Empowering Citizens at the 2018 Water Justice Summit

Water defenders and community activists from across Central Appalachia and beyond gathered in Blacksburg, Va., earlier this summer to network, share stories and strategize to protect the region’s water. The day included workshops on topics such as water quality monitoring, organizing basics, media outreach and facilitation training. Community members whose water is imperiled by industrial threats shared their experiences and discussed efforts to repair their rural municipal water systems, clean up coal slurry, defend against fracked gas pipelines and fight for indigenous sovereignty. The event included special opening and closing ceremonies honoring water. The day before the summit, attendees participated in a collaborative art exhibit, “What Color is Water,” and a discussion panel, “Mothers for Water Justice.”

The 2018 Water Justice Summit was supported by Appalachian Voices, The Alliance for Appalachia, POWHR Coalition, Young Appalachian Patriots, The Stay Together Appalachian Youth Project and our Virginia Tech partners: The Institute for Peace Studies, The Appalachian Studies Department, The Gloria D. Smith Professorship in Africana Studies, The Perspective Gallery, and The Institute for Policy and Governance.

To learn more visit appvoices.org/empowering-citizens