"You must be the change you wish to see in the world" - Gandhi

If you've done everything you can in your personal life to protect your urban ecosystem, perhaps now you are inspired to influence others to do the same.

Volunteers are vital to Seattle. Citizens serve on dozens of boards that advise the city on land use, urban sustainability, libraries, race and justice, historic preservation, technology, utility rates, building codes, ethics, elections, and the arts. Others belong to nonprofit organizations that support job training, housing, food, literacy and the environment.

Partnerships leverage our resources and enrich our community. City agencies and civic organizations team up for neighborhood cleanups. Parks and schools use each other's facilities free of charge. Corporations give grants and get their employees engaged in their neighborhoods. Nonprofits such as EarthCorps recruit young people, especially kids in ethnically diverse neighborhoods, to work on environmental projects.

Supporting progressive programs at the ballot box is also important. Seattleites love their parks and green spaces so much that they have voted 12 times to tax themselves to acquire and improve them. Closer to home, neighborhood organizations provide ongoing opportunities for residents to pitch in. Seattle has more than 200 neighborhoods, each with a distinct character. The City of Seattle provides hundreds of opportunities to get informed, get involved and volunteer.

To get informed:
City of Seattle
City of Seattle - Office of the Mayor
City of Seattle - Environment
Office of Sustainability and Environment
Seattle Public Utilities

Seattle City Light
Seattle Parks and Recreation
Department of Neighborhoods
Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Project
Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
Puget Sound Action Team

Citizens Service Bureau Call (206) 684-CITY
Seattle Channel - cable television channel 21 or 28
City of Seattle Event Calendar
City Council Legislation
City of Seattle Boards and Commissions

To get involved:
Find out about dozens of boards, councils and advisory groups sponsored by the City of Seattle. Many are concerned with the urban ecosystem. Lists of advisory boards, panels and committees, including names of some of the boards, are given below.

Your government - Get involved
City of Seattle Boards and Commissions
Bicycle Advisory Board, City of Seattle
Board of Park Commissioners
Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission
Pedestrian Advisory Board
Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority
Urban Sustainability Advisory Panel
Contact OSE: OSE@seattle.gov (206)615-0817.

Volunteer Opportunities:
Even with all the opportunities provided by the City of Seattle to get involved, you may want to look for other ways to exercise your activism. Hundreds of non-profit organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are looking for volunteers and funding to achieve their specific goals.

A list of Seattle-area non-profits can be found at:
http://www.seattleataglance.com/list_nonprofits.htm

A more focused list of Seattle area environmental groups is available at:
http://www.iloveseattle.org/ils/groups-main/environment.html

To volunteer:
Adopt-A-Street
Animal Foster Care and Seattle Animal Shelter Volunteer Program
Environmental Grants
Jefferson Park Alliance
Neighborhood Matching Fund
P-Patch Program, Department of Neighborhoods

Seattle Parks
Parks and Open Spaces
Recycling -- Volunteer to Increase Recycling
Seattle Public Utilities
Storm Drain Stenciling

Traffic Circle Program
Tree Steward Program
Urban Creeks Stewards
Woodland Park Zoo

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