>>> THE PUBLIC IS BEING SHOWN WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR WATER JUSTICE IN A NEW EXHIBIT.

A STUDY FROM BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS FINDS THAT THEY HAVE THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF LEAD IN TAP WATER.

CHICAGO HAS REPLACED LESS THAN 300 LEAD SERVICE LINES OUT OF ABOUT 390,000.

JOINING US FOR THIS EXHIBIT ON WATER JUSTICE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ARTIST, STORYTELLER AND THE CURATOR BEHIND THE EXHIBIT, THE DIRECTOR AT THE ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL.

THANK YOU LADIES FOR JOINING US.

LET'S GET RIGHT INTO IT.

WISHING WELL IS MEANT TO BE BOTH AN EDUCATIONAL AND INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT.

WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO RAISE AWARENESS ON THE RELATIONSHIP THAT BLACK PEOPLE HAVE WITH WATER TAXI?

>> DURING THE CLIMATE CRISIS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH WATER IS MORE PRECARIOUS THAN IT WAS.

THERE IS GOING TO BE AN INFLUX OF PEOPLE IN THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS, I WOULD SAY.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO CLAIM OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH WATER BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO HARMONIZE WITH OUR ECOSYSTEM.

SO MUCH OF OUR CLIMATE CRISIS IS A RESULT OF US HAVING AN INCORRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR ECOSYSTEM.

FOR US IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A FULL PICTURE OF WHAT OUR EARTH LOOKS LIKE SO THAT WE CAN ENVISION WHAT JUSTICE LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT A GREATER EARTH LOOKS LIKE.

>> I ANNA, JUMPING OVER TO YOU, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE THE BIGGEST ISSUES WITH WATER IN CHICAGO FOR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES?

>> IT IS PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR WATER, RIGHT?

THANKFULLY THE CITY DOES HAVE A MORATORIUM ON WATER SHUT OFFS SOME PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF WATER DEBT.

IT WAS FOUND THAT CHICAGOANS HAD ACCUMULATED $421 MILLION IN WATER DEBT.

60% OF THAT WAS CONCENTRATED IN BLACK COMMUNITIES.

AS WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, MUCH OF THIS WILL SHOW UP IN SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.

A LOT OF HISTORIC COMMUNITIES LIKE INGLEWOOD AND SOUTH CHICAGO , THEY ARE MOST SUBJECT TO HAVING LED IN THEIR WATER, LEAD AND NEUROTOXINS.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE KIDNEY DISEASE AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

A LOT OF THIS CAN BE TIED BACK TO LEAD IN DRINKING WATER.

>> YOU SAID IT IS IMPORTANT THAT BLACK PEOPLE RECLAIM AND RECOUP THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH WATER.

>> YES.

I THINK IT OFTEN BECOMES AN ISSUE OF I CAN'T GET MY HAIR WET OR I CAN'T SWIM.

THERE ARE INSTITUTIONAL INJUSTICES THAT TIE THAT WHY WE NEED TO THINK THAT WAY.

IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE LIBERATION AND JOY, WE HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

WATER IS WHO WE ARE.

WATER IS 70% OF OUR BODY.

HOW CAN WE HAVE FREEDOM AND LIBERATION AND MOVE FORWARD IN LIFE IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND FIND POWER AND AGENCY IN CREATING A NARRATIVE AND PUSHING THE CONVERSATION FORWARD REGARDING OURSELVES AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH WATER?

>> AYANNA, JUMPING BACK TO YOU, WE KNOW THAT CHICAGO IS BEHIND WHEN IT COMES TO REPLACING LED WATER SERVICE LINES.

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE DELAYS?

>> LEAD CAN HAVE A TON OF NEGATIVE IMPACTS.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT LEAD REPLACEMENT IS NOT GETTING CHEAPER ACROSS THE CITY , AND ON INDIVIDUAL LEVELS IT COSTS AS MUCH IS $37,000 TO FIX A SERVICE LINE.

IF THE COST OF IT IS NOT GOING TO GET CHEAPER, THEN IT WILL GET MORE EXPENSIVE.

WE KNOW THAT THIS IS THE ONLY TRUE WAY TO REMOVE LEAD FROM OUR DRINKING WATER.

>> UNDER JOHNSON'S ADMINISTRATION, ARE YOU MORE CONFIDENT THAT HE CAN IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY FOR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES IN CHICAGO?

>> I AM.

I KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR YEARS .

THEY ARE WORKING ON WATER FOR ALL PROGRAMS.

THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE 2017.

I THINK THE THE FOUNDATION IS THERE FOR WATER RECLAMATION STRUCTURE TO HAPPEN.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS AS WELL ON THE JOHNSON MINISTRATION PLANS FOR CREATING MORE CLEAN WATER ACCESSIBILITY FOR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE REALISTICALLY?

>> I THINK THE COMMITMENTS THAT HE HAS MADE SO FAR ARE MAKING THINGS AFFORDABLE AND PUTTING IT INTO FRUITION SO THE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD WATER THAT IS TREATABLE.

>> SO MEKHI, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE AN EXHIBITION SET UP AROUND THIS!

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> IT BRINGS BLACK WOMEN AND FAMILIES TOGETHER OVER THE ENVIRONMENT READ WE ALSO HAVE A FILM THAT COVERS WHAT WATER IN JUSTICE LOOKS LIKE AND HOW IT IMPACTS PEOPLE.

THIS IS HAPPENING ON SUNDAY FROM 7:00