Rising Tide Award Winner – Tameem Sarwary

Tameem Sarwary is a senior at Chief Leschi High School. He is a devoted and curious student whose teachers have described him as respectful and humble. He is also a dedicated athlete who is on the track and field, wrestling, and cross-country teams. Interested in learning and challenging himself, he enjoys exploring new things.

Tameem is also a loyal member of his canoe family, always encouraging others in the boat and curious to learn. On this year’s Canoe journey, Tameem made a point to meet new friends while creating equity with the non-native paddlers on the trip. He acted as a true spokesperson for equity amongst all the paddlers. Tameem was inspired to hear the stories of his fellow paddlers and reflect on his connection to the Salish Sea. His experience on the canoe journey inspired him to encourage other students to participate and learn how to take care of the waters they paddle in. Tameem said this about his Canoe journey, “Being part of the Canoe journey was a transformative experience that helped me connect with my culture and community. While out on the water I could feel the connection between the people and the sea.”

He is a thoughtful and kind friend, an inquisitive learner, and passionate about filmmaking. After high school he hopes to be a screenwriter and we hope he continues connecting people with the sea.

Rising Tide Award Winner – Lauren Scheidt-Padron

Lauren Scheidt-Padron is a long-time environmental steward in Pierce County committed to improving communities. She volunteers with Metro Parks Chip-In Program restoring McKinley Park, Harvest Pierce County caring for the Dometop Community Garden, and the Adopt-A-Spot Program maintaining five locations around Tacoma. Lauren regularly volunteers with the Tacoma chapter of The Mission Continues, a veteran’s service group that empowers veterans to engage and impact communities through service projects. Lauren is also a member of Key Club, Project Lit, a founding member of Sending Sunshine, and the President and founder of Lincoln High School’s Native Club.

Lauren is honored to be an enrolled member of the Quinault Tribe and through Native Club she shares the pride she has for her Native American culture. Her desire to steward and care for natural spaces and community is rooted in her connection to her culture. Lauren regularly organizes community cleanups, and encampment recovery projects. Lauren has interned for the City of Tacoma Neighborhood Council Program assisting community members with making connections to solutions and resources through the City of Tacoma Government.

She is a senior at Lincoln High School where she plays varsity volleyball and varsity softball with plans to join the ladies flag football team this year. Lauren aspires to attend Gonzaga University next fall where she hopes to study law and become an Environmental Attorney focusing on water, climate, and land use issues with a specialty in Native American law, sovereignty, and governance.

Environmental Justice Award Winners – Ebony Welborn & Savannah Smith

Ebony Welborn and Savannah Smith, founders of Sea Potential, an organization that aims to cultivate BIPOC representation in maritime sciences. Through healing activities and ocean justice conversations, they focus on fostering youth appreciation and connection to marine ecosystems, in addition to transforming the maritime industry with inclusive workplace culture. Their work creates a safer, more resilient world.

With a degree in Marine Biology and background in community engagement, Savannah found herself wanting to intersect her passions and amplify her impact after the uprise of the Black Lives Matter Movement in 2020. She is passionate about fostering curiosity, illuminating opportunity, and engaging the heart. Savannah also aims to highlight BIPOC perspectives and cultural resilience, while simultaneously offering tools for healing.

Ebony Welborn, was raised as an outdoor child, majored in Environmental Studies, and has worked for several years in the environmental field particularly in aquatic environments. Inspired by her lived experiences, she saw an opportunity to realign with her passions of working with BIPOC youth and marine ecosystems. Ebony is committed to understanding the perspectives of both human and non-human beings to ensure that everyone feels seen, heard and valued.

Healthy Bay Champion Award Winner – Dana Coggon

Before accepting her role as Executive Director at the Pierce Conservation District, Dana Coggon spent 15 years as the Director of the Kitsap County Noxious Weed control board, where she worked directly with landowners to establish healthy ecosystems. She has served on the board of directors at Communities for a Healthy Bay since 2020 and was recently voted Vice Chair. Dana has been a CHB champion and friend for years, providing sound leadership and committed support of the work CHB does to clean up, restore and protect our waterways.

