ECOSS Environmental Coalition of South Seattle

1. ECOSSEnvironmental Coalition of South Seattle

2. Mission Statement • ECOSS is a non-profit organization working with Puget Sound businesses and neighborhoods for an environmentally responsible community. ECOSS provides environmentally-oriented education, technical resources and other services. We serve as a voice for the community on issues that encourage a clean environment and urban redevelopment.

3. ECOSS • ECOSS is non-profit organization • ECOSS has a Board of Directors • ECOSS receives funds from a variety of sources: • Membership • Donations • Foundation grants • Government contracts

4. ECOSS Programs • Business Programs • Environmental Extension Service • Community Building Projects • Neighborhood improvements • Parks, libraries, art, infrastructure • ECOSS Multi-Cultural Outreach Team (EMCOT) • Greening Ethnic Businesses • “At Home” Residential Program

5. EMCOT Program Staff • Mayra Ayala – Latino Community • Jeanne Johnson – ESL Communities (Asian Pacific Islanders, Taiwanese, Cambodian) • Tigist Nigash – East African Communities • Tien Duong-Le & Lee Chang – Vietnamese Community • Currently, staff speak 6 Languages: • English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Amharic (Ethiopia), Tigrinian (Eritrea) and Somalian

6. Greening Ethnic Businesses Program • Working with small and medium-sized, ethnically owned/operated Seattle businesses • Providing free spill kits, spill plans, training and other stormwater information • Soliciting participation in City energy & water conservation programs • Improve recycling programs • Establish food waste composting programs

7. “At Home” Program Outline • Hired staff in 1995-97 to work with families to reduce use of hazardous materials in their homes and increase recycling; partnering with local agencies • Expanded program to teach water and energy conservation. Added smoking cessation program in 2004 • International staff working in their own communities

8. ECOSS and the EJNA program • Each community is at a different stage in the EJNA process • Based on their stage, EMCOT staff is assisting, convening, organizing or leading the community-based organizations • We will now give examples from each community

9. Tien Duong - Le Vietnamese Community • Working extensively in the community since 1996 • Outreach examples: • Buddhist Community • Catholic Community • Elders • Children and Youth • Community organizations • Families

12. Jeanne Johnson – ESL Communities • Asian Pacific Islanders • Taiwanese • Khmer

13. Jeanne Johnson – ESL Communities • Working extensively in the community since 1997 • Outreach examples: • Health care, baby care and parenting groups • Families, Children and Youth • Community organizations • Assisting in leading the Environmental Justice Network in Action (EJNA) in the Khmer (Cambodian) and Taiwanese

17. Mayra Ayala – Latino Community • Working extensively in the community since 1995 • Outreach examples: • Churches • Health care, baby care and parenting groups • Families, Children and Youth • Community organizations • Convener and Organizer for the Environmental Justice Needs Assessment (EJNA) in the Latino community

18. Tigist Nigash- East African Community • Working extensively in the community since 1998 • Outreach examples: • Community organizations • Convener and Organizer for the Environmental Justice Needs Assessment (EJNA) in the East African community • Horn of Africa • Somali Community Organization • Also working with • Ethiopian Community Organization • Ethiopian Business Association • Health care, baby care and parenting groups • Families, Children and Youth

22. Take Away Messages • Every community is different • One size does not fit all • It is not just simple translation of utility information, but we need to work to find out what the unique approach is for different communities

23. Thank you very much • Do you have any questions?