Clean Water 50 Stories: Bryan McMurran

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.