Additional Reflections on the U.S. WASH Convening

As a continuation of the previous blog post, Ashley — who went to an entirely different set of panels than Genevieve! — provides her reflection of the U.S. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Convening in Washington, DC from May 7-9, 2024.

PART II: ASHLEY’S REFLECTIONS

On May 7th, 2024, Washington, DC awoke to its regular hustle and bustle of commuters heading to their daily routines, but within the walls of the Hilton, a different, exciting kind of energy filled the air. Innovators and advocates from across the nation gathered for the inaugural US WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) Convening, organized by DigDeep, Water for People, and the Vessel Collective. Entering the event felt surreal, with a sense of urgency and strange familiarity despite this being uncharted territory. The main auditorium, decorated with a vibrant ombre palette of lime green, bright violet, and electric indigo, emanated a sense of energy, hope, and transformation. A welcome panel of US WASH leaders set an optimistic and motivational tone, synonymously agreeing that to close the US WASH gap, our fragmented sector must formulate a more cohesive network. For the first time, I felt like I was a part of a grand, powerful collective, united in our mission to make a tangible difference.    

As the newest board director of PHLUSH, I am also new to the WASH sector altogether.  After graduating from Oregon State University in 2023, I was fortunate enough to seamlessly transition into PHLUSH as a volunteer which has offered an incredible introduction into the niche realm of US WASH nonprofits. Despite my short tenure, I have learned valuable lessons from a talented group of colleagues related to the importance of integrated collaboration, community engagement, and educational outreach – principles echoed throughout the various sessions and workshops I attended during this convening. I’m enormously appreciative of PHLUSH for supporting my participation and extend my gratitude to DigDeep for generously funding travel expenses. This experience demonstrated the significance of collective effort, knowledge-sharing, and community involvement in continuing meaningful progress within the US WASH sector.    

As explained in the welcoming plenary, this event has been dubbed a convening for an important reason – it is an opportunity to meet, share, and combine. While the international WASH sector has established a well-defined network across low to mid-developed countries, the US sector has yet to develop something comparable in national or regional context. Immediately following this introduction and call to action, participants were divided into regional groups to facilitate focused and relevant discussions. In the Pacific group, we discussed an aging workforce, lack of available data, housing and living affordability, and funding issues. This approach allowed us to address localized challenges faced by our organizations more efficiently. However, I found many of the issues we covered to be national in scope, as seen through the sessions and discussions that would take place over the following three days.   

One of the most impactful sessions I attended was “Community Centered Policy Advocacy,” led by PolicyLink, featuring speakers from Community Water Center, We the People of Detroit, and River Network. This session emphasized that effective policy advocacy must be community focused, stating that the people who are most impacted by inadequate water and sanitation access possess the local expertise, innovative solutions, and data needed for meaningful change. However, bureaucratic barriers within our current systems often hinder effective community engagement, particularly when it comes to funding. What made this session particularly memorable was the speakers’ use of storytelling to emotionally resonate with the audience. Through real-life anecdotes and an exercise that simulated budgeting for unanticipated emergencies like health, home, or transportation related bills, domestic crises, and natural disasters, the session vividly illustrated the potential disastrous impact of unpredictable circumstances. There is a desperate need for empathy and perspective-building tools to better understand and support vulnerable communities, and I found this approach to be quite successful.   

Another session that resonated with me was “The Fight to Secure Water Access in Unhoused Communities,” led by WaterDrop LA. This session struck a personal chord as this study was similar to my own master’s thesis, which investigated WASH access among unhoused residents in Corvallis, Oregon. WaterDrop LA’s work addresses the unique obstacles that unhoused populations face regarding water and sanitation access on the streets of Skid Row. The session highlighted a severe lack of accessible water sources throughout the area, where they have been hand-delivering bottled water to those in need. A greatly appreciated and refreshing aspect of this session involved the inclusion of lived experience. Tony Gomez, who is now employed by the organization, was once receiving bottles of water instead of handing them out. Beyond adding invaluable context and perspective, Tony’s presence provides an often overlooked but incredibly important step in advocating for the unhoused, which is the promotion of individual agency. It is not uncommon for advocacy groups to take executive action when supporting our most vulnerable members and it is crucial to avoid infantilization and involve those most affected within decision-making processes when possible. The ability to exercise agency and autonomy in one’s life is a matter of dignity, just as is access to water and sanitation. 

The session “WASH Access and the Economy,” led by George McGraw and Kim Lemme of DigDeep, offered exploration of the intersection between water access and economic impact, drawing insights from DigDeep’s 2022 report, Draining: The Economic Impact of America’s Hidden Water Crisis. The discussion underscored the staggering reality that 1.57 million Americans lack access to running water and sanitation, a crisis costing the US economy $8.58 billion annually. They presented strategies to close the water gap, such as expanding federal and state funding, redefining the crisis, and building a domestic WASH sector. While the previously mentioned sessions heavily leaned on the power of human stories to draw interest to their respective topics, the speakers stressed the importance of also including quantitative data to push policy initiatives. The mix of personal narrative and hard data creates a holistic approach that not only calls attention to the human element of WASH inequality, but also provides solid evidence to advocate for realistic policy changes.     

At the end of the conference, the Pacific regional group reconvened to discuss solutions to the challenges we had originally discussed. To address the aging workforce, we proposed targeted recruitment campaigns aimed at younger demographics, including mentorship and educational outreach programs. For the lack of shared data, we discussed a centralized data-sharing platform for regional organizations to exchange information on water and sanitation matters, such as water collection points and public sanitation locations. We also recognized the need for tiered regional collaborations, incorporating local groups at the state level and extending to broader regional efforts. This approach would address local nuances while fostering a unified regional strategy. We outlined actionable steps to strengthen our efforts, including efforts to continue the discussion. While this was a promising start in developing viable solutions, it is only the beginning. We have barely scratched the surface of our many challenges ahead and need more opportunities to continue our progress.   

My main takeaways from the conference include the importance of integrating strong storytelling skills, data-driven advocacy, and collaborative efforts to advance US WASH efforts. The sessions I attended demonstrated that while personal narratives capture attention and evoke empathy, combining them with tangible, verifiable data is crucial for driving policy change. Discussions on the economic impact of WASH access showed how data can quantify broader societal costs, strengthening the case for action. The conference also illustrated the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration, encouraging ongoing communication and shared resources among diverse stakeholders at localized levels. By fostering spaces that promote continuous, collective efforts, we can enhance our capacity to address challenges effectively. This holistic technique, combining empathy, evidence, and cooperation, is essential for cultivating a more unified and impactful network capable of driving meaningful progress.  

The US WASH Convening in May 2024 shed light on the path forward for the sector, uniting a diverse group of passionate advocates and leaders to identify critical challenges and opportunities. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to attend and witness the wonderfully supportive environment created by everyone. The networking opportunities with so many dedicated individuals and organizations were invaluable. As we reflect on the lessons learned and the connections made, it’s clear that our collective efforts are crucial in advancing the WASH movement. If you’re reading this, you’re likely already involved or interested in this vital cause. Let’s continue to work together, share knowledge, and maximize our impact. Reach out to PHLUSH here and be part of the ongoing effort to ensure access to clean water and equitable sanitation for all.