River Network

The #SafeDrinkingWaterAct turns 50 this year! This landmark law now protects communities across the United States from over 90+ contaminants, making drinking water safer for families. But there’s still more work to be done. The SDWA only regulates public water systems. It doesn’t protect private wells, systems serving less than 25 people, or bottled water. Share your story to celebrate progress - and highlight why we need more - by adding to our interactive SDWA map. https://ow.ly/kKm150Usawb You can also visit our website for additional stories, resources, historical information, and more on the Safe Drinking Water Act! https://lnkd.in/gcytG6m7 These resources and stories were compiled in collaboration with Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Earthjustice, and Water Hub. We're proud to celebrate this milestone together! 💧 #SafeDrinkingWaterAct #50thAnniversary ID: A photo of Jennifer (the speaker of the audio) accompanied by text that reads Jennifer Rawlison, Newburgh, NY. Audio waves rise and fall below the text as she speaks.

DECEMBER FEATURE 📰 The Road to Clean Water: Putting Power into Advocates’ Hands "The self-paced Clean Water Act training series is available and free, and the Clean Water Act Owner’s Manual will always be yours. Bookmark or print yourself a copy, scribble in the margins, drip coffee between pages, and keep it close by. It may be a long road ahead, but River Network is here to walk it alongside you. “ This month in River Voices, River Network's Healthy Rivers Program Manager, Colleen McGuire, reflects on our Clean Water Act Owner’s Manual and trainings, which have supported the knowledge and power of thousands of water and environmental advocates over the last 25 years. Check out this feature and other stories: https://ow.ly/x9q950Uqg0g #FederalFunding #CleanWater ID: A graphic with text that reads: DEC FEATURE. The Road to Clean Water: Putting Power into Advocates’ Hands. Colleen McGuire. December 11, 2024. In the lower left is a photograph of an older print version of River Network’s Clean Water Act Owner’s Manual. In the lower right is a photograph of April Ingle, River Network Vice President of River Programs, presenting a Clean Water Act Training at River Rally 2024.

AT THE WATER TABLE 🗣 This month, meet Hana Katz (she/her), the Policy and Project Manager at the Association for New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC). In this episode, Hana, a local powerhouse in the New Jersey environmental scene, traces her environmental activism journey, from influential movies to her experience growing up with flood evacuations. These days, on top of her work with ANJEC, she’s a volunteer firefighter, co-founder of a Gen-Z climate action organization, and an enthusiastic participant in our Clean Water Act training series! Read/listen to the full conversation (or find it on At the Water Table on Spotify!): https://ow.ly/Kzq150Uq6Rq #WaterEquity #WaterStories #EnvironmentalJustice #EnvironmentalStorytelling ID: A photograph of Hana Katz (she/her) accompanied by text that reads At the Water Table. Policy and Project Manager at the Association for New Jersey Environmental Commissions. New Jersey. A quote bubble from Hana reads: “Hearing experts talk about [the Clean Water Act]... Policy goes far, law goes far.”

RIVER VOICES 🗣️ The December issue of River Voices is out now! In this month’s issue, River Network's Healthy Rivers Program Manager, Colleen McGuire, reflects on our Clean Water Act Owner’s Manual and trainings, which have supported the knowledge and power of thousands of water and environmental advocates over the last 25 years. Other highlights include celebrating the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act and this month’s At the Water Table conversation with Hana Katz, Policy and Project Manager at the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions. Check out these stories and more: https://ow.ly/fgLI50Upt9n #WaterEquity #WaterStories #EnvironmentalJustice #EnvironmentalStorytelling ID: Graphic shows a letter popping out of an envelope that reads “River Voices.” In the center is a photograph of April Ingle, River Network Vice President of River Programs, presenting a Clean Water Act Training at River Rally 2024. Overlaid in the top left, text reads Dec 2024. On the right, titles of features in this issue of River Voices, displayed in boxes, read: The Road to Clean Water: Putting Power into Advocates’ Hands, 50 Years of Safe Drinking Water Activism, and At the Water Table: Hana Katz. The boxes are framed above and below by text that reads, Including… and more!

🌱 Calling all community-based organizations doing environmental justice work - this funding opportunity may be for you! The EPA’s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program aims to make it easier for small, community-based organizations—particularly those with low capacity or resources—and other eligible organizations to access federal environmental justice funding for projects that identify, document, address, and respond to conditions related to environmental and/or climate injustice. Interested applicants should apply through the program for their geographic region. Due dates vary based on the location of your organization, so check your regional program for more information. Find your region’s application page here: https://ow.ly/IX4X50Um1NY Specific details and application timelines vary by program, so reach out to the program for your region directly if you have questions. Even if your program is not yet open, websites for each program have information that will help you begin preparing your application. #EnvironmentalJustice #Grants #Funding [image descriptions in comments]

