The Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition's (DRCC) annual Duwamish River Festival was held at Duwamish Waterway Park on Saturday, August 26, 2017. Once again, the EDGE Center was one of the sponsors.
The festival is a major effort of the DRCC and the many agencies and non-profit organizations who participated. It drew 1300 individuals and families who brought the diversity of languages and cultures found in the neighborhood. The event was family-friendly and focused on celebrating the many efforts to improve the health of the Duwamish River and surrounding communities of South Park and Georgetown.
Forty-seven interactive display tables filled the park, representing government, non-profit, commercial and local groups. They featured a variety of environmental and community health projects and resources in the Duwamish Valley. Music and dance performances, including the Amigos de Seattle Guatemala, Madcap Pusher Band of Georgetown, and the Bopha Lokei Cambodian Dance Group, represented the diverse cultures of Georgetown and South Park. Free boat and kayak tours were provided, and two food trucks offered free lunch.
The EDGE Center's Community Engagement Core (CEC) manager Marilyn Hair staffed a table where she shared the Center's environmental health research with festival goers. The EDGE table was located on the main thoroughfare this year and the central location drew a larger than usual audience to our display.
The display focused on the health risks of UV exposure from the sun. A large environmental health game wheel drew attention, especially from the children. The visitor spun the wheel and answered a question: "Are you wearing sunscreen?" "Do you know what SPF stands for?" "Can you get a sunburn on a cloudy day?" Prizes were sample size tubes of sunscreen ("You're not wearing sunscreen? Here, I have some for you.") and ever-popular UV bead bracelets. The conversation was also an opportunity to offer our handout, Fast Facts about Protecting Your Skin from UV Exposure.
Environmental Health Game Wheel
Most people, including the children, knew they should wear sunscreen and the reasons to protect their skin. In the morning, most of the visitors said they were wearing sunscreen, but by afternoon, many admitted they were not. A perfect opportunity to give out sample tubes of SPF 30 UV protection.
-- Marilyn Hair