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Environmental Justice Leadership Spotlight: Paulina López

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Paulina López has lived and worked in the South Seattle region for over a decade, engaging her community on the grassroots level through volunteer work in South Park, where she promotes action on local social and environmental justice issues, such as the Superfund clean-up of the Duwamish River. A key force in the Community Partners Steering Committee that created the Equity and Environment Agenda and alumni of the Environmental Justice Committee, she currently serves as the Executive Director of the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition

What motivates you in your work in the environmental justice sphere?

We have a very robust youth program here, and every time I see the youth I feel motivated; we have been very late in making changes to the screwed-up world we are leaving them, but that motivates me, to make sure that at least their voices won’t be silent when it’s time to be making a decision. The time is right now for our youth to be voicing their concerns. They have a lot of wisdom and experience themselves that we can learn from, and I wish our politicians would always take the time to hear from them and make decisions based on their experiences.

What does environmental leadership look like to you?

Leadership should be represented by those who are directly impacted by environmental issues. This is everyone! I think traditionally, people have thought of the environment as this outside entity, like, “green” people trying to recycle, or “save the orcas;” but “environment” goes way beyond that, encompassing health and its social determinants. When I say that, I mean the people who have specifically been impacted by environmental injustice. Unfortunately, traditionally we haven’t seen that representation in leadership. Most nonprofits have not been representative of the communities they’re supposed to be serving, and their leadership development and structures haven’t always benefited impacted groups. Ideally, environmental leadership must represent people impacted, people of color, people who will be leaving a legacy for generations to come.

How has your background prepared you for a leadership role within EJC?

I think my educational background studying human rights helped me see the intersection between basic rights and the environment, like clean air and water access. Through experiencing the neighborhood where I live, the Duwamish Valley, for years we have been trying to improve our community’s living conditions, given there’s such a big disparity in health and life expectancy compared to other areas in Seattle. I prepared for environmental leadership through my own experience, and it’s brought me some good perspective. I was able to bring it to the table working with the EJC, making sure our discussions reflected back into the reality of the community, and consequently bringing EJC perspectives back into the community.

Can you share a highlight from your work with EJC in the past couple years?

It’s been a great opportunity to meet other likeminded people who are at the forefront, doing the work. What they’re doing can sometimes be exhausting, but I think I witnessed a lot of synergy among us and different organizations that are already led by people of color, and the EJC was a great way to bring these forces together and have a direct impact on policy.  Through the EJC[AL1] , we’ve been able to advance the Equity and Environment Agenda, which has been the base for many of the projects that are coming through right now. When I look at that agenda, I remember the process of discussion and work that went into the product, and it can take awhile to see the results, but they are finally coming into fruition. It’s great that people are learning what it means for community to have ownership in policy decisions, and I think City programs are now understanding that. We don’t need “a seat at the table,” we need to be in the kitchen, making the menu.

What do you hope to see EJC accomplish in the next year?

I see so much potential in the EJC, and I would love for the Committee to be even more involved in the policy decision-making process. An advisory board is being put together for the Seattle Green New Deal, so I think there is a way we can fully utilize the knowledge, wisdom, and experience of our team and bring these two things together.

This article is part of the series: “EJC Spotlight”- highlighting the backgrounds and work of current and former Environmental Justice Committee members. Since 2017, the EJC has strived to uplift those most impacted by environmental inequities and center community needs in the City’s environmental efforts while building partnerships between community organizations and local government.This interview series is being conducted by Karen Bosshart, a UW Program on the Environment student and current intern at OSE.

Environmental Justice Leadership Spotlight: Debolina Banerjee

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Bringing with her an extensive background in environmentally sustainable city planning and grassroots activism, Debolina Banerjee joined the EJC committed to amplifying community voices in the fight for just, equitable development. She currently works as a Climate Policy Analyst for Puget Sound Sage, where she delivers research-based analysis of climate policies and provides support to climate justice campaigns and coalitions around Seattle.

