BRENDA COLEY and KIRSTEN SHEAD on Urban Forestry and Environmental Justice

What does urban tree planting have to do with healing a city’s relationship to water? In this episode, Brenda Coley and Kirsten Shead, Co-Executive Directors of Milwaukee Water Commons (MWC), weave together some of the many threads that make up Milwaukee’s environmental justice story. Guided by principles from generations of resilient communities – Indigenous folks, Black feminists, and LGBTQ+ activists, to name a few – Brenda and Kirsten describe MWC’s journey to truly, deeply listen to the needs of community members around Milwaukee. From blue/green jobs to urban tree canopy to arts and spirituality, this conversation with River Network’s Ayana Harscoet spans many intersections, giving us a small glimpse into the steady community organizing (and celebration!) ferrying Milwaukee into a water-centric, environmentally just future.Enjoyed this episode? Learn more and join the national network of water, justice, and river advocates at rivernetwork.org.