May is Asthma Awareness Month, so we invite you all to carefully think: Do you know anyone with asthma? 

In 2019, the Duwamish River Community Coalition relaunched the Clean Air Program with one of the primary goals being the reduction of childhood asthma hospitalization in the Duwamish Valley. 

The Clean Air Program began because of how important it is for us to address the health impacts from poor air quality in the Duwamish Valley. We regularly hear that this is an issue throughout our community meetings, work groups, and youth teams; the health impacts from poor air quality are one of our primary concerns. We feel it, see it, and face the impacts on a regular basis. We have also documented these health impacts.

The Cumulative Health Impacts Assessment that DRCC and Just Health Action completed in 2013 found the childhood asthma hospitalization rates were higher in our zip code than in other parts of Seattle. This assessment showed that childhood asthma hospitalization rates in the 98108 zip code were approximately 300 per 100,000 people from 2006 to 2010. This was the highest rate among other zip codes in Seattle.

Over the most recent four years of data (2017-2021), there were approximately 190 childhood asthma hospitalizations per 100,000 people in the 98108 neighborhoods. Seemingly, the number has gone down. However, does this mean that it has gotten better because of stronger protections throughout the state or country? The answer may surprise you.

Asthma hospitalization rates have likely declined due to many factors, and we believe that all the work DRCC does and the work that YOU all are doing in your work has helped bring hospitalization rates down. Focusing on environmental issues, medical care, social needs of vulnerable populations, and working to reduce air pollution does eventually help everyone.

However, despite these strides, the 98108 emergency room, urgent care, and hospitalization rates for asthma in children are still the highest across all Seattle zip codes. This month we want to focus on clean air and asthma. Let’s start by asking ourselves the questions: Do I know someone who has asthma? How will my work impact air quality, especially in Frontline communities? What does this law do for environmental justice communities? 

As we observe Asthma Awareness Month, let us reaffirm our commitment to environmental justice in the Duwamish Valley. By addressing the root causes of air pollution and supporting community-driven solutions.

lMia Ayala-Marshall & Joseph Santana

Advocacy & Engagement

What is The Heal Act? 

The HEAL Act (Healthy Environment for All Act) is Washington State’s groundbreaking environmental justice law, passed in 2021, that requires state agencies to prioritize the health and well-being of communities disproportionately affected by pollution and environmental harm.

In the Duwamish Valley, where residents—many of whom are low-income and BIPOC—face high levels of air and water pollution, the HEAL Act strengthens efforts to address long-standing environmental injustices. It supports targeted investments, community engagement, and policy changes that promote cleaner air, safer neighborhoods, and improved health outcomes for the area’s residents.

Learn more about the HEAL ACT! We are grateful to our youth, who have been doing presentations in the community about how to best use the Heal Act in the Duwamish Valley! 

Preparing for Community Outreach

Our Advocacy team has been busy this month, prepping for a busy summer of outreach events. In May we have multiple boat and walking tours, opportunities to table both inside and outside of the Duwamish Valley, and events at Concord Elementary as well as our final Flood Community Advisory Group meeting of the year. We have been uplifting community priorities regarding mature tree protections and a Memorandum of Understanding with Parks and Recreation providing community benefits at the new South Park Community Center playfield. For more info, reach out to robin@drcc.org.

We recently partnered with Parks and Rec and Cultivate South Park to celebrate the opening of the new South Park Plaza. We were so happy to spend a beautiful sunny day with our neighbors enjoying our long-awaited park.

Spotlight on Community Connections: A Special Visit from the Bill Anderson Fund

On April 3, we had the pleasure of welcoming the brilliant doctoral fellows from the Bill Anderson Fund - a national network of scholars committed to reducing harm and building resilience in communities hit hardest by extreme events and environmental hazards.

Together, we explored the heart of South Park, sharing powerful stories of the Duwamish River’s past and present impact. Along the way, we reflected on the strength and spirit of our community and what it means to stand together in advocacy. It was an inspiring day filled with conversation, connection, and a shared commitment to supporting climate impacted communities.

Environmental Law & Climate Policy

Thank you for joining our clean air meetings

On March 18th, over 40 people joined in-person and online for a Clean Air & Climate Community Meeting in the Duwamish Valley, highlighting that the fight for clean air and equitable health outcomes is still a key priority for the community. Thank you to everyone who showed up and shared their concerns for clean air in South Park and Georgetown. Below is a recap of the main air pollution concerns we heard at the meeting:

Save the date for our “Together for Clean Air” Community Gathering

June 11th, 2025 from 5:30-7 PM. 

Come learn more about our Clean Air efforts and strategies to improve air quality in the Duwamish Valley. As we aim to reduce childhood asthma in the Duwamish Valley, we are excited to distribute free HEPA and filters and box fans to the families in attendance (while supplies last

What is the Policy Advocacy Team (PAT)?

