goal is to empower and to solve these environmental  challenges (flooding, air pollution and extreme heat) by introducing community members to the  history of the Duwamish river, which is also the history of the Duwamish Valley, close generational divides, and provide a forum for deep discussion and constructive action through this group.

Here is the link for folks to sign up for the book club.

DRCC Presents at Zero Emission Trucking Collaborative

At a recent meeting with the Northwest Seaport Alliance's Zero Emission Trucking Collaborative, DRCC had the opportunity to shed light on the effects of drayage trucking in our community. We delved into the potential benefits that electrification could bring to our neighborhoods. It's all part of our ongoing efforts to work together for a cleaner and healthier Duwamish Valley. Stay tuned for further updates on our journey towards cleaner air

What do you know about Asthma? 

Asthma, a common respiratory condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide. At DRCC, we understand the importance of raising awareness and providing essential support for those living with asthma. That's why we're committed to attending rigorous training sessions to further our knowledge about asthma management and care.

In our ongoing mission to empower communities and promote healthier lives, we are currently in the process of hiring dedicated Promotores and Healthy Home Assessors. These passionate individuals will play a crucial role in supporting our asthma-focused project, ensuring that those affected by the condition receive the guidance and resources they need to lead healthier, happier lives.

As we continue to expand our efforts, we eagerly anticipate collaborating with DVYC (Duwamish Valley Youth Corps) and other like-minded organizations, as we work together to create a brighter, asthma-aware future for all.

DRCC is partnering with Just Health Action and Villa Comunitaria to create a Community Advisory Group (a CAG) for South Park neighbors who were impacted by last December’s King Tide flood. Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is funding the work, which has several different goals. These include providing a conduit for information between community members and SPU; preparing for the upcoming rainy season; advocating for the City and the County to take appropriate measures to serve the Duwamish Valley, including working together to address gaps in service to ratepayers who live in South Park on County land. We hosted our first meeting last week and were happy to have about 20 impacted households represented. The CAG has decided to meet every other week until the first King Tide of the year, in November, in order to take the necessary precautions to protect homes from the possibility of groundwater flooding, sewer backups, and/or river overtopping.

Did you know? Soon there will be a final clean up design for the Upper Reach!  Work will hopefully begin in Fall 2024. Here are some other updates about the ONE RIVER clean up. More information is available on our website at DRCC.org/what-is-superfund

THANK YOU to all of our community members who shared their voice!  We incorporated your concerns and priorities into our comment letter for the East Waterway Proposed Plan, which can be read on our website!

Acknowledgment:

Our hearts mourn for the havoc and devastation caused by war. Fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters all caught in the chaos. We’re sickened to hear about children caught in an armed conflict with no end in sight. As an organization committed to supporting and uplifting communities and families, we are also concerned with the toxic effects of bombing and destruction caused by warfare, harm innocent people's lives, and poison land, air, and water, making it unsafe to live on or cultivate.