DUWAMISH RIVER COMMUNITY COALITION

I’m excited to share that our article, Evaluating an equity-focused approach to assess climate resilience and disaster priorities through a community survey, is now published in PLOS ONE. Highlight: Participatory community-centered research can help demonstrate the disproportionate impacts of climate change on low-income populations, people of color, older adults, people living unhoused, and other groups that have been marginalized The benefits of community engagement through community-based participatory research (CBPR) have long been recognized in the academic space. The co-production of climate knowledge to inform research and practice is increasingly recognized as an effective, though under-studied, method for engaging community expertise and collection of climate information https://lnkd.in/gfcMDnBr Grateful with our partners University of Washington Sam Lovell BJ Cummings Nicole Errett and others.

Commerce today announced $72.6 million in grants for 71 community clean energy projects across Washington that advance environmental justice and equity. The funding from the state’s Climate Commitment Act will benefit communities in 24 counties through solar projects, hydrogen fueling, electricity microgrids and more. This afternoon, Gov. Jay Inslee, King County Executive Dow Constantine and the DUWAMISH RIVER COMMUNITY COALITION joined Commerce team members for a tour of the Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station in Seattle to announce the funding. The facility helps control, treat, and disinfect up to 70 million gallons per day of combined stormwater and sewage that previously overflowed, untreated into the Duwamish River during heavy rains. With a $200,076 grant, the facility will install a large solar photovoltaic array onsite to help offset the increased energy use by the UV disinfection treatment technology. All of the projects receiving grants had to include an environmental justice angle, meaning they had to benefit the people most impacted by climate change, who are typically lower income and people of color. “These awards get money into the hands of people who can immediately put it to use fighting climate change,” said Commerce Director Mike Fong. “These communities were empowered to use their own discretion to create projects that meet their needs, which will improve outcomes for everyone in Washington.” Read the full press release: https://bit.ly/3VrmprF

I am thrilled to be selected as a 2024 #BBGGreenFestival Green Champion, joining a global community of leaders and activists whose ideas are reshaping the state of our climate for the better #BBGGreenChampions https://bloom.bg/3PWvc2R The #BBGGreenChampions are a global community of leaders and activists driving the future of #climateaction. This cohort is a collective of public and private sector innovators committed to creating a more #equitable and #sustainable future for all. Joins us! https://lnkd.in/gci_Rbm3

Congratulations to the DUWAMISH RIVER COMMUNITY COALITION in successfully advocating for One River and Environmental Justice for All! 🧡❤️💚💛 The Environmental Protection Agency has released its interim record of decision for the Duwamish River’s East Waterway in South Seattle. The EPA’s East Waterway plan is aligned with stricter cleanup standards for the Lower Duwamish River set in 2014, and this decision reflects years of advocacy by the DRCC—one of our founding coalition members—as well as the Duwamish community’s protests, campaigns, and public comments supporting a healthy river. (Read more about this victory for Duwamish Valley communities in DRCC’s latest newsletter: https://lnkd.in/d5TdWqHN) DRCC was one of our strongest partners this past legislative session as we advocated for the CURB Pollution Act, and they will continue to work with Front and Centered to achieve environmental justice and equity by advocating for laws and policies that will ensure the health of our frontline communities. As part of our ongoing partnership, DRCC’s Environmental Policy Director, Jamie Hearn (pictured here), will be transitioning to Front and Centered over the coming months to serve as our Climate and Community Planning Lead! Over the past few months Front and Centered has also been brought on board several other folks to our team, and we've moved to a new office space that has allowed us to bring our members together on a more frequent basis. If you'd like to stay current with our work and what's going on in our coalition, sign up for our periodic updates here: https://lnkd.in/d8QJzKsF

That's what we have been saying.... “Our bodies are being bombarded with pollutants from every angle and they are taking a toll on our heart health. The evidence suggests that the number of people dying prematurely because of these very different forms of pollution is far higher than currently recognized.” Pollutants are known drivers of cardiovascular disease, but they affect the body in different ways. Smoke and other toxins can be directly inhaled deep into the lower respiratory tract and reach the blood and then be transported to other organs and throughout our bodies. They can cause oxidative stress which can damage cells and organs including the heart. https://lnkd.in/g7qfRK9x