Projects

Serve Ethiopians Washington

empowers underserved East African communities through impactful initiatives in environmental justice, youth engagement, senior support, civic participation, and migrant services. From tree planting and sustainability programs to voter education and workforce development, SEW drives positive change with culturally relevant, community-led solutions. Explore our projects to see how we're creating a healthier, more inclusive future for all.

Serve Ethiopians Washington Active Projects and Partnerships

Environmental Justice and Sustainability Initiatives

Environmental justice lies at the heart of SEW’s mission. With strategic partnerships and community-focused solutions, we address pressing environmental issues impacting underserved neighborhoods.

Serve Ethiopians Washington Heal Act Grant

Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act Grant Project:

Funded by the Washington State Department of Health, this initiative expands environmental justice programs for East African immigrant communities in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. Through workshops and listening sessions, SEW raises awareness about air pollution, climate change, and other environmental risks while advocating for community needs at state-level Environmental Justice Council meetings.

Community Outreach and Education Program for Environmental Justice

In partnership with the Seattle Environmental Justice Fund, this program engages South Seattle’s East African immigrant communities, addressing air pollution, climate vulnerability, and limited green spaces. SEW provides culturally relevant workshops on topics like environmental justice, waste management, and climate adaptation, encouraging active community involvement.

Group of people planting a tree outdoors, surrounded by lush greenery.

South King County Tree Captains Project

Supported by the Arbor Day Foundation, this project enhances tree canopy coverage in underserved neighborhoods, improving air quality and reducing urban heat. SEW distributes free trees, conducts tree care workshops, and organizes community stewardship programs, with plans to plant 750 trees over three years in partnership with Forterra Northwest.

Group of people standing together outdoors under a shelter, some wearing matching t-shirts, with trees in the background.

Rainier Beach Neighborhood Stewardship

Partnering with Green Seattle Partnership, SEW empowers East African communities through tree planting, invasive species removal, and park cleanups at Be’er Sheva Park and other green spaces. This initiative supports Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Initiative by improving accessibility to green spaces.

Group of people standing on grass near water, some wearing yellow safety vests, under a clear blue sky.

Be’er Sheva Park Restoration and Water Quality Improvement Project

Supported by King County WaterWorks, this project focuses on environmental sustainability and stewardship. Activities include invasive plant removal, lakebed cleanups, and native tree planting across five acres of wetland and urban forest to improve water quality in Lake Washington.

Group of six smiling people posing in front of a brick building with a white door.

Engage, Educate, and Discover at Mapes Creek

This project fosters environmental stewardship and salmon recovery at Mapes Creek. Through educational events like field trips and neighborhood walks, SEW raises awareness of local ecology and environmental justice, empowering the community to take active roles in conservation efforts.

Group of people standing outdoors with trees in the background, holding shovels and gardening tools.

Community-Based Angle Lake Improvement Project

Through this project, SEW recruits and educates forest stewards in SeaTac to conduct park and trail clean up at Angle Lake Park, which includes removing invasive plants and installing native plants and hosting educational opportunities for community members to learn more about waste management and creating clean and safe public spaces. This project is supported by the Port of Seattle South King County Community Impact Fund.

Youth Engagement

A coach guiding a group of young soccer players on a field, with a focus on one child wearing an orange jersey running toward the ball. In the background, there's a scoreboard and an overpass.

Soccer Game Initiative for East African Youth

Sponsored by King County Parks, this initiative engages Ethiopian and East African immigrant youth aged 7-13 in soccer activities to promote physical and mental well-being, improve educational outcomes, and foster community inclusion.

Senior Empowerment

Group of people wearing traditional Ethiopian attire sitting outdoors under a shelter, near beverage preparation setup with cups and a kettle.

East African Senior Recreation Initiative

This project enhances the mental and physical health of East African seniors by organizing culturally relevant recreational activities and improving access to public spaces, with transportation support to overcome barriers.

