Session Agendas
Equity & Water Affordability
Session Overview
When: Wednesday, June 24, 2020 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Moderator: Alicia Smith
What are the boxes, don’t just prop the issue….If we fail to plan then we plan to fail and failure is not an option.
Artistic Expression: Video Presentation from Benton Harbor High School Youth – “Get Up”
Speakers:
- Dr. Hope Bland: What is Equity? Presentation of Structural Racism and the impact of Inequities
- Dr. Peter Hammer: The Historical Harm of Inequities & Water Affordability
- Dr. Sujata Shetty: Equity & Water Affordability as it relates to poverty –ITS ALL RELATED
- Dr. Pam Oatis: How Equity happens? The Conversation that needs to happen?
Q&A and Discussion.
Community & Water Affordability
Session Overview
When: Thursday, June 25, 2020 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Community Participatory Action – Harms & Healing: Great Lakes Region vs. National water concerns – part of the same community
Artistic Expression: Huntor Prey – “Be Water”

Speakers:
- Evonda & Amanda Haith: Framework for Dismantling Institutional Racism
- Aisha Sleiman: Giving Back through Community Lawyering
- Ninah Sasy : State of Michigan Standing with Community for Water Equity
- Donald Wiggins : Community & the Benefits of Affordable Water
Q&A and Discussion
Public Health & Water Affordability
Session Overview
When: Wednesday, July 1, 2020 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Moderator: Brandon Tyus
Artistic Expression – Mia Clay
Speakers:
- Dr. Nadia Gaber – Connecting Public Health to Water affordability in Detroit
- Professor Emily Kutil – We the People of Detroit Citizen Science & Mapping
- Dr. Peggy Berry – The National Scope of Public Health & Water Affordability
Voices from the Community
Rev. Edward Pinkney – Community & Public Health Entities: Partnership and Citizen Science in Practice
San Juana Olivares – La Placita & the Latinx Community in Flint, MI
Q&A and Discussion
Government & Water Affordability
Session Overview
When: Thursday, July 2, 2020 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Moderator: Brandon Tyus
Speakers:
- Michael Harris: The Mckenzie Patrice Croom Flint Community Lab
- Ian Robinson: Using AI to reduce uncertainty of lead service line replacement
- Rianna Eckel: Food & Water Watch: Baltimore Water Justice
- Roger Colton: A Path to Affordability
Q&A and Discussion
Policy & Water Affordability
Session Overview
When: Wednesday, July 8, 2020 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Moderator: Monica Lewis-Patrick
Speakers:
- Commissioner MaryAlice Adams: Partnership with the Benton Harbor Water Council & Ensuring the Cities Compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act
- Rev. Edward Pinkney: Benton Harbor Water Council & Partnership with the Water Utility to Collect Water Samples
- Rep. Erica Crawley: Ohio Water Affordability Bill
- Noor Teebi, Congresswoman Lawrence’s office: The Water Act
- Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib : Emergency Water is a Human Right & More
Q&A and Discussion
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