DRCC’s February Newsletter
 

Hello friends! Welcome to February from DRCC. After the holidays, DRCC is ready to accomplish all of our New Years resolutions by continuing with programming and  working hard as the technical advisor for the community for the EPA’s Roundtable, including hosting pre- and post-Roundtable meetings for community members with interpretation, childcare and dinner. We also attend the Roundtable meetings as the community’s representative. We are gearing up many of our other programs for the return of spring.

We began strong with a new cohort of the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps—this cohort had 97 youth attend the orientation which required us to transfer some to the next cohort. We are working with 55 local youth, some “newbies” and some returning participants, known as “mentors”. We are hosting a meeting of our Air Program next month, as well as a Community Capacity Building meeting. As soon as the weather warms up we will be organizing our Community Stewards to lead cleanup and maintenance activities. And we are working steadily with the Duwamish Valley Affordable Housing Coalition, seeking partnerships to develop affordable housing in the Duwamish Valley. You can find information about all of these programs on our website.

Highlights

We are thrilled to highlight an accomplishment by our long-time Youth Corps member, Daniela Cortez. She was recently awarded a “100 Changemakers Award” from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She was interviewed by ParentMap.com for their feature “It Begins with You(th): Meet Daniela Cortez”. Daniela’s quote below exemplifies the spirit and drive we try to instill in our youth. Daniela embodies these values; she is a strong role model who is confident in her role as an activist. We are so proud of her and of all the participants in the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps:

“South Park and Georgetown neighborhoods are mostly made up of marginalized communities and people of color. Our largest population is youths, so it’s important for me to be able to step up and make sure that all of our voices are being heard, and make sure that other kids are aware that they can be right where I am now. When I first started this work with the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps, I didn’t see a lot of people like me in the positions that I wanted to strive for. I didn’t see women in the seats that I wanted to take. And I didn’t see Spanish-speaking individuals being part of marches and speeches and all of these other amazing opportunities that I’ve been able to experience. And so, I want to be that inspiration for someone else, for my sister or my brother or anyone who ends up going through the things that I’ve been through.”

Read full Article Here Pg. 10-11

Congratulations to the Port Community Action Team (PCAT) on the sign-off of the Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Policy. After two long years, these community members achieved so much and will continue to work toward Community and Port Capacity Building, Healthy Environment and Communities, and Economic Prosperity in Place. Read more about the Pcat here…

Thank you PCAT!

Spread the Love and Support Us

5th Annual Beer & Chocolate Fest- Please join us as we come together with drinks and chocolate at the beautiful new Sea Mar Museum of Chicano/a/Latino/a Culture. We’ll have light dinner, raffle prizes, a keynote speaker and local presentations. It’s a great time to enjoy each other’s company and look forward to the year ahead in solidarity and community. All proceeds benefit DRCC/TAG’s clean-up efforts for the Duwamish River and environmental justice work in the Duwamish Valley. Walk-ins will be welcome. We really look forward to seeing you!

Upcoming Events

Seattle Iron & Metals Town Hall Meeting- Join us to learn more about the Seattle Iron and Metals Settlement, improvements made since the January 2019 settlement, and other updates community members should expect based on the settlement. This event is the second Community Town Hall and is a follow up to last year’s gathering.  Representatives from Seattle Iron and Metals, Puget Soundkeeper, and the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition will be present to discuss and answer questions from community members. RSVP

February 24th, 6-8pm at South Park Community Center


Boat Tours- In continuation of previous years, DRCC will be hosting boat tours the last week of every month. On this two-hour guided tour of the Duwamish River Superfund Site, you will learn about the natural and human history of the Duwamish Valley, environmental health and (in)justice, and the future of the Superfund cleanup site aboard the Admiral Pete or Admiral Jack power boat, all while enjoying the wildlife and amazing views of the area.  The boats are covered, heated and can accommodate 35-65 people. If interested in being part a boat tour, contact Maggie at maggie@duwamishcleanup.org.

Next Boat Tour: February 29, 2020 10am-12pm at Harbor Island Marina

50th Duwamish Alive-Our main Duwamish Alive event involves hands-on habitat restoration and outreach activities in Terminal 107. The event is coordinated by the Duwamish Alive Coalition, Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition, Port of Seattle, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, and other partners all united in their common mission: to protect and restore the health and habitat of the Duwamish River and its watershed for both wildlife and communities. Join us as a volunteer.

April 18, 2020 at Terminal 107 & Duwamish Longhouse 10am-2pm