What motivates you in your work in the environmental justice sphere?

One thing my mom used to tell me is that “there are enough good people on this Earth to keep the world going,” and I hold onto that optimism. I’m also inspired by the resilience I see in the face of disaster and adversity, environmental or otherwise. There’s a quote by Mahatma Gandhi that I love: “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” and I believe in living my life this way. I have seen this spirit in action among so many people in my community, especially young people. I feel very hopeful about our youth today, because if the harms of the past can be remedied, it will be by new generations; if they are prepared and motivated, which I have found to be the case, I believe they can make it happen.

What does environmental leadership look like to you?

Oftentimes we conflate leadership with someone who is the “face” of an organization, but to me that is not the only way to define leadership. I feel that in any justice-based issues—social justice, economic justice, or environmental justice—leadership looks different for different people. It’s about having the courage to question the status quo, to question whether policies in place are truly benefitting the people they’re supposed to serve. That courage can manifest itself in many ways: writing, advocacy, giving speeches. Asking these questions, of yourself first, then community and broader society, is what leadership means to me.

How has your background prepared you for a leadership role within EJC?

Multiple phases of my life have prepared me for this work, not just in the EJC but in climate and environmental justice overall. One of the most important aspects of environmental justice work is understanding intersectionality in social justice work, and how that plays out in the issues we see in our communities. My personal background has helped ground me in that understanding of social-justice issues. I was born and raised in India, so I grew up seeing the effects of discrimination in society due to class, caste, and the refugee crisis. My parents have been extremely supportive of my work aiding these communities, and as I grew up, I felt my academic interests steering me toward building a better society, whether it be my education in architecture and its relation to crisis housing or my work in urban planning. At the same time, the lived experience of being in a country with tremendous geopolitical and environmental challenges also informed my future trajectory.

Can you share a highlight from your work with EJC in the past couple years?

There are several projects that I feel very proud of having worked with the team on, one of which was the EJ Fund Pilot Project, so much work went into that, so it felt great to see it come together. There was our work making recommendations to the City on how to implement equity in public spaces design. I’m also proud of our work on the Drive Clean Seattle Program, keeping eyes on deliverables and who the program would benefit. It’s been great to see our efforts be considered in City decision making.

What do you hope to see EJC accomplish in the next year?

I’m very excited! This past year, we convened on a bit of an ad hoc basis; we weighed in on many issues, but the process was less formal. Now we have a wonderful program manager and program coordinator, and with the new members will come new perspectives, while we will begin the transfer of knowledge from existing members. These processes need a cycle of unlearning and relearning, and I think that inspires new growth in the Committee. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next!

This article is part of the series: “EJC Spotlight”- highlighting the backgrounds and work of current and former Environmental Justice Committee members. Since 2017, the EJC has strived to uplift those most impacted by environmental inequities and center community needs in the City’s environmental efforts while building partnerships between community organizations and local government.This interview series is being conducted by Karen Bosshart, a UW Program on the Environment student and current intern at OSE.

Environmental Justice Leadership Spotlight: César García

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César García has been a member of the EJC since 2017. Working as an interpreter, César found his calling in advocating for his community in North Seattle. He co-founded the Lake City Collective (LCC) in 2018 and currently serves as Co-Director, where he works to uplift and empower the diverse community of Lake City in addressing issues such as affordable housing and economic development.

What motivates you in your work in the environmental justice sphere?

What motivates me most is our opportunity to replicate the work we discuss within the EJC in our own communities. “Environmental justice” was a new term for me when I started working with the EJC, but the fight is not new; the issues are not new. When people connect the issues with their actions, they can understand what environmental justice means and how it relates to their own lives. Once I understood the importance of giving a community the knowledge and tools to do something about the environment they live in, I was able to be an advocate for them.

What does environmental leadership look like to you?

