On April 18, members of the Certificate of the Environment, Community & Equity (CECE²) cohort, together with faculty and staff of the Center for Environment, Community & Equity (CECE), attended a performance of the environmental justice-themed play “cullud wattah” at Mosaic Theater in Washington, D.C. The play explores the Flint, Michigan water crisis, offering a powerful narrative about the intersections of race, class, and environmental injustices.

Following the performance, the group stayed for a panel discussion featuring members of the creative team and invited experts. Engaging as audience members, the cohort had the opportunity to reflect on the themes of the play and connect them to broader conversations around environment, equity, and advocacy—core pillars of CECE’s work.

CECE² students shared thoughtful reflections on their experience:

“Cullud wattah is an incredibly powerful, heartbreaking, important, and timely play. I was amazed at how the entire production team seamlessly wove together the emotional, spiritual, and logistical impact of the Flint Water Crisis, all the while demonstrating the nuance and contradictions it creates within a family dynamic. The talkback after was a valuable opportunity to connect the themes of environmental racism and injustice to organizing and watershed protection efforts here in the DMV. Highly recommend (bring tissues!)” — Laurel Levin

“I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to see cullud wattah at Mosaic Theater. The production was high quality, with amazing performers and a thoughtfully rugged set. Cullud wattah cuts across numerous important themes, including gender, LGBTQ+ issues, labor rights, maternal health, spirituality, environmental justice, and adolescent health. I left the theater completely inspired and broken to know these stories, although fiction, are deeply real. The talkback afterwards lifted spirits to discuss the efforts happening in the Anacostia watershed through a curated panel with grassroots activists working to address water injustice in the region. There are numerous ongoing efforts to clean the Anacostia River, but there are also clear parallels between Flint and the Anacostia, demonstrating that localgovernments do not prioritize environmental management for oppressed communities” — Lindsey O’Neal

Events like this remind us that building community and confronting environmental injustice go hand in hand, and that storytelling remains a powerful catalyst for change. CECE is committed to continuing our efforts to build community and deepen our collective work toward environmental justice.