By Katie Zuidema
Kent District Library
Kent District Library is pleased to partner with the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan (WACWM) to present a series of programs titled “Oceans, Lakes, and Streams: Protecting Water Globally and Locally” in April and May. The series will take place at the Kentwood branch of Kent District Library, 4950 Breton Rd. SE, Kentwood, MI 49508.
“The state of the Great Lakes and our oceans. Lead in our municipal water. The health of our local watersheds. When it comes to our water resources, there is a lot to discuss,” said Michael Van Denend, WACWM’s executive director. “Each part in the series focuses on a particular body or type of water to look at this issue globally and locally. The end goal is to remind our community how interconnected we are through the water we share and create positive courses of action that will protect these resources for generations to come.”
The series is as follows:
Wednesday, April 10, features Dr. David E. Guggenheim, known as “The Ocean Doctor,” discussing the “State of the Oceans.” Ocean Doctor is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., established in 2012 dedicated to protecting and restoring our oceans through hands-on conservation.
Monday, April 15, features a panel of local experts discussing the “State of our Ground Water.” Garret Ellison, MLive; Drs. Gail Heffner and Dave Warners, Plaster Creek Stewards; and Dr. Richard Rediske, Robert B. Annis Water Resource Institute (AWRI) will be joined by moderator Elaine Sterrett Isely, West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) as they discuss issues affecting our ground water in West Michigan and the actions our community can take to be better stewards.
Wednesday, April 24, features Anna Clark, author of The Poisoned City: Flint’s Water and the American Urban Tragedy discussing “Learning from the Flint Water Crisis.” Clark is a journalist in Detroit. The Poisoned City was named one of the best books of the year in 2018 by theWashington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, Kirkus, Amazon, and more.
Wednesday, May 1, features Dr. Mark Luttenton, Robert B. Annis Water Resource Institute (AWRI), discussing “State of the Great Lakes.” Luttenton is a Professor of Biology and Associate Research Scientist at AWRI along with serving as Associate Dean of the Graduate School at Grand Valley State University.
Events run from 6:30 to 7:30 pm and are free and open to the public. No reservations are needed and there is free parking available. For more information on sessions, dates and times, as well as detailed information on speakers, visit www.worldmichigan.org/water-series or call 616-776-1721.
In existence since 1949, WACWM empowers the people and organizations of West Michigan to engage thoughtfully with the world. WACWM brings timely information and encourages spirited conversation on matters of global importance and national foreign policy through diverse and comprehensive programming. The organization is non-partisan and promises presenters that are credible, topics that are relevant, discussion that is civil and events that are compelling.
WACWM has over 50 member companies and 11 educational institutions as part of its local network, and is itself a member of the national World Affairs Council Association based in Washington, D.C.— consisting of over 90 member-councils across the United States. More information about the council can be found at www.worldmichigan.org.
