The Resources We Share: A Mural Project

In the summer of 2024, the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) approached the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) with a proposition: GLWA would identify a local muralist to teach in-person courses about muralism across the district and a member of GLWA’s Public Affairs team would teach the classes about our wastewater system. Throughout the process, students would engage with their city, their imagination, and ultimately, produce a mural design inspired by the impact of water in their lives for the regional wastewater treatment plant. Not only would students discover the true essence of water in the region, but they would also have an opportunity to design a first-of-its-kind public art installation by a student currently enrolled in DPSCD.

The partnership between GLWA, DPSCD, and the local artist community has created accessible pathways for students to engage with their local waterways, build a curiosity around water infrastructure, and discover career pipelines in the water sector. As GLWA continues to connect with the community, this project has proved that sometimes the best way to tell the story of the resources we share is with an initial idea and a whole lot of paint. 

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