River Network members are the reason we exist. Our work to create an informed, connected, and transformational national network of water, justice, and river advocates has always been rooted in the people we partner with, and gains a greater importance in times of uncertainty.
As the world has become more uncertain throughout 2025, our programs have steadfastly provided supportive structures to members across the country, including through an intimate, in-depth SRF State Advocates Forum cohort, which this year brought together a diverse group around common goals: to build a collective understanding of how SRFs can be used to address existing gaps in their communities’ water infrastructure, to gain confidence and experience advocating for more equitable implementation of SRF programs, and to build lasting relationships with each other as they tackle similar water infrastructure challenges, from lead service line removal to stormwater and flooding issues.
Last month, a cohort of 16 inspirational and passionate water advocates representing community groups from across the country gathered in a Zoom room to reflect on their experiences participating in the nine-month long cohort experience, and to share their successes and next steps with peers. The cohort, convened by the SRF State Advocates Forum, built the capacity of community-based organizations to strategically engage in water infrastructure advocacy related to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs. Cohort members were provided stipends with generous support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the C.S. Mott Foundation.
The SRF State Advocates Forum was established after the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to connect and mobilize organizations across the country who were grappling with how to ensure the massive infusion of funding to the State Revolving Funds would flow to communities who desperately need water infrastructure investment and historically haven’t tapped into the two programs. Over the course of the past several years, the co-conveners of the Forum (Alliance for the Great Lakes, River Network, Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC), and PolicyLink) experimented with how to best bring local, community-based organizations into the space, which quickly gained a strong representation of state-wide, regional, and national non-profits.
When we put out the call for applications, it became clear that this type of in-depth support and training was needed, with nearly four times more applicants than we had space for expressing interest. The selected finalists included folks from across the country in rural, suburban, and urban areas, and they are a powerful group! As we wrapped up, Melis Coady, Executive Director of Susitna River Coalition in Alaska reflected,
“I’m also deeply grateful for the diversity of voices, geographies, and issues represented in our cohort. It expanded my understanding of the broader water equity movement and the power of this network. I look forward to staying engaged and am happy to serve as a resource to others in Alaska navigating clean and drinking water challenges and looking for ways to strengthen their systems affordably.”
