Who We Are
How it all started
The AW4A Network AW4A is a collaborative space working to secure water access for all Arizona communities, especially the most water-insecure. It was created to support the Arizona Water for All Program, part of ASU's Arizona Water Innovation Initiative (AWII), across the state through strategic collaboration among Arizona State University (ASU), Northern Arizona University (NAU), and the University of Arizona (U of A). The logistics of building the network have been underway since 2022, but the network was officially launched in the Fall of 2024 with three events.
University of Arizona's Launch:
On September 20, 2024 — the University of Arizona launched its AW4A network with a lunch at the Institute for Resilience. The event brought together more than a dozen UA faculty, students, and staff— all working in some capacity on the human dimensions of water. Dr. Megan Carney, director of the UofA’s Center for Regional Food Studies, leads the initiative's efforts in southern Arizona with co-sponsorship from the Center for Regional Food Studies and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. The partnership focuses on community-based research into perceptions of food and water insecurity in the Sonoran Desert, aiming to increase local participation in water-related decision-making.
Arizona State University's Launch:
On November 8, 2024 — The Center for Global Health from the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, directed by Dr. Amber Wutich and Dr. Alex Brewis, launched the AW4A at ASU, convening a diverse group of environmental and social scientists who work on water. The focus was on creating connections and opportunities to facilitate community-based and participatory research with Arizona’s most water-insecure households, in central Arizona and elsewhere in the state.
Northern Arizona University's Launch:
On November 15, 2024 — the Water, Society, and Policy (WaSP) Lab at NAU hosted the launch of the AW4A initiative for Northern Arizona. The program focuses on three primary goals: empowering communities in water-related decision-making, implementing effective water security solutions, and enhancing the measurement and monitoring of household water insecurity. The event brought together over 35 participants from non-profit organizations, government agencies, and higher education institutions, fostering cross-sector collaboration. Dr. Lucero Radonic, NAU's AW4A lead, spearheaded the event with support from the Department of Anthropology, the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the School of Earth and Sustainability, and the Commission for Indigenous Peoples.
Collectively, these coordinated efforts across Arizona's public universities underscore a unified commitment to enhancing water security and resilience throughout the state.
We value community knowledge and leadership in water decision-making
The Arizona Water for All (AW4A) Network is a growing community of practice that aims to connect researchers from Arizona’s three state universities, practitioners from various sectors, and community partners to address water insecurity holistically.
The goal is to advance knowledge of regional water challenges by fostering new collaborations and connecting people with resources, contributing to stronger and lasting water solutions for all communities in Arizona.
As researchers and practitioners, we can build trust with water-insecure communities by prioritizing transparency, respect, and shared knowledge. True collaboration begins with listening, understanding local experiences, and becoming aware of the unique challenges each community faces. By co-developing research goals, sharing data openly, and ensuring that solutions are practical and community-driven, we create partnerships rooted in trust.
Arizona Water for All
The Network is directly connected to ASU's Arizona Water for All Program, which works with Arizona’s most water-insecure households and communities to improve water security and engagement in water decision-making through community-based participatory approaches. To achieve water security, Arizona Water for All is working to promote empowerment and participation in community water decision-making, deploy proven water security solutions such as fit-to-purpose technologies, and advance measurement and monitoring of household water insecurity.
The Arizona Water for All Program and Network are here to enact community engagement with household and community water monitoring, building the necessary water social and technical infrastructure in communities across the state.