Digital Empowerment for East African Seniors

Supported by the City of Seattle Information Technology, this initiative provides seniors with smartphones, affordable internet plans, and tailored digital literacy training to bridge the digital divide and promote inclusivity.

Civic Engagement

A man in a coat and hat stands with an umbrella next to a blue van, labeled 'Blue Cab,' with open sliding door; inside, several passengers are seated, including elderly individuals. The background shows a building and a clear sky.

Voter Education Fund

Funded by King County Elections and Seattle Foundation, this project empowers Ethiopian immigrant communities through culturally tailored voter education and engagement activities, fostering greater participation in democratic processes.

Migrant and Asylum-Seeker Support

MASS Project

In partnership with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services MASS Project, SEW provides culturally responsive case management, essential goods, and community education workshops to support Sub-Saharan African migrants and asylum-seekers in King County.

Serve Ethiopians Washington Past Projects

Multiple hands forming the outline of a house against a cloudy sky.

Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Program

SEW partnered with the King County Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Program (EPRAP) to help over 1,500 low-income households in King County affected by the far-reaching consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this partnership, SEW provided invaluable support in outreach and navigating the application process for the King County Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Program, ensuring that those in need receive the assistance they deserve.

Word cloud with terms related to health literacy, including education, information, medical, student, healthcare, and research.

Covid-19 Health Literacy Project

Through this project, SEW worked to advance culturally responsive health literacy information sharing and COVID – 19 misconception throughout King County of Washington State. This project was supported by HealthierHere.

Classroom with students seated at desks facing instructors and a display screen with presentation, inside a well-lit room.

New Start Workforce Development Program (NSWFDP)

SEW partnered with the Port of Seattle South King County Community Impact Fund – Economic Recovery Program on a program focusing on increasing enrollment and completion rates of taxi and ride share drivers in the Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) college level course. This collaborative initiative holds great potential to enhance the economic security of participating drivers by equipping them with valuable skills in aviation maintenance. Through this project SEW aims to open up new avenues of opportunity and empower drivers to pursue fulfilling careers in a high-demand field.

Serve Ethiopians Washington volunteers pose with a truckload of Huggies diaper boxes in a parking lot.

Diaper Delivery and Distribution Program

Through this project, SEW has been providing free baby diapers for low-income families impacted by COVID-19 in King County of Washington State. With support from King County DCHS SEW distributed 149, 389 free kids’ diapers for 380 children from 250 low-income families in King County.

Group of people attending a seminar in a conference room, sitting attentively with notebooks and drinks on the tables.

Green Ambassador Program

The Green Ambassador Program, a community-led initiative funded by a COO Learning Community innovation spark grant, was developed to tackle environmental injustices affecting Ethiopian and East African immigrant communities in South King County. The program empowered residents to become active stewards of their environment, promoting education, engagement, and advocacy in environmental justice.

Seattle Foundation’s Neighbor to Neighbor Program

In partnership with the Seattle Foundation's Neighbor to Neighbor Program, we tackled Environmental Justice and affordable housing advocacy in South King County. This collaboration focused on educating and engaging local residents in sustainable practices and affordable housing advocacy, empowering them to champion equitable and healthy community development.

Taxi Drivers Survey: Serve Ethiopians WA with the Port of Seattle Workforce Development Program

Serve Ethiopians WA partnered with the Port of Seattle on a workforce development survey for taxi drivers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Conducted from October 2023, the survey successfully engaged 298 of the 400 licensed drivers, assessing their skills and career interests. This initiative showcased effective community engagement and data collection, setting the stage for enhanced driver support and development.

Elderly woman examining a box of fresh produce, including broccoli, bananas, and carrots.

Fresh Produce for Healthy Aging

Supported by the City of Seattle's Department of Neighborhoods through the Food Equity Fund, Serve Ethiopians Washington's "Fresh Produce for Healthy Aging" project provided monthly culturally appropriate food bags to East African seniors. This initiative not only met nutritional needs but also engaged seniors in food and waste education, enhancing their health and well-being. This project reflects our dedication to food equity and senior support within the community.