Great news: The Water Equity Network is growing stronger!
This July, the US Water Alliance hosted our largest Water Equity Network convening ever, with over 110 attendees in Pittsburgh, before our 2025 One Water Summit®. In a lively half-day session, network members shared personal stories, highlighted successes, and brainstormed solutions to advance water equity in our respective communities. After connecting with peers and colleagues at the Convening, participants emphasized a few highlights:
“Discussing challenges and getting/giving feedback on solutions and resources.”
“Sharing my challenge and getting support.”
“Working through actual problems.”
“Having dialogue and brainstorming with other network members.”
“Meeting people who do what I do across the country!”
“Ability to connect and speak with others.”
The event brought together community members and advocates, utility staff, academics and researchers, funders, and strategic partners from across the country. To create an environment that fostered inclusivity, vulnerability, and authentic connection, we employed creative, human-centered strategies such as storytelling. Through facilitated story circles in small groups, we encouraged participants to share personal narratives that highlighted their motivations and passions for pursuing aspects of water equity such as workforce development, affordability, climate resilience, cross-sector partnerships, community engagement, and more. After sharing stories and listening to their peers and partners across the network, attendees noted common themes and reflections, which included:
- “The work is even more important than before.”
- “Even one advocate can make a huge difference.”
- “Problems can be solved; we just need to start and build momentum.”
- “Meet people where they are.”
- “Importance of being transparent in dispelling fears and misinformation.”
- “Starting ‘upstream’ and improving the root issue will set up community success and improvement.”
- “You have to be willing to get uncomfortable in order to get comfortable.”
- “Personal stories drive the desire for change.”
- “Acknowledge there is an issue. Have a desire to change it. Accept the challenge of being uncomfortable.”
- “Our customers deserve better.”
The Alliance defines water equity as ocurring: When all communities have access to clean, safe, affordable drinking water and wastewater services; are resilient in the face of floods, drought, and other climate risks; have a role in decision-making processes related to water management in their communities; and share in the economic, social, and environmental benefits of water systems. |
After connecting on a personal level, we gathered in groups based on topical interests and workshopped solutions to real-world challenges. In each group, one volunteer shared a current work-related challenge, and the rest of the group acted as ‘consultants,’ providing insights, resources, and recommendations. For many, this was a highlight of the convening as they were able to tap into the collective expertise, creativity, and knowledge of their peers and partners in this network!
Through this member-led exercise, we tackled a broad range of complex challenges. Some groups posed big-picture questions, such as how to leverage this current political moment to identify and build equitable solutions that work for all instead of defending what may have worked for some in the past. Other groups considered more technical questions, such as how to support development without harming communities and watersheds. Participants raised important questions about authentic partnerships, such as how best to engage a diverse community without putting the workload on those you hope to engage, and how to build working partnerships between community and institutions when community members are seeking justice and institutions are seeking relationships. By tapping into the knowledge, lived experiences, and insights of WEN members around the country, attendees walked away from the convening with new ideas, resources, and potentially a new friend willing to help!
We closed the Convening reflecting on the power and potential of this network and encouraged folks to continue to rely on the partners and peers within WEN. By kicking off the 2025 One Water Summit® with the WEN Convening, attendees entered Summit recentered on their mission to advance equity and inclusion, inspired by a few personal stories, and encouraged by the friends and colleagues they made along the way!
We hope that this movement continues to grow and spread! If you’d like to join our Water Equity movement, you can learn more here.
