Current Projects
Serve Ethiopians Washington, Improve Angle Lake Park and Trail
Recruited and educated forest stewards in SeaTac to conduct park and trail clean-up at Angle Lake Park, including removing invasive plants, installing native plants, and hosting educational opportunities on waste management and public space stewardship. This project was funded at $60,000 over three years.
Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, Community-Driven Stewardship at Salmon Creek Ravine Park
Partnered with the City of Burien and the Green Burien Partnership to train local youth in habitat restoration, trail connections, and community engagement at Salmon Creek Ravine Park. This project was funded at $44,925 over three years.
Foster High School Environmental Science Program (via Tilth Alliance), Foster High School Learning Program
Expanded the community garden at Foster High School, managed by the Gardening Club at both the high school and middle school. The expansion provided students with more hands-on learning opportunities in environmental science. This project took place in Tukwila, was fiscally sponsored by Tilth Alliance, and was funded at $60,000.
Toros Cycling Club, Bike Rodeo II
Expanded on previous funding to enhance the bicycle skills improvement area in Burien’s Annex Park parking lot. The project addressed issues of dumping, loitering, and vandalism through community clean-up efforts and improved signage related to park use. This project took place in Burien and was funded at $15,395.
Menbere Tsebaot Holy Trinity Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Park Cleanup and Tree Planting
Enhanced environmental sustainability and beautified the community by planting trees in Adelaide Park. Church member volunteers collaborated with the City of Federal Way to increase green space, improve air quality, and create a welcoming atmosphere for residents and visitors. This project took place in Federal Way and was funded at $11,550.
Shyan Selah Foundation, Connect to Nature
Served students in Federal Way Public Schools, one of Washington’s most diverse districts. The program provided training in gardening, landscaping, and environmental education while engaging students in park and open space restoration in Federal Way. This project was funded at $57,302.40.
Congolese Integration Network, Bilanga
Conducted clean-up efforts at two parks in Tukwila and built a community garden to foster belonging and stewardship among immigrant and refugee families. The garden included culturally relevant food to reflect the community’s heritage. This project took place in Tukwila and was funded at $60,000.
EarthGen, Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Projects in Highline Schools
Worked with Highline School District middle and high school students, teachers, families, and neighbors to implement environmental improvements on three school campuses, including installing Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) such as rain gardens, native plant gardens, and bioswales. This project took place in SeaTac, Burien, and Des Moines and was funded at $60,000 over three years.
Friends of Normandy Park Foundation, Nist Park Forest Restoration
Worked to restore portions of the forested land within Nist Park in Normandy Park. The project hosted community work parties to remove invasive species, plant trees, and provide educational opportunities for residents to learn about forest restoration techniques. This project took place in Normandy Park and was funded at $29,448.
Tilth Alliance, Soil and Water Stewardship Training
Continued a yearlong environmental training and community-capacity building program where trainees learned and applied skills to address food and environmental solutions in their communities. Tilth served communities in Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, SeaTac, and Tukwila and was funded at $45,000 over three years.
EarthCorps, Hilltop Park Restoration
Collaborated with the City of Burien, community partners, volunteers, and youth involved with Partner in Employment’s (PIE) green jobs training program to restore and steward the 7.4-acre Hilltop Park. This project took place in Burien and was funded at $20,000.
African Young Dreamers Empowerment Program International, Youth Environmental Activism Project
Worked with Black and African immigrant youth to steward and restore parks in Federal Way and Des Moines. This project was funded at $60,000 over three years.
Dirt Corps, Salmon Creek Restoration
Engaged the City of Burien and youth to improve the 4.5-acre Salmon Creek Park. Paid youth were trained to remove monoculture species, create planting designs, install native plant species, and perform maintenance activities to support park restoration. This project was funded at $60,000 over three years.
Past Projects
Multicultural Self-Sufficiency Movement, Community Garden
Community garden initiative to promote food security and self-sufficiency among immigrant and refugee communities. The garden provided culturally relevant produce and served as a space for education, community building, and intergenerational engagement. This project was funded at $9,000.
Highline Botanical Garden Foundation, Seike Japanese Garden Expansion
Expanded of the Seike Japanese Garden, a historically significant and culturally rich space relocated from Des Moines Way Nursery to the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden. The expansion preserved rare plant specimens and honored the Seike family’s legacy, while enhancing public access to traditional Japanese garden design. This project was funded at $20,000.
Bridging Cultural Gaps, Raising an Environmentally-Conscious Generation
Engaged Black and East African immigrant families and youth in park restoration work in Tukwila, and hosted nature photography competitions and multilingual podcast conversations to involve community members. This project was funded at $20,000.
