The Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition Technical Advisory Group launched the Healthy Rivers/Healthy Communities project in 2014 to address community and environmental health priorities in the Duwamish Valley neighborhoods of South Park and Georgetown, two neighborhoods in south Seattle notorious for their heavy pollution.

Through this project, the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition engaged the community in a prioritization and action-based effort by establishing the Community Action Team, a group of neighborhood stakeholders who designed projects and collaborated with Technical Advisory Group to seek funding, speak to local decision-makers, and implement solutions.

The cooperation of the Technical Advisory Group and Community Action Team resulted in the creation of the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps, which has engaged nearly 200 young people in service to improve the health of their community. The partnership also launched the Duwamish Tree Canopy Enhancement project; developed the Georgetown Urban Farm and Food Forest; and conducted multiple urban trail cleanups, a native food project, a community stewardship training initiative, and much more. As part of this work, the Technical Advisory Group worked with local city and county governments to incorporate community priorities in their on-the-ground work related to environmental and community health.

Funding Sources:

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Urban Waters Small Grant
• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
• City of Seattle
• King County
• Local private foundations

Congressional Districts: 7, 9

Partners:

• Duwamish Tribe
• Georgetown Community Council
• Public Health—Seattle and King County
• Seattle Parks Foundation
• South Park Neighborhood Association
• South Park Area Redevelopment Committee
• University of Washington School of Public Health
• U.S. Forest Service

Photo credits: Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition, Technical Advisory Group