Dana believes that when we take care of our land and water ways, we also contribute to the health of people, our communities, and our economy. We were delighted to present Dana with the Healthy Bay Champion award.

Clean Water Hero in Elected Office Award Winner – Kristin Ang

Kristin Ang is a Filipino-American attorney, community advocate, Port of Tacoma Commissioner and Northwest Seaport Alliance Managing Member. She made history as the first person of color and openly gay elected Port of Tacoma Commissioner. Kristin serves on the executive board of the Puget Sound Economic Development District and WA Council of International Trade. She is on the Port’s DEI, Tribal Liaison, and Environmental work groups. Kristin is a strong believer in the power of community and civic involvement and serves as a Greater Tacoma Community Foundation ambassador, Tacoma Rotary 8 member and City Club of Tacoma board member.

As a Port of Tacoma commissioner, Kristin is focused on environmental leadership, building collaborative community relationships, and creating economic opportunity for all of Pierce County. She is committed to increasing the competitiveness of our gateway, building a clean energy economy, and the transformation necessary to be an innovative, smart world-class port. It’s no secret that Kristin brings a fresh perspective to the Port of Tacoma, being that she’s a woman of color, younger, by decades, than anyone else who serves on the Commission, and is a strong advocate for sustainability and clean water. She has perhaps the most difficult job at the Port, and does it in a way that brings transparency to the Port and builds communication and understanding with the public. We all know how important transparency is for clean water. For this reason, she is awarded our Clean Water Hero in public office award.

Kay Treakle Lifetime Achievement Award Winner – Annette Bryan

Annette Bryan has dedicated her career to Native American issues, tribal sovereignty, and empowering people to speak out. Currently serving her third term on the Tribal Council, she has held numerous positions with the Tribe. While serving as Executive Director of the Puyallup Nation Housing Authority for 10 years, Annette focused on creating affordable housing that was culturally relevant, environmentally friendly, and empowered the community to become self-sufficient. Additionally, she served as the EPA’s Tribal Coordinator for 10 years. Her roles at the Tribe have included working in the Historic Preservation Office, the Environmental Department, and Chief Leschi’s ECEAP program.

Also deeply concerned about protecting Mother Earth, Annette believes that dwindling salmon are the “canaries in the coal mine” and that we must act now to prevent future generations from facing an unlivable planet. It is with pride that Annette stands upon the foundation that her Puyallup people have laid for her. Although many of her elders’ words have remained with her, two sayings stand out in her mind: 1. Native women feel Mother Earth’s pain; 2. When the tops of trees die, you know Mother Earth too is dying. In light of this, she advocates for the preservation and protection of our precious natural resources through action and policy.

Annette has served on the Election Committee and the Planning Commission for the Tribe. She has also served on the Tacoma-Pierce County Affordable Housing Consortium, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Housing Sub-Committee, the HUD Formula Negotiated Rule Making Committee, the Northwest Indian Housing Association, and as an Alternate on the National American Indian Housing Council. As an Alternate to the Committee on Self Governance of the Department of Interior, Annette serves on the Chief Leschi Career and Technical Education Hospitality Advisory Board, the United Way of Pierce County Board, the UWT School of Education Board, and the Center for Urban Waters Board.

Bryan is a first-generation college graduate, holding an AAS degree from Northwest Indian College, a BA degree from the University of Washington Tacoma, a Master’s degree from Tufts University in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and a Certificate in Environmental Studies.

Besides CHB’s Kay Treakle Lifetime Achievement Award, Annette has also received the Antone Minthorn Economic Development Award and the Northwest Indian Housing Association’s Housing Director of the Year Award.

Communities for a Healthy Bay recognizes that Annette has more work to do and more people to inspire. However, it would be remiss of us not to acknowledge the work she has already done. With Annette’s patience and kindness, things get done in the most strategic and efficient way. Moreover, Annette works consistently to resolve issues. Her goal is to make a difference and she believes everyone can do the same as well. Her tireless efforts inspire others to become better advocates, and our community benefits from her leadership.