OCS DCL-2022-16 World Water Week FY2022

Publication Date: August 11, 2022
Current as of:

Office of Community Services

Dear Colleague Letter

DCL#:                                OCS-DCL-2022-16

DATE:                                August 11, 2022

TO:                                     OCS Grant Recipients, Stakeholders, and Partners

SUBJECT:                       OCS World Water Week 2022 — The Unseen Value of Water

ATTACHMENT(S):       N/A

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce that the Office of Community Services (OCS) will host a five-day virtual series, The Unseen Value of Water, in our second annual observance of World Water Week, August 22nd — August 26th, 2022. We hope you will join us daily from 2:00 — 3:30 pm EST for engaging presentations, conversations, and live-to-tape site visits that reveal the unseen value of water from a variety of lenses and diverse perspectives. Below you will find summary descriptions of each session, as well as links to register.  

Monday, August 22 —  We will open with Dr. David Stuckenberg, Monica Lewis-Patrick, and Anecita Agustinez discussing water and wastewater issues in low-income and underserved communities, from a local, national, and global perspective. Panelist will examine how the availability, affordability, and accessibility of water intersect with ongoing environmental justice efforts, and climate change.

  • Host: Dr. Lanikque Howard —  Director, OCS
  • Moderator: Dr. Sharunda Buchanan — Interim Director, Office of Environmental Justice
  • Registration Link: Register for Monday's event

Tuesday, August 23 — Have you ever heard the phase Mní Wičóni (m'NEE wee-CHOH-nee), or water is life? It’s coined by a small group of Indigenous women apart of a peaceful resistance movement against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). In this waterside chat, a distinguished panel will connect the Native nation phrase with the perspectives of spirituality, law, policy, and activism. Among the panelists is Phyllis Young, lifelong activist, and leader of NoDAPL.

  • Host: Christina Clark — Operations Branch Chief, Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), OCS
  • Moderator:  Shannon Kring — Emmy award-winning documentary film producer/director
  • Registration Link: Register for Tuesday's event

Wednesday, August 24 — Join us for an engaging panel with direct beneficiaries and program administrators of the LIHWAP and Rural Community Development (RCD) program where we will discuss the real-life impact of these programs on families and communities. We will also spotlight one new LIHWAP video and one new RCD video.

  • Host: Carlos Torres — Program Specialist, LIHWAP, OCS
  • Moderator:  Stephanie Garner —  Executive Director,  Arkansas River Valley Action Council (ARVAC), Inc.
  • Registration link: Register for Wednesday's event  

Thursday, August 25 — Over 2 million Americans lack consistent access to water and wastewater services. In recognition of World Water Week, we will hear directly from water service providers (i.e., water utility providers) who have partnered with LIHWAP to keep the water on for thousands of low income households across the country. We will hear from several water service providers, including municipal and rural water providers in Missouri, a tribal water provider from the Blackfeet Tribe, and American Water, a private water service provider.

  • Host: Mary Watts — Policy Branch Chief, LIHWAP, OCS
  • Moderator: Bill Simpson — National Rural Water Association Legislative Director
  • Registration Link: Register for Thursday's event

Friday, August 26 — Join us for the final event of World Water Week where we will hear from the Administration for Children and Families Assistant Secretary January Contreras and two Rural Community Development (RCD) grant recipients — SERCAP and Communities Unlimited. We are going to take you with us on live-to-tape site visits to Ellendale, DE, and Lowndes County, AL where we will be on the ground visiting the homes of individuals who have been assisted by RCD grant recipients.

We hope you will join us as we recognize the unseen value of water in our second annual observance of World Water Week. Be on the lookout for our World Water Week landing page for detailed information about our panelists and moderators, as well as session materials. Follow along on Twitter @OCS_ACFgov using #WorldWaterWeek.

Thank you for your attention to these matters. OCS looks forward to continuing to provide high-quality services to OCS partners.

 

/s/
Dr. Lanikque Howard
Director
Office of Community Services