by Stephanie Smith I arrived at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland from my home in the Great Lakes region, and was heartened by the global community working to tackle climate change from many different angles. And yet, while there are many positive outcomes from COP26, they do not hit the mark for the accelerated pace of […]
Read MoreLate Friday night on November 5th, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bi-partisan $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act. It had been lingering in the House as House leadership awaited the Senate’s passage of a package called the Build Back Better (BBB) Act, a $3.5 trillion spending plan. House leadership had wanted to […]
Read MoreExcerpts from American River’s “Water Justice Toolkit: A Guide to Address Environmental Inequities in Frontline Communities” CLEAN AND SAFE WATER GUIDE (Page 30) COMMUNITY CASE STUDY: WORKING WITH RESIDENTS TO ENSURESAFE DRINKING WATER When a municipality issues an advisory on elevated lead levels in drinking water, residents are alarmed and looking for answers. Is my […]
Read MoreJeff Whitelow has been known for his profound ability to walk in the shoes of those in the most vulnerable communities and help bring vital information to those who need it most, in language they best understand. Taking a vow of poverty to personally assess the life of those most vulnerable in Chicago, enabled him […]
Read MoreA variety of Ohio, Regional, and National organizations, representing medical, environmental, housing, and community interests, are requesting $1 billion of the proposed more than $5 billion the state will receive in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to be dedicated to residential full lead service line replacements. Ohio is second in […]
Read MoreIt takes energy, commitment, and stamina to be a leader of community based and grassroots organizations and this is additionally challenging during COVID-19. For over 25 years, Freshwater Future, through our consulting services, has helped leaders to run their organizations. This year we are conducting a special program to help our partners with self-care and […]
Read MoreWhat Doesn’t Happen at Scientific Meetings (But Should) Stephanie Smith, Freshwater Future’s Board Chair, talks about her recent collaborative work with scientists and groups in the African Great Lakes region. (Photo: Stephanie pictured with her family at Murchison Falls in Uganda.) I looked out at the expanse of 90+ scientists from 17 different countries, most […]
Read MoreIs Lead in Your Drinking Water? When you turn on the faucet to get a drink of water, the last thing you want to worry about is whether the water is safe to drink. Because lead and other toxic chemicals like PFAS can’t be detected by appearance or taste, testing water is the only way […]
Read MoreFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 18, 2020 Media Contact: Jill Ryan, Executive Director, Freshwater Future, jill@freshwaterfuture.org , (231)348-8200 ext. 2 (Communities across Michigan)– The Michigan Legislature passed legislation yesterday that prohibits water utilities from shutting off water to residents due to non-payment. The legislation, spearheaded by Senator Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), also requires the restoration of […]
Read MoreMEDIA STATEMENT – Monica Lewis-Patrick, President and CEO, We the People of Detroit – It has been a long time coming, but We the People of Detroit is pleased that Mayor Mike Duggan is taking a step in the right direction with his announcement today regarding the creation of a water affordability plan on behalf […]
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