In October, at the International Association for Public Participation’s North American Conference in Vancouver, B.C., the Port of Seattle’s Duwamish Valley Community Equity Program was named Program of the Year in the category of Respect for Diversity, Inclusion, and Culture — the top honor the organization gives for community engagement work, the Port of Seattle reported.
Judges Praise Seven Years of Equity Work in South Park and Georgetown
The International Association for Public Participation’s judges noted that since the Port Commission adopted the program in 2019, the Port has been transforming its relationship with historically underserved communities in South Park and Georgetown. They called the program a powerful model for embedding equity into public participation.
Compensated Co-Designers Shape Port Policy
The award recognizes the Port’s work alongside the Port Community Action Team, or PCAT — community members who serve as co-designers, helping shape policy, strategic priorities, and investments. The program pairs multilingual engagement with compensated community leadership and tracks measurable outcomes in workforce and small business development, environmental health, and community capacity.
“This Award Belongs to Our Community Partners”
“Being recognized for the Diversity, Inclusion, and Culture award affirms what we’ve long believed: real public participation starts with deep listening and equitable collaboration,” said Sally del Fierro, Director of Community Engagement at the Port of Seattle. “The Duwamish Valley Community Equity Program prioritizes co-creation with our neighbors and centers those who have too often been left out of decisions shaping their communities. This award belongs to our community partners as much as it does to the Port of Seattle.”
From Consulted to Co-Creating Decisions
The recognition comes after the Commission adopted the program in 2019, a span in which residents of South Park and Georgetown have been co-creating the decisions that affect their neighborhoods. PCAT member Maribel Pastor and Charmila Ajmera, the Port’s senior program manager for Duwamish Valley engagement, accepted the award at the conference.
Worth a look
Man Dies After Hit-and-Run on Gallatin Pike in Nashville
A grocery cart, the kind shoppers wheel through parking lots and along dark stretches of road, is what...
Pinion Acquires A1 Development Solutions to Expand Land Advisory Services
Established in 2017 to manage the intricate permitting, utility coordination and government relations required for livestock and grain...
School of Medicine Greenville Registrar Manages Academic Records
The Registrar's Office at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville adheres to the University of...
Transportation Planner Hayden Clarkin: RIPTA Hub Relocation Plan Ignores Bus Riders’ Needs
Providence Transit Planner Argues $77 Million Hub Move Would Harm Bus Riders In a column for pvdeye.org, transportation...