The Washington Department of Ecology's Washington Conservation Corps AmeriCorps members participated in more than 30 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service projects in 2024. Ecology's Washington Conservation Corps AmeriCorps program administrative operations manager Laura Schlabach, shares some highlights from a few projects.
Each year, Washington Conservation Corps. WCC AmeriCorps members plan MLK Day of Service projects that directly serve systemically marginalized communities as a way of honoring Dr. King Jr.'s legacy of racial justice. AmeriCorps members' participation in service projects that intentionally empower and support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, BIPOC, communities is one part of WCC's efforts to become a more anti-racist program.
In addition to direct service, members spend part of the day on reflection and educational activities geared towards topics like environmental justice, local history of land, microaggressions and systemic racism.
During the 2023-2024 program year, members planned more than 30 projects around the state! Here are some highlights:
Our Pierce County crew had a chilly MLK Day of Service with The Salmon Center in Belfair. AmeriCorps members spent the day alongside local volunteers removing invasive plants (primarily Himalayan blackberry) and mulching native plants in a crucial wetland area at Union River Estuary. Afterwards ,the crew joined in for an educational tour around the estuary, p-patch, and organic farm.
Another WCC AmeriCorps member crew planted seeds with Queer The Land, a Seattle-based organization that builds a cooperative network anchored by a community center and transitional and semi-permanent housing for working-class queer, trans, and two-spirit BIPOC people. Several WCC members spent their day bundled up inside Queer The Land's sunny greenhouse to seed plants for their community garden. WCC AmeriCorps members helped Down to Earth Community Gardens make 100 native "seed bombs."
The "seed bombs" were made up of several native flowers and pollinator species such as sunflowers, striped zebra mallow, peony poppies, and columbine. Down to Earth Community Gardens is a non-profit organization that aims to empower people to grow their own organic produce through the provision of free garden beds, seeds, education and resources. Their gardeners contribute to local food banks, host free farmers markets, deliver produce to seniors, offer access to emergency food boxes, and more.
Yakima Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity spent the day at home build sites with some building and improvement projects.
We're grateful for AmeriCorps members' service on MLK Day, offering them a chance to deepen their connections to local communities!
