Living Legacy: Duwamish Tree Planting Honors Dr. King
Photo by Kim Doyel
Every year on MLK Day, Nature Consortium hosts a day of service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to celebrate his legacy of environmental justice. As we raise awareness of the important issues facing us today, events like these engage the community in making concrete change. By restoring forest habitat in the West Duwamish Greenbelt, we aim to ensure that all members of our community have access to a healthy, green living environment.
This year’s MLK event will be especially exciting; in addition to 200 community volunteers, we will also be joined by city councilmember Tom Rasmussen, mayor Ed Murray, and members of their staff. Together, we will plant trees in the West Duwamish Greenbelt in honor of Dr. King.
Nature Consortium offers opportunities for community members to connect with nature through a unique experience that combines hands-on environmental learning with outdoor art activities. In addition to planting native trees, the MLK Day event will also include live music, reflective art projects, and refreshments.
Environmental Justice in Seattle’s Duwamish Region
Volunteer efforts will help to continue Dr. King’s legacy of environmental justice. King was a vocal advocate for Black communities which commonly faced poor environmental and public health conditions. His work with the sanitation workers in Memphis helped spark an environmental justice movement which continues today.
A 2013 study revealed that residents of South Park and Georgetown, two neighborhoods surrounding the polluted Duwamish River, have a life expectancy eight years shorter than the Seattle area average. The Duwamish River superfund site is a toxic waste site impacting thousands of residents in South Seattle, the majority of whom are people of color.
Though the quality of habitat has been severely degraded over the past hundred years, the West Duwamish Greenbelt remains an important part of the Duwamish Watershed. At nearly 500 acres, the forest plays a critical role in filtering the air and water pollution in the Duwamish River corridor. Nature Consortium’s work in the West Duwamish Greenbelt will aid the restoration of the watershed, creating a healthier environment for South Seattle and allowing more equal access to its natural resources.
Get Involved
Those wanting to volunteer with Nature Consortium during MLK Weekend can participate on Saturday, January 17 at Pigeon Point Park. Due overwhelming response, registration for Monday’s volunteer event has been closed. Volunteers can also participate in Nature Consortium’s regularly scheduled volunteer events occurring weekly throughout the year. For more information or to register, visit www.naturec.org/volunteer.