In December 2019, Port of Seattle Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 3767, the Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment. This adoption marks the culmination of three years of authentic engagement and collaborative innovation between the Port of Seattle and the Port Community Action Team, an advisory group consisting of stakeholders from the South Park and Georgetown neighborhoods in Seattle’s Duwamish Valley. The 2013 Cumulative Health Impact Analysis published by non-profits Just Health Action and the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition identifies that the Duwamish Valley community experiences multiple environmental justice concerns. Local community members bear significantly disproportionate Port-related environmental impacts and lack fair access to Port-related economic benefits. Despite historic discrimination by local governments, industries, and other institutions, the community’s resilience and stewardship of its own cultural, economic, and social assets have anchored the Duwamish Valley in place.
The purpose of Resolution 3767 is to guide Port of Seattle operations that impact the Duwamish Valley by institutionalizing the voices of community into port processes. The commitment, which was co-created with community members over a six-month period, is upheld by the Port’s long-term investment and staffing of a program that collaborates with Duwamish Valley stakeholders. This partnership, the first of its kind in the nation, advances three shared goals to transform the Port’s relationship with its most impacted communities:
- Community and Port Capacity Building (example actions include: trainings for port staff and community members, improved community engagement practices, data-driven evaluation processes)
- Healthy Environment and Communities (example actions include: investments in community-based climate change solutions, collaborations with industry for air quality improvements, and partnerships with regional ports and commercial associations on truck traffic issues)
- Economic Prosperity in Place (example actions include: targeted youth workforce development, increased local recruitment for port-related jobs, and allyship to support a diverse and green economy)