Water Hub Blog
November Water Cooler newsletter: What resilience means to us
Our team reflects on the term "resilience" in our November Water Cooler newsletter
October Water Cooler newsletter: Here’s how our retreat at Mt. Hood renewed us
Exploring cycles of renewal in nature, life, and our work in our October Water Cooler newsletter.
Water Hub Staff Q&A: Sussan García
Sussan García is passionate about advancing justice movements with storytelling, accessible communications, and community building.
Edible shade tunnels and room for rivers: Messaging nature-based solutions
People love nature-based solutions–but they aren’t always familiar with terms like bioswales or beaver dam analogs, so we need to ...
August Water Cooler newsletter: Do we have the courage to love?
The Water Hub returned from Equity Summit 2024 with love on the brain in our August Water Cooler newsletter.
July Water Cooler newsletter: Balancing news and nature
The Water Hub is hiring and introducing our newest colleague in our July 2024 Water Cooler newsletter
Water Hub Staff Q&A: Briana Flin
New Water Hub Content Producer Briana shares her love of storytelling and her background in video journalism.
Briefing: Community-led infrastructure in the Colorado River Basin
“We’ve had 2 record years of water down here and there was a deep concern that we could possibly flood, ...
Digital Detox: Equip your team for healthy online engagement
Recap of the Water Hub training on practical strategies to foster positive engagement and combat online negativity.
June Water Cooler newsletter: Honoring fearless art
Healthy water justice tips, our new training, and influencers talking about water from our June 2024 Water Cooler newsletter
Just Infrastructure animated video envisions joyful, healthy communities
We are excited to share our new animated video featuring the voices of water warriors working on federal funding implementation ...
2024 elections: What’s water got to do with it
We look at the water narratives that could shape the 2024 elections and what's at stake for the future of ...
River reflections, resources, and Reels
Nature-based solutions message guide, flood justice briefing recap, and partner love from our April Water Cooler newsletter.
Briefing: Building Resilience in Disaster Hotspots
A recap of the March 20 media briefing the Water Hub hosted in partnership with Anthropocene Alliance highlighting some of ...
Briefing: Community-led infrastructure in the Great Lakes
A recap of the Water Hub’s February 22 media briefing on community-led clean water and climate projects in the Great ...
Celebrating water progress: new Just Infrastructure campaign
The Water Hub’s Just Infrastructure campaign celebrates the impact federal water funding is having in communities and ecosystems across the ...
What is resilience really? 2024 water narrative predictions
Dive into a new year of narrative predictions with the Water Hub where we look at the stories behind climate ...
Color of Water Greatest Hits 2023
Recapping some of the highlights for the Color of Water network in 2023. Media love, social media shoutouts, and ...
The Color of Water Podcast Series: Elevating Diverse Voices in Water Expertise and Experience
Water Hub and waterloop announce the launch of the Color of Water podcast series to highlight experts of color in ...
Briefing: Clean Water And Climate Preparedness in the Great Lakes
Two years after the Bipartisan Law allocated billions for clean water and climate readiness, we asked Great Lakes leaders to ...
Salute to water solutions: Seven of our 2023 favorites
Our team looks back at some of our favorite solutions journalism from 2023.
Waves of Impact: A Recap of WECR at One Water Summit 2023
Highlights from the 2023 One Water Summit, where the Water Equity & Climate Resilience Caucus emphasized water justice and narrative ...
2023 reflections: Relationships and nature as infrastructure
The Water Hub's topline summary of water impacts for the Fifth National Climate Assessment.
Fifth National Climate Assessment water toplines
The Water Hub's topline summary of water impacts for the Fifth National Climate Assessment.
Infrastructure messaging that’s close to home and heart
How water infrastructure polling data can help us develop messages that tap into people's values.
Frame, Tone, Messenger: How we can adapt communications to reach different audiences
Recap of our training on how we can modify the frame, tone, and messenger of our communications to reach different ...
The future is accessible: Inclusive communications and digital best practices
Takeaways from the Water Hub’s Digital Accessibility Guide and River Network’s new Inclusive Communications Guide including accessible website and graphic ...
Rippling effects: Water affordability advocates bring their stories to Capitol Hill
A recap on the Water Equity & Climate Resilience (WECR) Caucus' panel on water affordability and the need for a ...
From ivory tower to real world: Collaborating with influencers to drive policy awareness
How to generate excitement and awareness for water and climate policy issues by partnering with social media influencers and content ...
Issue Brief: Are Inflation Reduction Act drought dollars funding resilience?
In this issue briefing, we look back at one year of the Inflation Reduction Act and how local leaders hope ...
Water Hub Staff Q&A: Zakiyaa Taylor
New Water Hub Communications Manager Zakiyaa dives into her roots and history with environmental justice work.
Flood justice for frontline communities
With billions in federal dollars available to help communities prepare for rising seas and stronger storms, we asked national and ...
