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DRCC Spreading Love and Care
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“The moment we choose to love, we begin to move towards freedom, to acting in ways that liberate ourselves and others.” -bell hooks
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Our shared work and path towards transformative justice is strongly correlated with our collective health and wellbeing. As we continue to advocate for a safe environment, place-keeping, and community-driven decisions, we must also hold close rest and reflection for our own mental and physical wellbeing. We can face hardship and also experience joy. More so, rejoice in small victories even though tomorrow could bring more feelings of uncertainty. Together, we can grow representation of cross-cultural identities in positions of power and also deepen a practice of compassion and self-care in our culture. Braiding in mindfulness to stay connected to ourselves, the environment and joy of so many beautiful communities is critical to growing strength and perseverance to face what feels all too often like insurmountable odds. Time and again, we advocate for “more time” for meaningful community engagement and fair process for decisions that will impact the Duwamish Valley. Why? While we seek to remove the injustice written into plans, policies and laws – we are also focused on inserting time and grace that allows all of us to be informed, take care of our loved ones, and inspire a nurtured understanding no matter the situation. Access to the benefits of nature, health and wellness is a human right and our wellbeing must be prioritized. In love and solidarity, Adrienne Hampton (she/her), Climate Justice Policy Manager
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What you will find: Program Updates Upcoming EventsCommunity News & Updates
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Superfund - East WaterwayWhat is the East Waterway Superfund?The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is preparing to release a cleanup plan for the last leg of the Duwamish, where the river’s “East Waterway” enters Elliott Bay. This plan proposes to weaken cleanup levels by approximately 15 times for PCBs, 3 times for arsenic, and 5 times for dioxins/furans compared to the 2014 Duwamish Waterway cleanup order for the rest of the River. Because the whole River is connected, this undermines the entire River cleanup and directly threatens the health of the River’s native and immigrant fishing communities. (The East Waterway’s Spokane Street fishing pier is the most popular fishing spot on the entire River for the region’s native, immigrant and refugee fishing communities.) Please reach out if you have questions and/or concerns! We want to hear from you!!! And also sign our petition. Info below
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DRCC and Duwamish Valley communities have scored a win against EPA’s “triple threat” to our Duwamish River! As a result of DRCC's advocacy as well as community input, EPA has determined that the EE/CA needs to include an alternative option: physical removal of all polluted sediments that exceed the most health protective levels for Duwamish Valley communities.
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Listen to our Youth Leadership Council member Hibaq Osman
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Climate change is here. The next flood or fire can hit anytime. Listen to our local youth leader Hibaq Osman together with Rep. Pramila Jayapal discussing the Climate Resilience Workforce Act. It will attach labor standards to billions of aid dollars, build good jobs for the formerly incarcerated, and put immigrant resilience workers on a path to citizenship. Preparing the workforce that powers our recovery is critical to climate resilience, and Rep. Jayapal is leading the way. Join Rep. Jayapal, Resilience Force, and our partners as we discuss this new bill and the importance of climate preparation. It is so important to hear from youth.
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“This panel gave me the opportunity to represent DRCC and most importantly, the young people of my community with the support of my family. Even though I was very nervous coming in, I felt welcomed, loved, and most importantly, listened to. Taking part in that important conversation with Congresswoman Jayapal was a wonderful experience. There was a lot of knowledge shared by the other panelists. This was not the first time I’ve spoken publicly. In watching my mom do this every day with UPLAN (United Parent Leaders Action Network), I realized that I could do the same. We need to express our voice as young people to plan for climate justice in our communities most impacted by environmental injustices.”
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Maritime High School Update
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Join us to welcome Kelcey Valdez as our Maritime High School Community Engagement Specialist!
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Kelcey is not new to DRCC- She started at a very young age with our Duwamish Valley Youth Corps and now currently sits on DRCC’s Youth Leadership Council. We are very, very proud to have Kelcey supporting our efforts to bring to community the information about our Maritime High School, but also the understanding of the Maritime Industry and the benefits for our community. We are partnering with the Northwest Maritime Center to bring awareness of our Maritime High School! |
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Come and say hi! DRCC staff will be out sharing with you updates and information about our work. We invite you to join us for any questions, comments, concerns, etc. |
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3. Community News & Updates
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King County International Airport Community Coalition (KCIACC) works for health, climate and environmental justice to preserve the history and uplift the long-standing impacted communities in Allentown-Tukwila, South Park, Georgetown, Beacon Hill and other Duwamish Valley Neighborhoods from aviation and environmental racism. KCIACC members include: Friends of Georgetown History, Duwamish River Community Coalition, Georgetown Community Council, Beacon Hill Council, 350 Seattle Aviation, Spean Rajana, and Climate Reality WA Coalition. |
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On February 24 at 6:30pm KCIACC will be hosting a report back on the updates, progress and actions in which you can join!
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Celebrating Black History MonthHappy New Year, as we continue to usher in 2022 and the year of the Tiger, a sign of courage, strength, and generosity. This month we also celebrate and honor the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and now welcome Black History Month. Time and again, we are reminded that we must all do more to confront systemic racism in meaningful ways. Funding and supporting grassroots organizing, leadership, and power-building led by Black communities is key. Here is more information about the Northwest African American Museum. Learn the history and great events coming up: Celebrate Black History Month @ NAAM https://www.naamnw.org
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Credit to Northwest African American Museum
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Happy Black History Month! We affirm Black lives matter in the many languages represented within our team: Las vidas negrxs importan (Spanish + gender inclusive) Maisha ya weusi ni muhimu (Kiswahili) Dadka madow noloshoodu waa muhiim (Somali) 흑인 생명도 소중하다 (Korean) Mahalaga ang mga itim na buhay (Tagalog) Nimli yumu wala hė hia (Ada/Ga-Adangbe) 黑人命也是命 (Chinese Simplified) حياة السود مهمة (Arabic)
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