I consider myself part of my community; I did not study the environment formally. I think that regular people who are interested in the environment, but also social justice can become familiar with terms like “environmental justice,” even if they sound foreign in the beginning. This voice must always be represented in any conversation about the environment, and leadership must also include those people like me, who don’t have that formal education background.

How has your background prepared you for a leadership role within EJC?

Since I worked as a Community Liaison with the Department of Neighborhoods, as a self-employed contractor, I was in close contact with the people I served. I worked directly with minority groups and those who are often not represented in government. Since I not only worked but lived with these groups (and still do), I was able to bring their perspective into my work with the EJC. One thing I noticed is that in the Latino community, we are familiar with the environment we came from, and many feel that because we are in a developed country, in a “green city” we might believe that everything here is much better. Of course, Seattle has its own environmental issues, and there are always ways to improve our community conditions.

Can you share a highlight from your work with EJC in the past couple years?

A highlight is coming to understand the environmental work, and the roles that different entities play in the environmental justice movement; the ways that city government interacts with community organizations, especially those for whom environmental work is not a focus. There can still be collaborations, and the work is transformative for the lives of people in the regions they serve.

What are you looking forward to in your next year’s work outside of EJC?

Now that I have learned the concepts and importance of environmental justice work, I am excited to bring this into my work with Lake City Collective. I want to find ways to adapt the different initiatives coming out of OSE and other groups into work that will benefit my community, through projects and implementation of the Equity & Environment Agenda. I’ll continue collaborating with the City!

This article is part of the series: “EJC Spotlight”- highlighting the backgrounds and work of current and former Environmental Justice Committee (EJC) members. Since 2017, the EJC has strived to uplift those most impacted by environmental inequities and center community needs in the City’s environmental efforts while building partnerships between community organizations and local government.This interview series is being conducted by Karen Bosshart, a UW Program on the Environment student and current intern at OSE.

Environmental Justice Leadership Spotlight: Nancy Huizar

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This article the first in the “EJC Spotlight” series – highlighting the backgrounds and work of current and former Environmental Justice Committee (EJC) members. Since 2017, the EJC has strived to uplift those most impacted by environmental inequities and center community needs in the City’s environmental efforts while building partnerships between community organizations and local government. This interview series is being conducted by Karen Bosshart, a UW Program on the Environment student and current intern at OSE.

Left to right: Kimela Vigil, Nancy Huizar, Sara Cubillos

Nancy Huizar has been a member of the Environmental Justice Committee since 2017. With an educational background in Aquatics and Fishery Sciences, Nancy has committed herself to serving her community through several local environmental organizations. She currently works as Climate Justice Organizer for Got Green and is the EJC’s Co-Chair.

What motivates you in your work in the environmental justice sphere?

I’m grounded in my mom’s story: she’s from the Philippines, where her family were farmers, and they decided to come to the US for the ‘American Dream.’ She started working and landed a job at the University of Washington, where she’s been working for the last 20 years. This whole time, she’s been living here in Beacon Hill, and when she first got here, she didn’t have asthma. Over time living here she developed the condition, and so did my brother. Looking at pollution sites in the area, and associated respiratory issues, this has been in my face for a long time. I connect it to environmental policy, and it’s really what grounds me in my work. So many other people have similar stories, and I work with the community so folks have the language to explain what’s happening to them.

What does environmental leadership look like to you?

I think about all of our intersectional issues and how folks participate in their own leadership capacity. At Got Green, we look at housing, food, transportation, and climate justice issues and how we, as activists, show up in those spaces looks different from person to person. Leadership can look like speaking up at big events, but it can also be starting conversations with the community about how the Green New Deal will impact them, for example, and figuring out how to share that information with community members. To me, it can take many different forms and doesn’t always look like people who are speaking out the most. Anybody can be a leader as long as they are passionate about their work!

How has your background prepared you for a leadership role within the EJC?