How to use the power of images to enhance your organization’s storytelling
Learn photo and video tips including general principles and technical guidelines to help strengthen your visual storytelling skills.
Memes and GIFs and graphics, oh my! 5 creative ways to tell your story.
How to reach different audiences using content like GIFs and memes and get creative with culture.
Groundwater: The unsung hero
It's Groundwater Awareness Week! In this blog, we dive into the invisible water source beneath our feet.
Forecasting the year’s hottest water stories
We put on our looking glasses to predict some of the hottest themes we expect (and hope) to see covered ...
What’s up in Western water news?
We look back on the media conversation around Western water supply, safety, and access in this year’s scan of water ...
Rising Voices: New nonprofit Minnow combats the inextricable link between land, water, and justice
In this issue of the Maven’s Notebook Rising Voices column, Water Hub checks in with Javier Román-Nieves, Director of Strategic ...
Learning how to tell your organization’s story
Telling your organization’s story: A discussion on how to get noticed, be heard, and elevate your story as an ...
Multi-solving with nature in the Colorado River Basin
Recap of our recent media briefing on Colorado River solutions that work with nature and provide multiple benefits to the ...
Continuing the conversation on water words
Briget Arndell recaps a recent Water Hub workshop that discussed the the impact and importance of using water words that ...
The language of One Water
Nicole Lampe reflects on her experience at the One Water Summit, and the ways the language we use to talk ...
Building Water Trust: Nuestra Casa Tackles Water Justice in the Bay Area
In this issue of the Maven’s Notebook Rising Voices column, the Water Hub checks in with Water Justice Program Coordinator ...
Making Connections: Communicating Climate Change & Changing Our Ways
In this issue briefing on the impacts and health concerns of toxic algae, we also dig into the climate connection ...
Rising Voices: Dam Removal and the Future of Algal Blooms
In this issue briefing on the impacts and health concerns of toxic algae, we also dig into the climate connection ...
Issue briefing: Toxic algae
In this issue briefing on the impacts and health concerns of toxic algae, we also dig into the climate connection ...
Time to break out the podium?
Recap of our latest workshop on the key elements of planning a successful press event.
Water, food, soil, and California’s need for holistic climate policy
Arohi Sharma shares the importance of soil health, soil's relationship to water quality, and key takeaways from NRDC’s latest regenerative ...
Water Hub Staff Spotlight Q&A: José Aranda
I draw from past experiences, and incorporate new learnings, to help uplift underrepresented voices in water through the Color of ...
4 artists and organizers on equitable engagement in climate, water & movement work
Strategies from four artists and organizers on equitable engagement in climate & movement work.
Round up: 4 artists and organizers inspiring the water and climate movement
Four artists and organizers whose work give insight into how to work equitably with creators and inspire change.
Envisioning Central Valley 2040
A panel discussion with local environmental justice leaders highlights practices and policies that can build drought resilience and address long ...
Control your narrative = shaping public perception and dismantling dominant narratives
Coverage of Covid-19 crisis and police brutality made 2021 a stand-out year for climate coverage, however, the problematic trend of ...
Western water polling: what’s top of mind for voters?
Late last month, the Water Hub offered a Western water polling update for our network, sharing toplines from seven recent ...
Photo essay: Eyes on the Colorado River
In this photo essay, we toured water infrastructure, restoration projects, Tribal lands, and agricultural areas along the Colorado River.
Making Groundwater Research Visible
As another Groundwater Awareness Week goes by and World Water Day arrives, we’ve compiled facts and resources about a lesser ...
Rising Voices: Where does it go? Water allocations & algae blooms in the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary
In this March Maven’s Notebook column, we spoke with Restore the Delta’s Science Coordinator, Spencer Fern, and Policy Analyst, Tim ...
11 Women Making History in the Water Justice Movement
In the United States, unfair water laws and outdated water infrastructure have created inequity in many communities. Despite these challenges, ...
Climate-water talking points for IPCC’s global climate report
Talking points for use around the February 28 IPCC report, to help elevate water in the climate conversation, and make ...
What will be this year’s biggest water stories?
Infrastructure implementation, climate, and industrial ag: we’re looking ahead at the key themes we expect to see in 2022 water ...
Twitter Tips: 2021 Themes and KPIs for the Water Movement
Spotting themes and data trends on Water Twitter in 2021.
Rising Voices: Water, power and the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy
We spoke with Kameron Hurt about drought impacts in LA, the importance of water and power as a human right, ...
Water rising: A year of increased attention on our issues
The Water Hub is grateful to have had the opportunity this past year to work on some impactful efforts for ...
2021 recap: Color of Water greatest hits
How our Color of Water diverse speakers bureau shined in water media and online in 2021.
