Elisa's Reflections

Elisa Young, LT'24, Parametrix

Leadership Tomorrow's Possibility Day at Brightwater Treatment Plant in Woodinville, WA focused on the intersection of leadership, environmental stewardship, and community advocacy. Throughout the day, we were encouraged to connect our daily realities with the broader environmental context, highlighting how our actions shape the world around us.

Central to my table discussions was the impact of environmental issues on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities. We reviewed the Washington Health Disparities Map, which highlights areas with health disparities and the disproportionate burden of BIPOC communities in terms of environmental hazards. This underscored the systemic inequities that exist and the urgent need for targeted interventions and advocacy efforts. We discussed the historical patterns, impacts, and experiences within our communities, recognizing that BIPOC communities often bear the brunt of environmental injustices – from pollution and lack of access to clean resources, to limited representation in decision-making processes about environmental policies.

The next highlight of the day was a panel featuring Jamie Stroble, LT’18, Samayyah Williams, and Dinah Wilson, all women of color with compelling personal stories. They eloquently shared their journeys and motivations for engaging in environmental and sustainability work. Their stories shed light on their resilience, determination, and innovation, despite facing systemic barriers. 

In the afternoon, we toured the educational center where we learned how our daily water usage (for example, how long we shower, how many times we flush, what we put in the pipes, etc.) affects the overall quality of water and availability. We reflected on the ways in which water access, quality, and management directly affect communities and how inclusive approaches can lead to more effective and just solutions.

Our day at Brightwater Treatment Plant was a holistic exploration of leadership and the significance of our individual actions, community engagement, and informed decision-making. My key takeaway was to continue to focus on the pressing need for us, as leaders, to center BIPOC communities in environmental advocacy and decision-making processes. Empowering these communities, amplifying their voices, and addressing systemic injustices are essential steps toward creating an environment that allows everyone to live and thrive.

Hans' Reflections

Hans Stegemoeller, LT'24, Kevala

Across my friends and family group, there is a range of political views about climate change. Conversations are often exhausting and end with stubborn frustration. Coming into the Environment Possibility Day, I was worried we would have the same types of disagreement and the day would be really difficult. I was also hopeful I would gain new perspectives to help me have more constructive conversations. Thankfully, I had a wonderful day, and I came away with new ways of thinking and helpful tools to use outside of LT.

I really enjoyed being at the Brightwater Treatment Plant and had an unexpected sense of belonging there. I cannot say why, but it might have been driven by Samayyah Williams, Brightwater Treatment Plant Process Engineer, and her passion for using technology to make the world better. Working in technology myself, I am often overwhelmed by whether my work and the work of my peers is making the world better. Throughout the day, especially on the tour, I pondered what it would be like to work on the technology behind wastewater treatment. Right now, this is a hypothetical. But when the day comes to find my next job, I will certainly remember this Possibility Day.

The other thing that is sticking with me is a new understanding and strategies to take action on environmental justice. A month ago, I could not have given a concrete example of a local environmental injustice. Now I have two. My pre-work for the Possibility Day was a field trip to visit a 150-acre last mile warehouse that will be built on a Superfund site in South Tacoma. This project involves building a warehouse distribution site with 2.5 million square feet of buildings. I am almost certain that if you proposed a similar site in a more affluent neighborhood, it would not be approved. The second example is how Brightwater was not built in Edmonds due to community pushback, but instead built in Woodinville, with a 14-mile pipeline to transport water to Edmonds and into Puget Sound.

I will wrap this reflection up with three ways I plan to use my learnings from this Possibility Day. First, I will use local examples of environmental justice to steer formerly unproductive discussions about the politics of climate change in a different direction. Second, I am going to dip my toes into local politics, such as attending Tacoma City Council meetings, and build my understanding of how things like the South Tacoma last mile warehouse are approved. Lastly, I will remember wastewater treatment as an area to explore when I decide to look for a new job.

Kristin's Reflections

Kristin Misner-Gutierrez, LT'24, KMG Consulting

In a world of complexities and contradictions, how do we decide to live? I took this question with me into our Environment Possibility Day. I feared I was the only one unsure about what exactly the day would entail and was reassured to learn that the topic itself is expansive. From the harm created by particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, to water reclamation, to a tour of a wastewater treatment plant, I realized that environmental justice is complex and layered.

In our small group discussions, I learned that I was not the only one who felt overwhelmed by the magnitude of the issue. Our panelists emphasized the importance of teaching and educating others. Their passion and purpose provided us with a roadmap for action – both small and large.  

Awareness about the disparity in harm caused by our decisions prompted me to question why we can’t just eliminate the harm. Rather than debate where to put a polluting factory, why can’t we find ways to produce goods without pollution? I am hopeful that the questioning and awareness of our generation will lead to a generation that will push the innovation envelope and do an even better job weaving through the complexities to create a better world.