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Pride Month is celebrated each June to highlight the movement for “Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) rights. Its origins date back to the Stonewall Inn uprising of June 1969, a turning point in the push against the discrimination of LGBTQ+ people. Environmental Justice means ensuring that all people have equal access to a healthy environment. Progress has been made toward this goal, but many underserved communities, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, are still highly susceptible to environmental risk factors and face disproportionate health burdens. One reason for this is because LGBTQ+ individuals are up to 120% more likely to be without stable housing. Individuals in lower-income areas also grapple with the increasing impacts of climate change and exposure to pollution that lead to health problems, often without adequate access to healthcare.
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The East Waterway Superfund plan is out! DRCC has applied for an extension for public comments and now are due August 11th! Please connect with us if you have questions or comments Jamie@drcc.org
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Comments can be given:Attn: East Waterway Proposed Plan
c/o Laura Knudsen
U.S. EPA Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 155
Superfund Records Center, Mail Stop 17-C04-1
Seattle, WA 98101 By email: EastWaterWayComments@epa.gov By confidential voicemail: 206-553-6520 Or at a public meeting (see below)
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Climate Resilient Cohort Project Highlights
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Over the past six months, the Climate Resilient Cohort Program has offered a diverse range of topics, inviting guest speakers and experts to share their knowledge and experiences. We covered various areas such as comment writing, environmental justice, testimony creation, public policy on climate change, and climate-resilient districts. |
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We have been working very closely with community and partners to engage in the next phase of our Clean Air Program. We also hosted Air Fair at Concord Elementary where we talked to families and children about wildfire smoke, air pollution and distributed more than 90 fans and 200 filters to keep them protected.
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Duwamish Valley Youth Corps Highlights
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We are over the halfway mark for our 2023 Spring Cohort, and we couldn’t be more proud of our youth! The month of May had some very memorable moments, including the annual One Seattle Day of Service event on May 20th. Each of our youth were instrumental in the success of the city-wide volunteer day. After preparing for two weeks, one of our cohorts led the way and showed the rest of us how to properly stencil a storm drain.
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They had prepared their own maps, marked where each of the storm drains were, and practiced how to stencil, so we hopped into the vans and headed to Georgetown to help with the event; spray painting over 60 storm drains to help protect our precious Duwamish River. Youth also picked up trash along the way. That’s not the only thing DVYC did! On May 13th, the same cohort that taught us how to stencil a storm drain had also cleaned out, organized and restocked the Free Food Pantry on 8th and Southern. They also swept, picked up trash around the Neighborhood Center and took out the recycling - there’s really nothing this group can’t do! We’re so grateful to them for their ongoing willingness to learn and help their community. |
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As May came to a close, we also wrapped up our time with the UW nursing students. We cannot thank them enough for their invaluable support and efforts. Their weekly lessons focused on different ways to protect and strengthen one's mental health; and included “in the moment” stress-coping skills, the many benefits of physical activity (including a water balloon toss!), art for self-expression and relaxation, and using technology and gaming for stress relief. The youth got to customize their own gratitude journals, practice yoga in the park, paint their own pottery, and take a field trip to MoPop. We also took a walk to the South Park Library to check out the “gratitude tree” and the mental health resources available for free in the Teen Corner. |
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We hope that you have the opportunity to check it out too! Our youth (and staff!) completed their time with the UW Nursing students having more tools for their mental hygiene kit, and we’re so grateful. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, please don’t hesitate to seek help: https://www.crisisconnections.org/ https://www.teenlink.org/
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Our spring cohorts graduate June 24th, and after that we’ll start working on our summer program - The Green Jobs Coalition! This program is only open to 10 young adults, contacted through previous work done with DVYC and other local community groups. We look forward to this exciting partnership with the Port of Seattle and The Dirt Corps. In the meantime, we’ll be busy getting ready for The 17th annual Duwamish River Festival on Saturday August 5th! Can’t wait to see you there!!
