“When you know the historical legacy of systemic racism that’s still baked into housing policies, insurance policies, red-lining, things of that nature, then you have to understand that the fight we’re fighting in Detroit is connected to a global fight. It’s about fighting for national change. It’s about fighting for systemic change, and it’s about fighting for a global resource that we must all have access to.” –Monica Lewis-Patrick, President & CEO, We the People of Detroit

We the People of Detroit calls the Talking Water community into a spirited and in-depth conversation about water equity in Detroit, connecting their water warrior work to the global movement for safe, clean, and affordable water as an essential human right. Founders of We the People of Detroit, Monica Lewis-Patrick, President & CEO; Debra A. Taylor, Chief Financial Officer; and Cecily McClellan, Director of Water Work/Relief, provide a comprehensive backstory about the Water and Sewerage Department of Detroit shutting off water to nearly 150,000 households since 2014 and the health crisis that has drawn international criticism and continues to plague residents. Baked into the story of the water shut-offs is the account of the City of Detroit’s bankruptcy and the private companies that privatized essential services without voter approval to the detriment of Detroit’s historic residents. Lewis-Patrick, Taylor, and McClellan share their extensive knowledge of Detroit’s inequitable water policies that target predominantly low-income Black and Brown citizens through the research of the We the People of Detroit Community Research Collective (CRC), a collaborative of community activists, academics, researchers, and designers who created a visual map of the socio-economic implications of Detroit’s austerity policies enacted before, during, after the city’s bankruptcy.

The guests share their inspired resolve in founding We the People of Detroit in 2008 as an unwavering commitment to support the Black community when Detroit went into emergency management, the public safety net began to disappear, and the economy was in free fall. We the People of Detroit work has been a stalwart foundation, informing, educating, and empowering Detroit residents and providing opportunities for youth leaders on imperative issues surrounding civil rights, land, water, education, and the democratic process.

Hosted by: Kate Bunney

Produced & Edited by: Anne Carol Mitchell

Intro music by: Mamuse 'River Run Free' - featuring Walter Strauss

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