Continuing Dr. King's legacy: Environmental justice, a weekend of service
"Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve."
In honor of Martin Luther King Day, Nature Consortium is hosting a Weekend of Service with two opportunities to volunteer in Seattle’s largest remaining forest, the West Duwamish Greenbelt. The events commemorate Dr. King’s life and legacy as the father of environmental justice. On Saturday, January 14 and Monday, January 16, volunteers can spend “a day on, not a day off” as part of an ongoing effort to restore the forest to a healthy state.
It’s no small matter that the largest forest in Seattle happens to sit next to the city’s only river and one of the most polluted rivers in the country. Extending over 500 acres in West Seattle, the West Duwamish Greenbelt plays a critical role in filtering the air and water pollution in the Duwamish River created by urban runoff and industrial waste.
Nationwide, minority communities are disproportionately affected by pollution, and Seattle is no exception. The Duwamish River is a superfund site impacting thousands of citizens in South Seattle, many of whom are people of color. Nature Consortium’s work in the West Duwamish Greenbelt will help aid the restoration of the watershed, creating a healthier and safer environment for South Seattle and allowing more equal access to its natural resources.
Saturday’s work party will be held in an area of the greenbelt known as the ‘Soundway’ site, 32 acres of land originally slated for development by the City of Seattle. Community members including Nature Consortium banded together in 2004 to save the property from development and preserve it as urban green space.
Volunteers will roll up their sleeves to remove invasive species from the forest, install weed barriers, and plant native trees and shrubs. In the spirit of Nature Consortium’s mission to “connect people, arts, and nature,” the organization also hires local musicians to perform in the woods during the events.
To register, visit our volunteer page.