COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          7a 
BACKGROUNDER                       Date of Meeting      May 28, 2019 
DATE:     May 21, 2019 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Elizabeth Leavitt, Senior Director, Environment and Sustainability 
Sandra Kilroy, Director, Maritime Environment and Sustainability 
Sally del Fierro, Director, Community Engagement 
Christina Billingsley, Sr. Program Manager, Environmental Engagement 
SUBJECT:  Duwamish Valley Community Equity Program 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
Recognizing that some near-Port communities experience a higher proportion of environmental 
impacts and lack equitable access to the Port's benefits to the region, the Port of Seattle and
the near-Port Duwamish Valley community launched a pilot project in 2017. Originally as part of
a U.S. EPA Environmental Justice Pilot Project technical assistance grant, the pilot project
focused on improving engagement with near-Port communities that experience environmental 
justice issues. Following two years of focused work, the pilot phase of the project is complete
and the Port is prepared to transition the work into a long-standing program. 
Port  staff  and  community  partners  request  Commission  direction  to  establish  an
Interdepartmental Team (IDT) that will build an ongoing Duwamish Valley Community Equity
Program (DVCE) that formalizes the collaboration with Duwamish Valley communities. The
Program seeks to achieve three shared goals: 1) Community-Port Capacity Building, 2) Healthy
Environment and Communities, and 3) Economic Prosperity in Place. 
The Program will institutionalize the Port Community Action Team (PCAT) as a long-standing
community advisory committee, develop a Community Benefits Commitment that will serve as
a roadmap for "how" the Port will take action on shared priorities, leverage resources from
local agencies and external partners to maximize impact in the Duwamish Valley, and establish
an annual program evaluation process that is accountable and transparent. 
BACKGROUND AND GOALS 
In 2011, the Port's Century Agenda called for the Port of Seattle to create opportunity for all, 
steward our environment responsibly, partner with surrounding communities, and conduct
ourselves with accountability and transparency. To support these values, External Relations and
the Center of Expertise for Environment and Sustainability (COE) sought to build stronger
relationships between the Port, the environmental community, and our near-Port communities.

Template revised April 12, 2018.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No.7a                                  Page 2 of 4 
Meeting Date: May 28, 2019 
A key strategy to improve these relationships is to establish an open dialogue about the
environmental impact that port-related operations have on near-Port communities. In fall 2016, 
the Port and community jointly applied for an EPA technical assistance grant to begin this
process with a primary focus on environmental issues in the Duwamish Valley. The Port of
Seattle was one of only three ports in the nation selected to receive the technical assistance
grant. 
Over the course of the pilot project, Port staff and community members identified that the
challenges facing the community were not only environmental impacts. Due to historic
discriminatory policies and institutional racism practiced by local governments, industries, and
other institutions, Duwamish Valley community members were excluded from generations of
economic mobility and civic processes. As a result, the launch of the new program must serve
multiple inequities affecting the community. After extensive strategic planning with community
partners, Port staff has identified three goals that are actionable within the Port's RCW
authority: 
Duwamish Valley Community Equity Program Goals 
1. Community and Port Capacity Building for Ongoing Collaboration  Provide training
for Port staff to inclusively engage near-Port neighbors and build community capacity
that empowers  their meaningful participation in Port decision-making processes that
affect  the  Duwamish  Valley.  Provide  training  for  community  members  to  better
understand the Port's mission, operations, and programs and support for their ongoing
consultation on community engagement best practices. 
2. Healthy Environment and Communities  Reduce environmental harms that impact
the health and livability of near-Port Duwamish Valley communities. 
3. Economic Prosperity in Place  Innovate and convene Port-related industries to
support anti-displacement solutions through targeted access to living wage jobs,
training, career pathways, and other support programs that enable near-Port Duwamish
Valley neighbors to thrive in place. 
PILOT PROJECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE 
On April 10,  2018, Port Commissioners authorized staff to continue deep community
engagement with the near-Port environmental justice communities of South Park and
Georgetown in the Duwamish Valley. Since then, the collaboration with communities has 
resulted in significant and mutually beneficial gains: 
- Port staff have gained knowledge and tools to more appropriately engage with low
income communities of color who experience environmental justice issues; 
- Port processes have benefited from an equity lens provided by community partners; 
- Community members have been able to meaningfully engage in Port benefits to the
region. 
The below examples of accomplishments so far in the pilot project reflect each of these gains. 

Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No.7a                                  Page 3 of 4 
Meeting Date: May 28, 2019 

Establishment of the Port Community Action Team (PCAT): The formation of the PCAT
is an equitable engagement best-practice at the Port. In 2017, the PCAT was established
to  ensure  that  community  representatives  from  South  Park  and  Georgetown
communities would be able to advise Port staff on the EPA Environmental Justice Pilot 
Project. This practice is important for equity, since low income communities of color
often do not have capacity (ie: time, financial resources, familiarity with government
structures, etc.) to participate in standard Port processes. The Port is compensating 
these community members for their involvement. The PCAT has so far provided training
and coaching to Port staff on inclusive engagement practices and cultural competency
that directly impact the effectiveness of achieving Century Agenda goals. PCAT members
advised the Port on initiatives such as: SAMP community engagement, hiring and
recruitment for Sr. Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; inclusive communications
and marketing for multicultural audiences; and more.
Green Jobs for Youth Stewards at Port Parks: In a landmark Port contract to promote
environmental equity, Maritime Environment and Sustainability has contracted with
DIRT Corps and Duwamish Valley Youth Corps to train local youth to as paid stewards of
the Port's habitat sites at Terminal 107 Park, Terminal 108 Park, and Gears Park located
in South Park throughout 2019. DIRT Corps increases access to green jobs and fosters
healthy communities by providing on-the-job training for adult workers, specifically
encouraging women, people of color, LGBT, and veterans to enroll. The pilot project has
informed the Port that "the environment" is an interconnected concept in
communities people have difficulty taking action to respond to the natural world and
climate change unless their families have basic needs met. This contract demonstrates
the Port's ability tomeet this intersectionality: the Port can enable communities to
meet basic needs of income generation and capacity building while supporting the
Port's CenturyAgenda environmental and sustainability goals (specifically, to restore,
create,  and  enhance  an  additional  40  acres  of  habitat  in  the  Green/Duwamish
Watershed and Elliott Bay). 
Targeted Youth Internships to Prevent Displacement:  Since spring 2018, Human
Resources staff have targeted youth in the Duwamish Valley with interactive resume
workshops and career readiness activities to support low income youth of color to apply
for Port internships. Each year, at least six youth are placed in positions across the Port
such as the Commission Office, Maritime Environment and Sustainability, and External
Relations  departments.  This  access  makes  a  significant  impact  to  help  prevent
displacement of families due to economic pressures. The Port provides livable wage
internships for youth to gain basic skills in public administration, engineering and
construction, environment and sustainability, the maritime and aviation fields, and
skilled trades. These experiences have helped alumni secure new jobs in partner
organizations, at the Port, and help their families stay in place. 

Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No.7a                                  Page 4 of 4 
Meeting Date: May 28, 2019 
"Our Shared Duwamish River" Multilingual Boat Tour: In fall 2018, nearly 200
community members joined the Port for its first-ever multilingual boat tour of Elliott Bay
and the Duwamish River. Each year, External Relations offers its public education series,
"Port U" Tours to raise awareness about Port operations, impact, and involvement in
the community; in past years, narration was only offered in English. Port staff presented
information relevant to near-Port audiences such as the Port's "Welcoming Port"
immigrant and refugee-friendly policies at Sea-Tac Airport, small business initiatives,
and the Port's habitat restoration efforts along the river. Interpreters on board provided
translation in Vietnamese, Cambodian, Spanish, and English for families to learn more
about the Port's mission and programs. 
Air Quality Monitoring Community Science Training:  Northwest Seaport Alliance
funded a community science training to teach community members about air quality
monitoring. With technical support from Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, community
members learned how to use the air quality monitors and gather data to inform clean
air solutions. In this phase of the project, capacity building and understanding air quality
issues took primary focus. In future phases, community members will be able to use the
data to make recommendations on air quality actions such as placement of green walls,
rain gardens, and other potential opportunities. 
Mural Art and Educational Workshops: This winter, the Port sponsored a series of 
educational workshops with over 40 participants in the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps to
connect near-Port community members with a greater understanding of the ecological
and cultural history of the river, local industries, and the Port. Renowned Native
American artist, Roger Fernandes, community leaders, and Port staff participated in
presentations to the youth. The educational sessions culminated in the creation of a
beautiful mural in South Park that tells the story of the growth of the city, industry, and
Port along the river, as well as the participants' vision of a robustcleanup and a healthy
river for all. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING 
(1)   Presentation slides 
(2)   Motion 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
April 10, 2018  Commission authorization to continue 
EPA Pilot Project with DV community 



Template revised September 22, 2016.