Sophomores Michaela 井 and Laurel Withee recognized Earth Week last April by attending at lecture about the 弗林特, 密歇根水危机. Little did they know a 60-minute lecture would lead them to an 11-hour drive.
Nebraska Wesleyan University’s Green House Project invited 杰夫·史蒂文斯 to campus as part of its Earth Week activities. 杰夫·史蒂文斯, a social work professor from Western 密歇根 University, explained to his audience how the City of 弗林特 switched water sources, turning to the 弗林特 River as its main water source during a two-year transition to a new water source. The 弗林特 River has historically been of poor quality, 史蒂文斯解释, and was found to be highly corrosive, exposing its residents to widespread lead contamination.
“They said, ‘since we came to Nebraska, you have to come to 弗林特,’” Withee recalled of the lecture. 于是我们就这么做了.”
井, 林肯的, 和Withee, 的么, drove more than 11 hours to spend a weekend experiencing the water crisis firsthand.
“I wanted to not only help their community, but learn how such an at-risk community continues their everyday lives and have hope for the future,威尔斯说.
井 和Withee spent 10 hours distributing 15,000 water bottles throughout the city while listening to residents’ personal stories and struggles. They attended Vernon Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, which had worked closely with Western 密歇根 University’s Water Task Force. The congregation shared more personal stories with the NWU students. They also had the opportunity to visit with 弗林特 Mayor Karen Weaver and shared ideas for change and plans for continued help.
“These people are not going to leave their community because it is their community,威尔斯说. “They are committed to sticking around and surviving, no matter the circumstance.”
Withee said she became passionate about helping after learning about the effects of lead in children. Of the 90,000 residents exposed to lead in 弗林特, an estimated 10,000 were children, said Withee. 健康 effects of lead exposure in children include impaired cognition, 行为障碍, hearing problems and delayed puberty.
Withee said the trip exposed the reality of the social issues she studies in class.
“The saddest part was watching kids playing outside in the summer and playing in kiddie pools with water balloon fights just trying to be normal when they were actually throwing toxic waste at each other,”她说。.
Withee added that the trip provided her a deeper understanding of the 弗林特 water crisis as well as social issues like unfair distribution of wealth, and the value of everyday tasks like taking a shower and drinking a glass of clean water.
Their work in 弗林特 is done but not forgotten. They plan to set up informational booths on campus to raise awareness and collect donations for 弗林特. 井 said she plans to apply what she learned in 弗林特 to her life at Nebraska Wesleyan.
“Everyday I hope to do something that benefits someone else in the world,”她说。. “We all have the opportunity to change the world and 弗林特 inspired me to start my journey of change.”
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—Story by Emmalie Harris, public relations intern