UPCOMING EVENTS 🌱 Working at the Speed of Trust for Equitable Engagement / Equitable Engagement in Practice Save the date(s)! We’re excited to host a two-part series on Equitable Engagement in the new year, featuring 2024 Emerging Leader Hira Ahmad (she/her). Hira and her collaborators, Francesca Levethan (she/her) and Kausthubh Sumanth (he/him) - all graduate students at the University of Michigan - embarked on a project to develop recommendations for media organizations and philanthropic foundations to advance equitable and community-based environmental justice journalism. The three researchers interviewed dozens of community organization leaders, media organizations, and experts and funders in the field of journalism, the environment, and community engagement. Based on their findings, they co-authored “Media with Impact: Building A Community-Driven Model for Environmental Justice Coverage in the Great Lakes Region.” Now, they’re sharing their findings in these two sessions to help organizations approach relationship building, storytelling, and environmental justice journalism with intention and impact. Part 1, Working at the Speed of Trust for Equitable Engagement, is on Wednesday, 1/22/25 from 12-1pm ET. Part 2, Equitable Engagement in Practice, is two weeks later on Wednesday, 2/5/25 from 12-1pm ET. You won’t want to miss these! Learn more and register: https://ow.ly/cjn150Ulijv #EnvironmentalJustice #EthicalStorytelling ID 1: A graphic displaying information about the upcoming webinar. Title reads Working at the Speed of Trust for Equitable Engagement: Tools and strategies for authentic storytelling and engagement. Smaller text reads Wednesday, 1/22, 12-1pm ET, registration in bio/register at the link. Additional text reads 2-part series! Part 1. With the authors of Media with Impact: Building A Community-Driven Model for Environmental Justice Coverage in the Great Lakes Region including 2024 Emerging Leader Hira Ahmad! 2: A graphic displaying information about the upcoming webinar. Title reads Equitable Engagement in Practice: Learn to use “A Toolkit for Transformative Community-Centric Environmental Journalism.” Smaller text reads Wednesday, 2/5, 12-1pm ET, registration in bio/register at the link. Additional text reads 2-part series! Part 2. With the authors of Media with Impact: Building A Community-Driven Model for Environmental Justice Coverage in the Great Lakes Region including 2024 Emerging Leader Hira Ahmad!

“That connection between community and scale: that’s where River Network lives.” - Scott Miller, River Network Board Member Our 2024 Impact report is out! We’re so excited to share these reflections, photos, and stories from the River Network community – a snapshot of a very full year. Our broad and dynamic network of more than 1,000 organizations from around the country is and always has been the source of our collective power. 🌟 We’re so grateful and honored to do the work we do, and we send our heartfelt thanks to our members, donors, and collaborative partners for making it all possible. Right now, the challenges facing our rivers and communities are greater than ever. This #GivingTuesday, you can donate to help us expand our reach, grow capacity, and strengthen the network of river and justice advocates working tirelessly to defend clean water and healthy rivers. View our annual report and support our work: https://ow.ly/YKMH50UkpaL #CleanWater #HealthyRivers ID: A graphic with a heading that reads Announcing our 2024 Impact Report! Below are two screenshots from the report, with headings that say 2024 Impacts and People Power.

Have you visited our SDWA 50th anniversary map yet? Head to bit.ly/sdwa50 to explore stories, photos, audio, and more related to SDWA advocacy – and add your own!

🗣 CALL TO ACTION 🗣 On November 15, 2024, Representatives Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) introduced the Half-Century Update for Water Access & Affordability Act (H2O UP Act of 2024) to address water affordability and establish the first-ever permanent federal water assistance program at U.S. EPA. This bill is a crucial first step in tackling the U.S. water affordability crisis. Right now, rising water costs impact millions of families — 1 in 3 public water users struggle to pay their bill on time, leading to missed payments and the risk of having their water service shut off. Water is a human right. Together, we can ensure everyone across the country has access to safe drinking water. We’ve drafted a letter for you to make contacting your U.S. Representative easy: all you need to do is click the link, fill out a few details, and hit send. Share this post to encourage others to do the same! bit.ly/H2O-Up This action is part of the water affordability work of the Water Equity & Climate Resilience (WECR) Caucus. #WaterAffordability #WaterIsAHumanRight

We’re so excited to welcome three incredible new members to the River Network board! This week, meet Paulina Lopez (she/her), Executive Director of the Duwamish River Community Coalition (DRCC). The DRCC elevates the voices of those impacted by the Duwamish River pollution and other environmental injustices for a clean, healthy, equitable environment for people and wildlife. They promote place-keeping and prioritize community capacity and resilience. Listen to Paulina share why she’s excited to join our board! And visit our page for introductions from Hema Prado and Nicole Lampe, our other two wonderful new board members 🌟 (Saltar a 0:55 para español / skip to 0:55 for Spanish!) #CleanWater #HealthyRivers ID: A video of Paulina facing the camera and speaking. She is outside, with greenery in the background.