I’ve been doing environmental work since I was in high school, so I have the technical background, and understand the science behind it. When I’m talking to community members, having that background has been useful because I can scale mainstream language into what communities will strongly connect with. Jill, the executive director of Got Green, mentored me into the Environmental Justice Committee. When I first started, Jill was the main contact for the EJC and I was the mentee. In the second year, I became co-chair, and I think that happened because Got Green really rooted me in community organization work.

Can you share a highlight from your work with EJC in the past couple years?

I think the biggest highlight has been working on the pilot project in partnership with the Ethiopian Community in Seattle. The work was so meaningful to me because it showed that the City was willing to commit to place-keeping and invest in cultural hubs. I hope it’s something we can continue to do in the future!

What are you looking forward to in your next year with EJC?

I’m really excited for new beginnings; we have new staff and will have new committee members who’ll bring a different energy and structure to the work we do. I look forward to what other bigger, bolder projects we’ll work on together!

Seeking Leaders for Seattle’s Environmental Justice Committee

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If you are committed to centering community needs in the City’s environmental work and improving environmental, health and economic conditions for our communities, apply to the Environmental Justice Committee!

Formed in 2017, the Environmental Justice Committee (EJC) strives to uplift those most-affected by environmental inequities. The EJC centers community ownership in decision-making, environmental program/policy design and Equity & Environment Agenda implementation while enhancing partnerships with City departments and better connecting community-based solutions into government.

The EJC consists of twelve members from a wide range of backgrounds and expertise in working with communities of color, immigrants and refugees, Native and Indigenous peoples, and low-income residents and individuals with limited English proficiency. Members increase their understanding of City environmental programs and receive funding to bring their learning back to their communities. Committee terms last two years during which members participate in retreats, monthly meetings and leadership development opportunities.

Applications are due November 15th.  

More details are included in the application materials (below). Contact equityenviro@seattle.gov with any questions.

Application Guidance
Environmental Justice Committee Application

Seattle Public Schools is a stellar student when it comes to energy efficiency

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Building Tune-Ups in 35 school buildings earned $185,646 in rebates for Seattle Public Schools

While they may not realize anything is different, many students at Seattle Public Schools are now attending classes in buildings that are more energy-efficient and will save the school district money on its energy bills going forward. Seattle Public Schools (SPS) recently completed building “tune-ups” in twenty-two elementary schools, three middle and K-8 schools, nine high schools, and the John Stanford Center. A building tune-up involves helping building owners identify smart, responsible ways to reduce energy and water costs and then implement the improvements.

“Our new schools are being designed and built to be energy efficient, but the Building Tune-Up Program ensures that we keep all of our buildings, not just the new ones, running as efficiently as possible,” said Rina Fa’amoe-Cross, Resource Conservation Specialist for SPS. “Receiving incentive money to tune up buildings ahead of schedule has been a wonderful bonus!”

The City of Seattle requires commercial buildings 50,000 square feet and larger to conduct periodic tune-ups with the largest buildings, 100,000 square feet or greater, required to comply in 2019.  Building Tune-Ups optimize energy and water performance by identifying low- or no-cost actions related to building operations and maintenance, that generate 10-15% in energy savings, on average. Building energy use is the second largest source of climate pollution in Seattle and accelerating our transition to an energy efficient building sector is critical to meeting our climate goals.

Seattle Public Schools participated in the Tune-Up Accelerator program, a voluntary program for owners of buildings up to 100,000 square feet that gave them access to technical assistance and incentives for compliance with the Seattle Building Tune-Up requirement ahead of the deadline. As a result of the successful tune-ups in the twenty-two buildings enrolled in the Accelerator program, SPS was eligible for $185,646in rebates from Seattle City Light. The rebate money was reinvested in building operations improvements. The building improvements are expected to pay for themselves within 3 to 4 years through substantial savings on utility bills. 

