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Duwamish Valley Port Community Action Team (PCAT)

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Join PCAT!

PCAT is recruiting new members. Fill out the interest survey now!

What is PCAT?

PCAT is a Port-Community partnership that prioritizes amplifying the voices and experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color most affected by Port-related operations in the Duwamish Valley.

To further our goals of a healthy, sustainable community, we have created a Community Benefits Commitment with the Port based on the principles of equity, anti-displacement, and empowerment. Our agreement focuses on promoting a clean environment, increasing economic opportunities, and building community capacity.

Our vision is to create a healthy and economically vibrant Duwamish Valley where people can stay in place. 

Who are the current members of PCAT?

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Bunthay Cheam (he/him)

Bunthay is a 1.5 generation Khmer refugee from Cambodia and is a co-founder of the Khmer Anti-deportation Advocacy Group. Bunthay enjoys storytelling which he practices through poetry, theatre, film, and freelance journalism. A longtime resident of South Park, Bunthay serves the PCAT in multiple capacities, always advocating for the community.
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Ruby Vigo (she/they)

Ruby is a lifelong South Park resident and a first-generation college graduate with a master’s degree in social work from the UW. Her passion is to support youth and their aspirations. Ruby is honored to work with the resilient community they grew up in and hopes to empower the residents of the Duwamish Valley to speak their truth.
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Daneca Tran (she/they)

Daneca is the founder of Global Chill, a land-based catering service. Additionally, she operates in the South Park community as a youth mentor and event coordinator. Daneca joined PCAT because she has a deep passion for land restoration, social justice, and food sovereignty, specifically advocating for Land Back reparations.
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Maribel Pastor (she/ella)

Maribel is a community outreach coordinator at Villa Communitaria, a non-profit that empowers families in the Duwamish Valley. Maribel believes we should put our skills together to work for a greater good. One of her passions is helping the community to understand the issues that affect them.
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Jake Bookwalter (he/him)

​​​Jake a lifelong resident of Georgetown and has advocated for his neighborhood as an intern for Friends of Georgetown History and the Duwamish River Community Coalition. He is also a founder of the Georgetown Youth Council. This youth-led group focuses on advocating for the often-overlooked Gateway Park North.
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Gia Tran (she/her)

Gia is a community activist who has provided leadership in governance and sustainability on the Seattle Collages campuses and interned with UNEA Clear Sky. Duwamish land and Southwest Seattle have always had a special place in Gia's heart, from the diverse communities to the small-owned businesses.
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Maggie Keomahavong (she/her)

​​​Maggie is a lifelong resident of Georgetown and a US Army veteran. She values service to her community and seeks opportunities to connect with others. In PCAT, her mission is to collaborate with communities of color and the veteran community to ensure the adoption of the Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment.
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Rich Brown (he/him)

Rich Brown is a passionate community advisor committed to racial equity and social justice. Originally from California, Rich has resided in South King County for over 15 years. He is the Program Director of Bike Works, and his hobbies include cycling, DJ’ing, and pickling. Rich loves his neighborhood and is proud to be an advocate for it.
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Joanna Vong (she/her)

Joanna is a lifelong resident of South Seattle with ties to the South Park community. She first learned about the Duwamish River superfund site and cleanup efforts as an undergraduate at the UW studying environmental health. She is excited to advocate for equity and resources to support the community members of the Duwamish Valley.

PCAT is currently recruiting!

If you would like to join these amazing individuals in supporting our community, fill out this interest form.

We stand on the shoulders of so many! We thank the past PCAT members whose voices have shaped the Port and Duwamish Valley community partnership: Andrew Schiffer, Jose Chi, Magdalena Angel Cano, Silverio Arevalo, Hilary Jauregui, Peter Quenguyen, John Persak, Victor Facundo, Nancy Zugschewerdt, Paulina Lopez, Edwin Hernandez Reto, Hannah Kett, and K Steimer. 

Commonly asked questions:

What does PCAT do?

PCAT worked with Port staff to write and pass the first environmental justice policy at any port, Resolution 3767, the Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment (CBC). It has three goals that shape our work:

Goal 1: Build Capacity in Community and at the Port for Collaboration

PCAT regularly meets with Port leadership and elected officials to voice community issues and find solutions related to impacts from Port operations.

Goal 2: Support a Healthy Environment and Community

PCAT advocacy funds local youth training in green job sectors - ranging from habitat restoration, solar energy, and green stormwater infrastructure careers.

Goal 3: Promote Economic Prosperity in Place

PCAT encouraged the Port to open the Duwamish River Community Hub, a place-based economic development center located in the heart of the South Park business district.

What are the values of PCAT?

We as PCAT advocate for the community to the Port, helping to facilitate access to Port distributed resources equitably throughout our community and elevating voices that are often left out of the discussion. 

We recognize that we are on unceded Duwamish Land and Territory, one of the First People of Seattle and King County, and we will do whatever we can to support the Duwamish People. 

We are an actively anti-racist collective that works to dismantle oppression in all its forms. We advocate for social justice based policies and programs that affect our region in general, and our Duwamish Valley community most specifically. 

We actively celebrate our diverse heritage and the community contributions that represent the makeup of the community in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, immigration status, sexual orientation, physical abilities, and gender identity. 

How much of a commitment is PCAT?

PCAT members work closely with Port staff and are expected to commit approximately 8 hours per month over a 2-year term to participate in meetings, community events, and retreats.

Who is eligible to join PCAT?

Anyone living, working, studying, playing, or worshiping in the Duwamish Valley is eligible to join the PCAT. No prior experience is required.

Is PCAT compensated?

Members receive a compensation of $30/hour in their first term and $35/hour in their second term. Meals, childcare, language interpretation, and transportation are provided as needed.

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