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Thu, Jun 08
It’s been six months since parts of South Park were flooded and some people are still waiting to go home. Washington Senator Patty Murray is working to secure three million federal dollars for wastewat |
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Thu, Jun 08
A new study of Duwamish Valley residents in South Park and Georgetown shows that more people list environmental impacts as one of their top-three concerns than any other problem facing the area, follo |
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Thu, Jun 08
Where air pollution goes, asthma is likely to follow. Seattle’s Duwamish Valley has some of the worst air pollution in Western Washington. The valley also has twice the poverty rate of Seattle and is |
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Thu, Jun 08
Seattle has finished a slew of upgrades to South Park streets meant to help reduce flooding. Chronic flooding in South Park — a south Seattle neighborhood on the Duwamish River flood plain — has been a |
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Christian Poulsen is Clean Air Program Manager of the Duwamish River Community Coalition
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The Duwamish River Valley hosts three freeways, two international airports, an international seaport, and a river so polluted it was declared a federal Superfund site, with over 300 industries lining the banks. |
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June 12,14, and 20th - Concord Environmental Field Days June 17th - DAISY First MeetingJune 22nd - South Park Library Tabling June 27th - Spokane Bridge OutreachJuly 10th - 14th Ave Outreach July 11th - El Mercadito July 22nd - Summer at SAMAugust 5th - Duwamish River Festival
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KING TIDE FLOOD UPDATE In the months since the River overtopped its banks and flooded many homes and businesses in South Park in late 2022, DRCC has been working on many fronts to support recovery and preparation. We continue to partner with Villa Comunitaria and Khmer Community of Seattle King County as these community-based organizations work with the 30+ households affected through cleaning, demolition, rebuilding, and the claims process. About 12 families remain displaced. We are also partnering with Just Health Action to launch a Community Advisory Group with the impacted community members, intended to help them to organize, advocate and prepare for next winter and beyond. We have been learning about the disconnect in response to people by local government that is a result of South Park being home to both County and City residents, and are working to build capacity among all South Park folks who were impacted by flooding or could be impacted in the near future. We have also been partnering with Seattle Public Utilities as they advocate for funding from the King County Flood Control District, and working to grow knowledge and understanding of the issues among all stakeholders. One result of this shared advocacy is a proposal by Senator Patty Murray to earmark $3M in federal funding for flood mitigation and we are hopeful that the proposal will be granted. We are also partnering with City of Seattle’s Resilience District Advisory Group which is exploring concepts (and funding) to protect both Georgetown and South Park from climate change/sea level rise and look forward to working with the community to determine short-, mid-, and long-term solutions.
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Let’s plan ahead for flooding, together Did you know more than 57,000 people in King County live in areas at high risk of flooding? Thousands more people work or commute every day near rivers, streams and shorelines that are at risk of flooding. No one should be left behind when a flood happens. King County is developing a plan that will shape flood related programs, policies, and infrastructure for years to come. You don’t need to be a flooding expert to join the conversation. Visit the 2024 King County Flood Management Plan engagement hub today. You can share what flooding problems concern you and what services would benefit your community in an online survey, open through June 30. You can also check out an upcoming events calendar or suggest events for King County to come to in your community. For more information about this project visit kingcounty.gov/FloodPlan or contact Jason Wilkinson at 206-477-4786 or jason.wilkinson@kingcounty.gov. —-- King County is hosting two workshops for community members to join the conversation on flooding and help shape how King County manages future flood risks. Register today and join us on either: At both interactive workshops you'll have the opportunity to learn about local flood risks and free or low-cost resources for family and community preparedness. You'll be able to share ideas to shape how the county manages flood risks for people, homes, and businesses in unincorporated areas. King County will also provide an update on progress being made to develop the next King County Flood Management Plan. Both workshops will offer interpretation in Spanish and Somali. Additional interpretation and translation services are available at no cost to you
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