ECOSSEnvironmental Coalition of South Seattle

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.

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

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

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

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

“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

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

Working extensively in the community since 1996 Outreach examples:

– Buddhist Community– Catholic Community– Elders– Children and Youth– Community organizations– Families

Tien Duong - Le Vietnamese Community

Jeanne Johnson – ESL Communities

Asian Pacific Islanders Taiwanese Khmer

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

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

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

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

Thank you very much

Do you have any questions?