With summer behind us and autumn on the horizon, September  offers us a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate the people and community that make our work possible.

We’re still carrying the joy and energy of this year’s Duwamish River Festival. Thank you to everyone who joined us, volunteered, shared their stories, supported local organizations, and helped make the festival such a vibrant celebration of community and the Duwamish River. Your presence and partnership made this year’s festival truly special. Thankful for the more than 1,000 attendees  who came to be in the community. 

As we celebrate Latine History Month, we honor the resilience, contributions, and achievements of Latine communities, including the many immigrants who have built their lives, families, and futures here while navigating systemic barriers and the fear and uncertainty created by immigration enforcement. At DRCC, we remain steadfast in our commitment to building a future where every person—regardless of immigration status—can live with safety, dignity, belonging, and opportunity.

And there is even more to celebrate: DRCC is turning 25! 🎉 On October 3, we’ll come together to celebrate 25 years of community, advocacy, and action. This milestone is a testament to the generations of residents, leaders, partners, volunteers, and supporters who have helped shape DRCC and our shared vision for a healthier, more just, and more connected community.

Thank you for being part of this journey. We hope you’ll join us on October 3 as we celebrate 25 years! We look ahead to all that we can accomplish together.

En comunidad, 

Paulina López 

DRCC 

OUR VOICE, ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY WON !!!

DRCC Featured with Just Futures!

We were featured in an interview with Just Futures for our 401K - we started out as client # 15 back in 2024 and they have grown to over 100+ organizations now! So proud of this partnership and future regenerative growth to come!

More Affordable Housing and More Trees! 

From working in the communities we represent, we know that both housing affordability and fears of displacement are extremely important to families. We ALSO know that people want to see more green, safe, and shaded public and private spaces. We think our neighbors shouldn't have to choose between housing development and greening - we deserve both! We are grateful to our partners in all of these spaces, including SeaMar, Habitat for Humanity, Watershed Community Development, Tree Action Seattle, and Seattle Parks Foundation, among many others. 

 Duwamish River Cleanup!

The LAST season of Upper Reach cleanup starts October 1st!!!

*Community notice* Sediment Management Area (SMA) 5 in the Upper Reach makes up the armored slope at the former Rhone Poulenc site. Soil cleanup of a small area above the top of bank is planned, and the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group (LDWG) will have contractors doing cleanup of that slope (from equipment based on land) once the soil cleanup is done.

This means that an area people usually see covered in invasive butterfly bush and blackberries and a few (non-native) young trees, will be cleared of vegetation, so that equipment can access the waterway bank slope. Six non-native evergreens specifically that grow along the fenceline behind the blackberries will unavoidably have to be cut down because their roots are in the area that will be excavated. When the work is done, native trees and shrubs and plants will be planted in topsoil. DRCC is speaking with LDWG and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure LDWG commits to maintenance and watering the newly planted native vegetation to give it the best chances for survival.

Rhone Poulenc Site:

Dozens of Organizations Unite to Defend Against EPA’s Effort to Weaken Truck Pollution Protections

Did you know? 

• Diesel pollution from trucks is responsible for more than 8,400 premature deaths, 497,000 missed work days, and $93.9 billion in health damages every year. 

• Asthma and Respiratory Disease. Diesel exhaust releases nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into our communities which are precursors to ground-level ozone, a powerful lung irritant. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) or soot, penetrates deep into the lungs, triggering asthma attacks, bronchitis, and permanently impairing lung development in children.

• Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality. Soot is directly linked to heart attacks, strokes, and premature death.

• Environmental Justice. Communities situated near major transportation corridors like the Duwamish Valley, ports, and warehouses – often low-income communities and communities of color – bear a disproportionate and morally unacceptable burden of this pollution. Strong vehicle standards are one of the most effective tools to reduce these harmful exposures and advance environmental justice.

Keeping our air clean through these air purifiers

THANK YOU!!

DRCC would like to take a moment to thank every single person, partner, sponsor, community member and in general all who took part of our Duwamish River Festival. Building resilience within community while celebrating the Duwamish River every year leaves us with great joy. We could not have made it without your support.

To continue the work, we need your support. Please consider donating to DRCC https://www.drcc.org/donate