DRCC is starting a new community team focused on advocacy and we are calling it the Policy Advocacy Team (PAT). We aim to have the group lead an advocacy effort and learn the skills to successfully follow through.The commitment consists of approximately one 2-hour meeting a month and we will develop and choose the advocacy effort as we start. If you are interested in being a part of a more coordinated effort towards a just environment or want to learn more please feel follow up with us and fill out the survey below:

DRCC submitted a comment letter

The Snopac Property is located at 5055 East Marginal Way South in Seattle. It is approximately 1.3 acres on the east bank of the Lower Duwamish Waterway (LDW), at the head of Slip 1. Olympic Lighterage Company used the Site for shipping operations from 1935 to 1940. Pioneer Towing Company occupied the buildings and utilized underground storage tanks (USTs) from 1935 through 1970. Marine Leasing/Marine Logistics in connection with Marine Power & Equipment utilized the warehouse for marine equipment storage and unlawfully disposed of spent sandblast grit (SBG) on the Site between 1973 and 1988. The contaminated SBG was waste from boat cleaning and maintenance operations. Snopac Products Inc. operated a fish packing facility in the building from 1992 to 2008. In 2008 they relocated the business, leaving the property and warehouse vacant. 5055 Property LLC purchased the property in 2012 and removed the warehouse on the Site in 2019.

To address the contamination found at the Site, 5055 Properties LLC prepared a Feasibility Study, which evaluated three different cleanup alternatives. The costs and environmental benefits of the alternatives were then compared, leading Ecology to select a cleanup action.

Learn more

Duwamish Valley Youth Corps working along side One Roof Foundation and Seattle Kraken staff

DVYC would like to send a big THANK YOU to our partners at the Kraken and The One Roof Foundation for coming out to South Park for a wonderful community cleanup event with our youth! It was a beautiful day and we are so grateful to everyone who collaborated to put on a fantastic event. We had a wonderful time walking around the neighborhood, collecting trash and preventing pollution from contaminating our precious Duwamish River and surrounding habitats. We’ll see you at the next one!

Welcome New DRCC Board Members

We are honored to welcome our new board members to the DRCC family. Your expertise, dedication, and fresh perspectives are invaluable as we continue working toward a stronger, more inclusive, and thriving community. We look forward to the meaningful work we’ll accomplish together—welcome aboard!

GiveBIG 2025 for the Duwamish River Community Coalition

At a time when the world around us feels uncertain, we at the Duwamish River Community Coalition are committed to upholding our guiding principles with strength and determination.  Now more than ever, our values of place-based/place-keeping, people power/community centered, transformation, adaptive, service/reciprocity, accountability, collective work, and justice/truth to power continue to define our organizational culture and shepherd the decisions we make as a team. 

We know you get a lot of asks during the year.  And we know this year is unlike any history has ever seen...

If you are able, please help us continue our hard work for the beautiful Duwamish River Valley by donating to https://mtyc.co/4m4byf

GiveBIG2025 is open early (and will run through May 7th). We appreciate any support that you can provide. And if that means you support us by spreading our message, we thank you for that as well!!

Saturday, May 10, at the Mini Mart City Park- The Georgetown Neighborhood Center Group is hosting the Georgetown Emergency CRAP (Climate Resilience and Preparedness) event on Saturday, May 10, at the Mini Mart City Park (6525 Ellis Ave S). This event will feature light refreshments and entertainment, information about climate resilience, and CRAP goody bags to take home!

Saturday, May 17, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at the Duwamish River Community Hub- You're Invited: Living With Water – A Community Sharing Event. Come join us on Saturday, May 17, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at the Duwamish River Community Hub (8600 14th Ave S) for an engaging and collaborative event hosted by the Duwamish River Community Coalition (DRCC) and the University of Washington’s Living With Water team. Over the past few months, we've been listening—gathering stories, concerns, and ideas from community members, especially those directly affected by flooding. At this event, we’ll share what we’ve learned and invite you to help imagine solutions for how our neighborhood can adapt to rising waters and future floods. During this event, we will reflect and co-design strategies for resilience in the face of sea level rise. Refreshments will be served, and stipends are available for community participants.

Saturday, June 7 from 11 am- 1 pm- DRCC’s third local job fair is coming up on Saturday, June 7 from 11 am- 1 pm in South Park! Please join us if you are looking for local and living-wage employment opportunities, including paid internship and apprenticeships. Are you a potential employer? Please reach out robin@drcc.org to participate in this free event

Wednesday, June 11, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m- Lower Duwamish Waterway Stakeholders Meeting

Saturday, August 9th, 2025 Duwamish River Festival