“I applaud Seattle Public Schools for their extensive work on improving performance in so many of their buildings,” said Jessica Finn Coven, Director of the Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment. “Our institutional leaders in Seattle are key partners in our climate action efforts and their leadership in being an “early adopter” of Seattle’s Building Tune-Up policy has provided an excellent example for others to follow.”

“Helping our customers be more efficient with the energy they use maximizes our existing clean, renewable energy resources and furthers Seattle’s effort to reduce our collective carbon footprint,” said Debra Smith, Seattle City Light General Manager and CEO. “This great partnership with Seattle Public Schools demonstrates what is possible and we look forward to working with many others in the days ahead.”

The Tune-Up Accelerator program was supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office. Seattle’s award was geared towards solutions to improve the energy efficiency of small and medium commercial buildings.

Seattle’s efforts in driving building energy efficiency continue to show results in national rankings. Recently, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ranked Seattle 3rd overall out of 75 cities nationwide in their 2019 Clean Energy Scorecard. Seattle scored high marks for the Seattle Energy Code, its enforcement of the code, and its efforts to make its existing building stock more energy efficient.

Promoting healthy habits with fruit and vegetable snacks in the classroom

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What goes well with reading and math? Pears! That’s just one example of what roughly 6,800 elementary students at Seattle Public Schools will be snacking on through a new partnership with the Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment. The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program partnership supplies students with fruit and vegetable snacks for free during the school day, outside of breakfast and lunch.

The program started during the 2018-2019 school year at nine elementary schools and has now expanded to 19 elementary schools.

Healthy snacks help support academic success

“We know there is a strong link between good nutrition and academic success,” said Katie Virga, Principal of Beacon Hill International Elementary School. “By introducing students to a variety of fruits and vegetables in the classroom, we are promoting healthy habits at an early age, and creating a healthier environment at school.”

The City-funded Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program is available to schools with high rates of students who qualify for free and reduced price meals. Fruit and vegetable snack programs, like the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, compliment school meals and are designed to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among students at school and expose students to new fruits and vegetables.

The program is funded by revenue from the Seattle Sweetened Beverage Tax.

The Office of Sustainability & Environment is also partnering with FEEST, an organization led by youth of color in southeast and southwest Seattle, to bring healthy and culturally relevant snacks to students at Chief Sealth High School. Research shows that middle and high school students don’t have enough access to nutritious food. This three-month pilot program focuses on a student-centered approach to promote healthy snacks at school.  Results from the Chief Sealth High School pilot will help determine future program strategies to serve middle and high school students.

Learn more about the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.

Learn more about the Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment.

Farmers Markets help Fresh Bucks Shoppers shop local, seasonal fruits and vegetables

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For Som, summer August days means weekly shopping trips to the Columbia City Farmers Market, “We are actually able to eat fruits and vegetables regularly, instead of occasionally [when] we would splurge,” she says. Som is a Fresh Bucks customer and is excited to spread the word about the program. As a mom with a young son, she adds, “Fresh Bucks has made a huge impact…eating seasonal produce is now an option for us, we weren’t able to do that before.”

Fresh Bucks works with local partners to enable families with tight budgets to access and afford high-quality foods, like locally grown fruits and vegetables. Fresh Bucks provides a dollar-for-dollar match on food stamps (SNAP/EBT benefits), and a voucher program, where eligible and enrolled customers receive vouchers to buy fruits and vegetables. Fresh Bucks can be used at over 40 farmers markets and farm stands in Seattle and King County, five neighborhood grocers and all Seattle Safeway stores.

Neighborhood farmers markets have been offering Fresh Bucks since 2012. Farmers markets offer opportunities for community members to connect with family farmers and local vendors, and to support small farm businesses. Market vendors are eager to give valuable advice about seasonal produce or how to grow your own vegetables. On-site cooking demonstrations mean shoppers can walk away with a recipe and buy delicious produce with Fresh Bucks, all in one stop.