Congolese Basketball Team, Park Improvement and Immigrant Inclusion Project
Focused on improving Crystal Spring Park in Tukwila through small group park clean-up days, park updates that included new basketball and tennis nets, and a court redesign. This project was funded at $20,000.
Summer Search, Expanding Environmental Justice Education and Service Learning
Expanded environmental justice education and service-learning programs for high school students. Participants engaged in outdoor adventures, cultural immersion, and community service projects that built leadership skills and deepened their understanding of environmental and social equity. This project was funded at $20,000.
Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, South KC Community Stewardship Project
Empowered youth leaders to support immigrant and refugee families through debris cleanups on kayak patrols and water quality monitoring in Burien, Federal Way, Des Moines, and Tukwila. This project was funded at $10,902.
Weed Warriors, Urban Food Gardening Education
Installed green infrastructure at the New Start Community Garden, providing electricity and WiFi for educational events, workshops, and classes taught at New Start High School in Burien. This project was funded at $14,600.
Partner In Employment, Youth-Led Park Restoration and Community Clean-Up
Continued a paid green jobs training program for refugee and immigrant youth, who learned park restoration and maintenance, identification of native and invasive plant species, and restoration and design of planting sites. This project took place in SeaTac, Burien, and Tukwila and was funded at $60,000 over three years.
Amigos Latinos de Burien, A New Beginning: Revitalizing Arbor Lake Park
Collaborated with community members to restore and promote access to Arbor Lake Park in Burien. This project encouraged healthy recreational habits and was funded at $19,850.
Environmental Science Center, Fostering Stewardship for Nearshore Habitat
Continued the organization’s service to Highline School District students in kindergarten through third grade with beach habitat and stewardship classes at Seahurst Park or virtually. It was funded at $60,000 over three years.
Des Moines Memorial Drive Preservation Association, Signal Box Wraps on Des Moines Memorial Drive
Partnered with the cities of Burien, Des Moines, and SeaTac to install signal box wraps at fourteen major intersections along Des Moines Memorial Drive, a road dedicated to World War I fallen soldiers. The project also developed an art committee to engage artists in creating historic renderings. It was funded at $8,000.
Federal Way Korean American Association, Federal Way Korean Garden
Led to the construction of the Hanwoori Korean Garden in Federal Way, providing a space for community enjoyment, intergenerational teaching, and cultural preservation. This project was funded at $60,000 over three years.
Friends of Normandy Park, Marine View Park Forest Restoration
Restored 20,000 square feet of forest at Marine View Park by removing invasive species, enriching soil biomass, increasing plant diversity, mitigating stormwater runoff, and improving air quality. This project was funded at $15,682.
Friends of Saltwater State Park, Saltwater State Park Habitat Enhancement, Community Engagement, and Education
Held monthly work parties to restore habitat at Saltwater State Park, removing invasive plants, installing native plants, and conducting water quality monitoring of McSorely Creek estuary. This project took place in Des Moines and was funded at $3,310.
Bhutanese Community Resource Center, Engaging and Empowering Bhutanese Community to Local Public Spaces
Continued its program to educate youth and senior immigrants and refugees in Tukwila about native plants, planting techniques, and composting to reduce waste. This project was funded at $16,000.
The Service Board, Youth Stewardship Project
Implemented a long-term stewardship program for BIPOC and low-income youth that combined public space improvement, stewardship, and education through native plantings at the Duwamish Hill Preserve in Tukwila. This project was funded at $60,000 over three years.
Toros Cycling Club, Bike Rodeo
Developed a permanent bicycle skills area and signage with safe riding tips at the Burien Community Center. The Club also hosted classes for Latino community members in Burien to promote bicycle safety and active lifestyles. This project was funded at $19,184.
Key Tech Labs, Off-grid solar system project
Implemented phase two of the off-grid solar system project at New Start Community Garden. The project showcased renewable energy to community members, powered garden events, and increased food production. The organization collaborated with youth and solar experts to enhance the garden’s capacity for hosting community events and educational classes. This project took place in Burien and was funded at $20,000. Learn how Key Tech is using stem education to build a green tomorrow.
New Start Community Garden, Art for New Start Community Garden Fence
Installed a new patio garden and interpretive sign and offered free public classes to teach visitors how to use urban spaces to improve food security and support pollinators and birds. A new tool shed near the stage was added to store tools and solar system components, expanding the garden’s ability to host community events. This project took place in Burien and was funded at $20,000.
SR³ – SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research, Stewardship of Marine Environment through Beachside Outreach and Clean-up Events
Engaged a large and diverse audience in protecting the local marine environment and its wildlife through annual beach clean-up events at Des Moines Beach and the Marine Mammal Stewards program. The program educated beachgoers about marine wildlife and inspired stewardship of the coastal ecosystem. This project took place in Des Moines and was funded at $22,384.
