The Flint Water Crisis remains one of the most serious environmental and public health crises in memory. National attention on the Flint Water Crisis has waned. However, the crisis remains salient to citizens and their families who must contend with sustained negative outcomes for the foreseeable future. The crisis also remains relevant to those committed to environmental justice and preventing other “Flints” from occurring.  This course aims to facilitate a deep understanding of the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of the Flint Water Crisis.  The actions of individuals, the science of water delivery, and a chronology of critical events will be revisited as well as emergency management, infrastructural decline and failure of government. However, a prime object of this course is to examine the political, economic, and cultural context upon which the Flint Water Crisis is predicated.  Another important objective is to facilitate an understanding of civic and activist responses to the crisis. Finally, this course will facilitate an assessment of where Flint is today and the next steps forward.
In addition to selected readings and primary/secondary data sources, this course will draw on the first-hand knowledge of Flint residents and other experts.