We believe the future of water is shaped through strengthening the knowledge already existing in communities, especially to address water insecurity and elevate place-based solutions. Through this belief, the Water Leadership Institute in Southern Arizona recruited the next generation of water leaders (ages 18+) to explore water challenges in their communities and reimagine collaborative solutions. This year’s program included a cohort of 37 participants from across the Southern Arizona region and into Sonora, Mexico. 

Each session was fully bilingual (ENG-ESP) thanks to support from the Language Justice Collective, and took place at a different area along the Santa Cruz River with a host of emerging themes and guest speakers, facilitating a collaborative space for participants to reflect on their relationship to water and solidify their water leadership story.

Our participants explored how past decisions and actions have shaped the current conditions of the Santa Cruz Watershed. Moving through a transboundary river system such as the Santa Cruz River exposed participants to the unique challenges on co-stewardship across Nations, and the possibilities that can arise through collaborative solutions. Participants were guided through the realities of WASH gaps (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) and analyzed the connection to environmental justice and equitable water accessibility and security. By the end of the sessions, participants reflected on their personal leadership style, strengths, relationships, and interests, and identified ways to apply their learning to advocate for water justice. 

The institute took place across 5 sessions between September and December, with each gathering building on the next. Consistent across sessions was the foundational pillars of “Leadership,” “Historical Context,” “Transboundary Resilience,” and “WASH Pathways.”

As a joint symbol of the experience, participants created Zines and art that will be curated into a digital and physical resource as a celebration of water leadership.

The Water Leadership Institute in Southern Arizona is made possible through the partnerships between the Environmental Defense Fund, the Arizona Water for All

Network under the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative at Arizona State University, Water For People, and Reconciliacion en el Rio Santa Cruz.