collected by Emerald Staff

Northwest Kidney Centers opens new Rainier Beach Dialysis Clinic

Northwest Kidney Centers, a provider of life-sustaining kidney dialysis,will open a clinic in Seattle’s Rainier Beach neighborhood Jan. 13, 2020. The newly constructed one-story building is at 4401 S. Trenton St. It’s the 19th clinic owned and operated by the Seattle-based nonprofit.

It hosted an open house on Tuesday that showcased the treatment area of the clinic, which focuses on landscaped courtyards to offer a green, healing environment during the hours of dialysis.

“Dialysis is a time-consuming treatment that’s essential to survival for people with kidney failure,” said Northwest Kidney Centers interim CEO Carrie McCabe. “We are pleased to offer it to Rainier Beach residents close to home and in beautiful, soothing surroundings.”

The clinic will accommodate 72 patients to visit three times a week for blood-cleansing treatments that take about four hours each time. Besides giving treatments in the clinic, Northwest Kidney Centers staff members will train interested patients to give themselves dialysis at home.

A classroom will provide space for free community classes to help people at any stage of kidney disease optimize their health, quality of life and independence.

People with permanent kidney failure need regular dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive.

Dr. Bruce O’Neill has been named medical director of the new clinic, Heather Johnson, RN, is clinical director, and Kristina Garnett, RN, is nurse manager.

Founded in Seattle in 1962, Northwest Kidney Centers was the first dialysis organization in the world. Today it cares for 1,800 people with chronic kidney failure, providing 283,000 treatments each year. For more information, visit www.nwkidney.org.

 

Durkan Signs Green New Deal Executive Order

Mayor Jenny Durkan signed an Executive Order Tuesday committing Seattle to new steps to combat climate change. The order requires that all new or substantially altered City of Seattle buildings operate without fossil fuels, and by January 2021, the City will develop a strategy to eliminate fossil fuel use in existing City buildings. Through the Executive Order, the City will set an example that buildings can and should operate entirely without fossil fuels.

“We must eliminate our City’s reliance on fossil fuels – from cars to buildings,” said Mayor Durkan. “More than half of the world’s population lives in cities. We have an opportunity in Seattle to chart the right response to climate change, and that starts with actions like the ones we announced today to limit our greenhouse gas emissions.”

The Executive Order also directs City department to work with the Green New Deal Oversight Board and the Mayor’s Youth Climate Council to integrate the following Green New Deal principles into City work:

• Reduce pollution at the rate of progress scientists say is necessary to limit average global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees C;
• Promote economic opportunity and inclusive access to stable, well-paying jobs; and
• Advance environmental justice by ensuring the benefits and investments of the clean energy transition accrue to those communities and populations historically most burdened by the fossil fuel economy.

The Executive Order also improves the City’s data collection and sharing process on GHG emissions, requires annual Green New Deal reports through 2030, and directs the Office of Sustainability & Environment to engage stakeholders like the philanthropic community, business community, labor community, non-governmental organizations, health care community, county and state agencies, state legislators, and tribes achieve the goals of the Green New Deal.

The Executive Order directs departments to outline the actions and investments necessary to eliminate fossil fuel use in municipal buildings. Buildings with existing plans for substantial alterations and new buildings will be immediately prioritized for design without fossil fuel use. A strategy to eliminate fossil fuel use in existing City of Seattle buildings and projects will also be developed by an Interdepartmental Team of City departments by January 2021.

The Mayor and OSE also announced today that the City is investing $250,000, through the Environmental Justice Fund, to seven community-based projects, three with ties to South Seattle, to improve environmental conditions and respond to the impacts of climate change. Funding of up to $40,000 was awarded to projects that will be led by and benefit those most impacted by environmental and climate issues, including communities of color, immigrants, refugees, and Indigenous people. You can find more information on these investments here.

Applications for the Mayor’s Youth Climate Council will open next week. Any Seattle resident between the ages of 16 and 22, who is passionate about averting the climate emergency and environmental justice is encouraged to apply.

 

BECU Foundation Accepting College Scholarship Applications

The Boeing Employee Credit Union Foundation is now accepting applications for its annual scholarships to full-time high school seniors and undergraduates currently enrolled in an accredited two-year, four-year or technical college or university.

Twenty-five $2500 scholarships will be awarded to students identified as playing an active role in giving back to their community.

Each awarded scholarship is renewable for two years ($5,000 total).

Students pursuing a degree in healthcare, STEM or trade fields may qualify for a Washington State Opportunity Scholarship worth up to $22,500. The scholarship supports Washington residents on their path to high-demand careers.

For more information on eligibility and to access the online application form, please visit www.becu.org/members-matter/community-involvement/scholarships. Note that applications are due by 11:59 p.m. PST on Friday, February 28, 2020.

 

With Snow On The Way, SDOT Updates Winter Weather Information 

With frigid conditions potentially in the offing, the Seattle Department of Transportation has recently updated its winter weather information in the event of snow.

SDOT’s Winter Weather brochure detailing safety precautions  has been translated into ten different languages and can be found here: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/safety-first/winter-weather-response

Additional information on snow and ice removal can be found here:

https://sdotblog.seattle.gov/2019/11/26/winter-is-coming-but-you-can-take-it-by-storm/

https://sdotblog.seattle.gov/2019/12/06/when-it-snows-shovel-it/

SDOT also partnered with the disability advocacy group, Rooted in Rights, to create a video that shares the experience of several Seattle residents after last year’s heavy snow. Subtitles for this video are available in twelve languages.

Don’t Snow Us In video (full length): https://youtu.be/6SnWUXRqVS8

Don’t Snow Us In video tips (social media version): https://youtu.be/1cPDGZXDWjI

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Featured image: Tammy Heck, center, explains the eco-friendly Aquaboss water purification system to attendees of the Northwest Kidney Centers Rainier Beach location open house. (Photo courtesy of Northwest Kidney Centers)