Tips: Mastering the art of interview basics
The Water Hub covers media interview tips including the elements of a compelling message, what to do before, during, and ...
Rising Voices: LA Compost on healthy soil for healthy waters and community
As the global community meets in Glasgow for the latest UN climate talks, we spoke with the Union of Concerned ...
Communicating at the water-climate nexus
Communicating at the Water-Climate Nexus lays out the latest research and best practices to communicate at the intersection of water, ...
Rising Voices: California adapts to water change
As the global community meets in Glasgow for the latest UN climate talks, we spoke with the Union of Concerned ...
Rising Voices: Water affordability and shrinking wells
In our October Maven’s Notebook column, we check in with Clean Water Action’s Program Associate, Cristal Gonzalez & California Director, ...
5 takeaways: Testing water infrastructure and jobs messages
New Water Hub digital campaign sheds light on the water infrastructure and jobs messages that move policymakers and “purple” ...
Rising Voices: Realizing the human right to water
In this September issue, we spoke with Community Water Center’s Senior Policy Advocate, Uriel Saldivar, about the expiration of California’s ...
Water Hub Staff Q&A: Briget Arndell
New Water Hub Communications Associate Briget Arndell shares her journey and connection to environmental justice work.
5 tips to walk the talk on ethical imagery
Survival Media Agency and Resource Media join the Water Hub for an “Ask Me Anything” discussion about how to create ...
Water Hub Staff Q&A: Sade Moore
New Water Hub Communications Associate Sade Moore shares her experiences and passions for environmental justice and storytelling. What’s your name, ...
Rising Voices: Pacoima Beautiful, water and heat in the San Fernando Valley
Rising Voices is a column the Water Hub pens for Maven’s Notebook listening to advocates and organizers in California talk ...
Reflecting on digital comms and nonprofit grantmaking
Last year, our team set out to pilot a small digital grants program for groups working in the Los Angeles area. The ...
Ethical imagery: using photos and videos for good
I was drawn to work in communications because I love words–– there are so many, and such a variety! Over ...
Navigating the media as a BIPOC-focused organization
Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) community organizers, movement leaders, grassroots staff–– have you ever felt like you ...
Staff spotlight: Jessica Jewell
Hi there. Jessica here, the Water Hub’s new digital director. I’m incredibly humbled to introduce myself and to have the ...
How to craft soundbites that stick
More people than ever before are turning to social media and TV for news, scrolling and channel surfing to get the ...
How to look good on video
The pandemic has changed the way many nonprofits are doing communications and outreach. Meeting on Zoom and video has become ...
The opportunity on water
In my 10+ years of work on water, I’ve seen a steady increase in the amount of attention this vital ...
Voters want U.S. to invest in water
More than 9 in 10 voters (93%) believe fixing America’s outdated and unsafe drinking water systems should be a top ...
Tracking water news in the West
Following up on last summer’s analysis of water news in COVID times, the Water Hub team just completed a February 2021 Western water ...
To op-ed or not … what’s the alternative?
If you’re in comms, submitting op-eds is probably part of your go-to arsenal of tactics. And if you’re an advocate, ...
Reflecting on our first year
Last winter, the Water Hub team met with our Advisory Group* for the first time. We ate arepas and discussed our Western ...
The future of water infrastructure
With Congress considering billions of dollars in infrastructure funding to help rebuild the economy, we worked with WaterNow Alliance on a video ...
Announcing the digital strategies & communications grantees
When I think about what it means to lead with equity in the movement space, I tend to think about ...
Wildfires and water in the West
This year’s catastrophic Western wildfires made headlines across the country. With rains returning to much of the region, we invited ...
The Color of Water: Building voice & visibility for BIPOC in the water movement
When I started my career as a reporter 20 years ago, I didn’t know the first thing about power and ...
Digital organizing with Community Water Center
I am thrilled to share the virtual recording with you of our latest workshop at Water Hub about Digital Organizing. ...
Water justice in a warming world
I joined the Water Hub team a few weeks ago and am excited to introduce myself to our community of ...
Media outreach: ‘business as usual’ has been obliterated
Anyone else tired of hearing about the “new normal”? Yes, the pandemic has shifted a lot. But there’s nothing normal ...
Think beyond the paper: getting water news on TV
Many of us working in communications seem to be forever chasing the mythical front-page newspaper story. There are good reasons ...
Yes You Canva!
I have some exciting news: the Water Hub did its first-ever workshop and it was a Canva workshop! We talked ...
The intersection of race and water during the COVID-19 crisis
As the mother of a soon-to-be first grader, I have always been pretty into handwashing. But the frequency and rigor ...
Relating with COVID-19 and the frank 2020 gathering
Once upon a time in a land far far away, I hopped on two planes to head to Gainesville, Florida ...
Telling more human and hopeful stories
I started working in public affairs at a time when sending a press release meant thumbing through the trusty rolodex, ...