With visiting chefs, live music and other artists, residents can expect a variety of things to hear, see, and taste this market season. And program partners are committed to helping families like Som’s. As Som wraps up her trip to the market, she mentions, “Fresh Bucks reaches families that often don’t qualify for any other assistance. I actually thought there wasn’t anything available for us until we learned about Fresh Bucks. Now, I just want everyone to know about it.”

Check out this video to learn more about how Fresh Bucks is helping Seattle residents like Som.

Fresh Bucks 2018 Impact Report Highlights Expanded Eligibility, More Retail Locations

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Fresh Bucks helps make fruits and vegetables affordable to Seattle residents who struggle to afford nutritious food. The program has grown steadily since 2012, and in 2018, with investment from Seattle’s Sweetened Beverage Tax, Fresh Bucks provided close to $1.5 million in fruit and vegetable benefits to residents – an increase of nearly 500% over 2017.

The newly released 2018 Impact Report features several areas of Fresh Bucks growth including expanded program eligibility, increased our retail network, and grew our impact on the regional food economy. Highlights from the report include:

  • More Seattle residents have access to Fresh Bucks: With funding from the Sweetened Beverage Tax, Fresh Bucks vouchers are now available to people who don’t qualify for state and federal food benefit programs, but still struggle to afford healthy food. Prior to 2018, Fresh Bucks was only available to people who receive SNAP (food stamp) benefits. With 2018’s eligibility expansion, customers made nearly 35,000 more Fresh Bucks fruit and vegetable purchases than they did in 2017.
  • Large selection of Fresh Bucks retailers encourages customer choice: Fresh Bucks has steadily grown our retail network for several years by adding farmers markets, farm stands, and ethnic grocers. As of 2018, customers can shop at 65 retailers, including all Seattle Safeway stores, increasing the number of year-round retail partners and providing convenient access in more Seattle neighborhoods.
  • Fresh Bucks helps stimulate the regional economy: Customers can use vouchers at participating farmers markets, neighborhood grocers, CSAs, and Safeway stores, which benefits the local economy by keeping dollars circulating within the region. Based on the USDA economic multiplier for SNAP benefits, Fresh Bucks generated over $3 million in economic impact in 2018.

“Fresh Bucks is so good for both the customer and the farmer,” says Kirsop Farm’s Genine Bradwin. “Not only does the program allow customers to get more fruits and vegetables for their money, but it also brings new customers to the farmers market who may not otherwise have chosen to spend their money directly with a local farmer.”

Fresh Bucks works thanks to a growing network of partners who are dedicated to improving access to healthy foods. Learn more in the 2018 Fresh Bucks Impact Report or visit www.freshbuckseattle.org for more information.

Helping Residents Ditch Dirty Oil

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Mayor Durkan recently introduced legislation aimed at accelerating Seattle’s conversion of Seattle’s homes that burn oil for heat to cleaner electric heating. This legislation is a key tool to help us reduce our climate impacts. Oil is one of the most expensive and polluting forms of home heating the urgency of the climate crisis requires us to act swiftly and to take these bold steps in order to preserve our quality of life.

Converting Seattle’s oil heated homes to clean electricity is expected to reduce Seattle’s climate emissions by 433,000 metric tons over 10 years. That is the equivalent of taking nearly 90,000 passenger cars off the road for a year!

The legislation supports the phase out of home heating oil to more energy-efficient and clean heating and cooling systems by 2028 through the following:

  • an excise tax on heating oil starting July 1, 2020 on heating oil providers
  • a requirement for heating oil tank owners to decommission or upgrade all existing underground oil tanks by 2028.

Revenue from the tax will provide grants to low-income households to fully fund upgrades to heat pumps, expand Seattle’s existing rebate program to non-low-income households, and support oil service providers with workforce training needed to help them transition to heat pump installation services.

More info:
Frequently Asked Questions
Briefing of the Sustainability & Transportation Committee – 8/16. Presentation starts at 1:21 mark.