Earth Day 2025 at Town Hall Seattle – Recap!

Blue and green spaces offer wide benefits to our health, natural environment, and general community. Howard Frumkin, M.D. pointed to studies and infrastructure models that highlight the connection between access to nature and a better quality of life. Joycelyn Chui shared about the community she’s found through running Restaurant 2 Garden at the Danny Woo Community Garden. Ashley R. Townes reflected on her role as the Be’er Sheva Park Lake Project’s Technical Advisor and what she’s learned from her South Seattle neighbors. Mickey Fearn brought up the success of the Beacon Food Forest as an example of what’s possible when heterogonous communities are given the opportunity to embrace their differences and learn from one another.

Seattle is widely known for its proximity to nature just mere minutes from any part of the city. With over 485 public parks and plenty of other outdoor attractions, our access to the natural world makes Seattle a desirable place to live. Dr. Frumkin shouted out the efforts to increase Seattle residents’ access to nature. Joycelyn recognized our climate-forward policies, natural resources, and funding available in Seattle. Ashley commended the practice of elevating oral histories and the cultural aspects of community-centered design and environmental planning in Seattle.

Joycelyn and Ashley discussed their respective hyperlocal projects, Restaurant 2 Garden and the Be’er Sheva Park Lake Project. They’ve found that their projects meet the specific needs of their communities while also serving as effective models that can be altered to fit the needs of any community and address even more complex climate and environmental issues.

Hannah’s closing question before the audience Q&A was heartfully answered by the panelists: What’s your why? For Dr. Frumkin, it’s the possibility of replicating his vision of a beautiful society that is kind, rich with nature, sustainable, and considers everyone—he wants to leave behind a society filled with strong communities, parks, and empowered people. Joycelyn’s driven by the people around her who she builds intentional relationships with so they too can become the environmental advocates their communities need. Mickey’s why is defined by what he learned when he heard Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech at the March on Washington at just 16 years old: focus on what’s possible, not what’s wrong. As for Ashley, growing up as a young Black girl raised by a single mom and grandmother taught her that she needs to continue to fight and make her voice heard, and especially care for other people, her communities, and the world around us.

Following the discussion, our panelists joined guests and community partners in the lobby to further discuss the evening’s dialogue and exchange information.