From Blue Community Ambassador Marcela González Rivas, Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs University of Pittsburgh, USA, Faculty lead of Closing the Water Gap Working Group:
We’re excited to share our new StoryMap: “Flowing Back to the People.”
Our working group had the privilege of collaborating with John Connors, whose natural leadership helped organize the community of North Versailles, PA, to defend their human right to water. Together, they successfully stood up to Aqua last summer—and won! John’s opposition to water privatization sparked a broader movement in the community to protect public resources. “Flowing Back to the People” documents how communities across Pennsylvania have come together to resist corporate control of water. Drawing from extensive research, John’s firsthand experience, and other vital community and advocacy efforts, we’ve also created a toolkit to support organizers working to keep water public.
We’re deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to this resource. When communities organize, they not only protect what’s essential—they also build a model of hope grounded in transparency, equity, and democratic cooperation. We hope this StoryMap becomes a valuable tool in your advocacy for public water. Please explore it, use it, and share it widely.
