For more than 15 years, the Healing Our Waters–Great Lakes Coalition has been working to protect and restore the Great Lakes, which provide drinking water to more than 30 million people in the eight-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The Coalition consists of more than 175 environmental, conservation, outdoor recreation, and community-based organizations. By harnessing the collective talent, knowledge and passion of our members, the Coalition has made Great Lakes restoration a top bipartisan priority in the U.S. Congress and with presidential administrations. The Coalition maintains an active presence in Washington, D.C., to help educate elected officials about the importance of Great Lakes restoration investments and policies, while also working with conservation leaders in states around the Great Lakes region to advance our goal to secure federal funding to restore and protect the lakes.
Federal investments are producing results in the in the Great Lakes Region but we know we have more work to do. The HOW Coalition will endeavor to make our work more relevant and impactful by ensuring that the people of the region have access to clean, affordable, and safe drinking water; can eat fish that are not toxic; and are able to live healthy lives that are not undermined by pollution. We are committed to centering Equity in our work by breaking down barriers so all people can participate in decision-making around the Great Lakes, and uplifting the voices of frontline communities that have been historically excluded.
Coalition Support for Members
• Access to Decision Makers
o Connect local advocates and activists with federal policy decisionmakers
o Advocate for funding federal programs to support communities in the
Great Lakes
• Community Building
o Create opportunities for engagement and learning with other organizations
in the region
o Give space for strengthening professional networks in areas of interest
o Host annual Great Lakes Conference and advocacy Days
o Assist with financial support for participation and travel in Coalition events
• Outreach and Advocacy
o Create and share resources for organizing around points of interest,
including messaging guidance, action alerts, sign on letters
o Provide platforms for sharing success stories and uplifting the work and
amplifying the needs of Coalition members and frontline communities
Bishop Matt asked Lee Donahue, of Christ Church in La Crosse, to share some details about a recent trip she made to Washington DC to meet with Federal legislators as part of the Great Lakes Coalition - Healing our Waters group.
I was invited to join this environmental group by Clean Wisconsin. They are one of many environmental groups that I routinely work with on PFAS contamination in our state.
I became a part of the Wisconsin contingent due to my advocacy for clean water solutions for municipalities like mine (Town of Campbell) which have PFAS contamination in our soil and groundwater due to airport operations in an adjacent municipality.
We have not been able to safely drink our tap water for almost three years now.
Other members of our HOW group included Allie Rakowski with the Red Cliff band of the Chippewa, Brian Vigue with the Audubon Society, Erik Kanter with Clean Wisconsin, Joe Fitzgerald and Brenda Coley with Milwaukee Water Commons, Richard Diaz with BlueGreen Alliance, Cheryl Nenn with Milwaukee River Keepers. Members of the eight states which all touch the Great Lakes were represented and used this time with legislators to talk about the importance of safe water, preserving and protecting our water sources, and developing protective measures for future water use.
Here are two recent stories that describe what Campbell has endured in the quest for safe water.
Learn more at HealthyLakes.org
• Who We Are — Healthy Lakes
• Current member list
• Great Lakes Restoration Success Stories
• Great Lakes Events Website
