Thanks for joining us Bryan.
How did you start at Clean Water Action?
I started when I was in college.
I was actually looking for field work,
because I was studying political science.
I also wanted to get out of working for a company.
So I wanted to see what the non-profit world was like,
and I saw a posting
so I called and applied and came out.
Obviously, the environment and water
has always been important to me.
So came out, tried it out, and I loved it,
and that's how I got here.
And you worked as a canvasser and field manager,
and now you're working with Senator Peters.
What do you think was most effective
about the work we did
talking to Michiganders about these issues?
I think actually talking to folks
is what was most effective.
I think a lot of people
of different ideologies
care about water and the environment.
And might not really know
how to get involved and get engaged.
So talking to people,
in some instances educating them about the issues,
in other instances
just giving them an avenue to get involved.
I think that was effective,
just being there, at the door,
having regular conversations with people.
What sort of memory sticks out to you,
having a connection, or a victory,
making a difference door to door
and having those conversations?
Definitely I think the two that I recall
working on the most
were the Line 5 oil pipeline
and the water infrastructure.
Of course, also, the Flint Water Crisis...
I think an instance that really sticks out to me
was when we were up north,
northern Michigan, Traverse City,
talking about the Line 5 pipeline.
Really seeing the difference between
the opinion of folks down here
and folks up there.
Wasn't very different.
And actually I might've thought that
people up there would've been
more opposed to shutting it down.
But they weren't.
That's one instance -
Then I think the campaign
that I really enjoyed working on
because it really was bringing up an issue
that a lot of folks didn't know about
was - the septic tanks!
Yep! - Michigan is the only state in the country
without a statewide septic code.
Something we're still working on.
Yeah, that a lot of folks don't know that,
a lot of people didn't know how much sewage
is leaking into our groundwater
and local lakes and rivers.
Also with the water infrastructure
it's the same -
I really enjoyed talking to people about that
because it's important for people to know,
and give them a way to get involved.
I think what I remember most working with you
was when we went up to Flint
doing the triage project early days -
beginning of the water crisis.
It's good to have the skills to talk to folks
but that was a lot.
Yeah - I almost forgot about that.
When we went up to Flint
and we were canvassing in Flint neighborhoods
talking to people.
You know, that was very important work.
And it was also I think very emotionally taxing.
You saw people that really didn't have
- didn't know, were scared, were worried
about what was happening
with their families.
And also didn't have the means
to really go anywhere else.
That was definitely a very impactful moment for me.
Something I appreciated about that
we were there supporting
not barging in saying we knew best.
Then we went out into non Flint communities
to get people to show their support.
I think we got letters
from every single county in the state.
to get support there.
I was trying to remember what my main memory was
working with Bryan and it was when we went up there.
To go a little bit lighter -
What's your favorite memory
of working with your coworkers specifically?
The training we did and the priorities we had -
what did you gain out of the experience
of working with Clean Water in Ann Arbor?
I think what I gained most was
a unique perspective
that I wasn't necessarily exposed to prior to.
Lasting friendships, lifelong friendships,
and of course being able to hang out with people
at work and after work was great.
To work with a bunch of young folks,
you don't really see doing this type of work,
to see them working hard
and really committing to organizing
and getting involved politically
was very motivating and inspiring.
Let's talk a little bit about what you've
been doing since you left Clean Water Action
and how that experience has influenced you since.
Right after I left Clean Water Action
I started working for
a few different political campaigns
the organizing skills that I learned at Clean Water
were extremely beneficial because
when you're doing campaign work
but really just any type of work,
it really teaches you the professionalism,
confidence, and skills needed to
succeed I think in any field really.
I use the organizing skills that I learned
at Clean Water and took them to
campaign work, and it went well.
From there I went and worked for
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell,
where I was her Field Representative
for the Downriver area where I grew up.
Which was great -
worked on a ton of environmental issues.
worked on a ton of issues in my own community,
water issues.
Again - the skills that I learned
really transferred over well
because to do your job successfully,
you have to be able to reach out to people.
After working for Congresswoman Dingell
I just recently accepted a position
with Senator Gary Peters
to be his Regional Director
for Southeast Michigan.
To continue the same work,
working in my community.
I would consider Southeast Michigan
my community, really the whole state.
Continuing to work for the greater good
and continuing to work
to protect our environment
and protect the people.
Why do you care about Clean Water -
(and I know saying this as a Michigander
is a really easy answer but...)
You know - as a Michigander,
it's our lifeblood.
Not only economically
but that's what we've all grown up on
Like I said I'm from Downriver,
I grew up in Wyandotte,
which is a city on the [Detroit] river.
A river that years back
didn't have a great fish population
there were dead spots.
Right down the street from the Rouge River
that caught on fire in the 1970s.
It's important that we protect
the beautiful Great Lakes
but also protect the people
who live here.
And the animals who live here,
and ecosystem.
In the 50 years since Clean Water Action
has been founded,
since the Clean Water Act
has been passed,
there's been significant improvements
but there's a long way to go still.
The Rouge River isn't on fire,
but we still have fish advisories
in the Detroit and everything else.