The Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program is sponsored by Rice University's Center for Civic Leadership. ASB empowers Rice students to engage with new communities through direct service work; gain awareness and in-depth education around one social justice issue; and learn about the value of the reflection process and connecting with others on a deeper level. This year, the ASB Shifting Tides spent Spring Break, March 10th-17th, in Sacramento, California studying water justice. Each ASB participant was assigned a day to write a blog post to record the day's events and how they impacted our understanding of water justice. This site is a compilation of our blog posts and photos from our trip. Enjoy!
Water is necessary for life to exist, yet communities across the world lack access to clean and affordable water. Notably, the town of Flint, Michigan has garnered widespread media attention for the appalling quality of its drinking water and its detrimental health effects on the community. As a result of this incident, water justice has become a more prominent social issue. It is understood that water justice is the equitable access and distribution of rights to material water, but it also encompasses fair representation and political power in decision-making regarding water.
The ASB Shifting Tides traveled to Sacramento, California to engage with local environmental advocacy groups and lawmakers to understand their roles in water justice issues. We educated ourselves on how environmental justice groups and policymakers function together to support the access to clean and affordable water. We also performed direct service that reflects how our lives are closely connected to water and the environment. We gained a greater perspective on water justice issues and discovered actions that we can take to become better advocates for the environment.