Since my last post, I’ve continued working on the Oral History Project at WAWA and have now scanned and cataloged hundreds of photographs, with each image offering a unique perspective and a deeper understanding of the West Atlanta community. This project has become a grounding experience for me. As I spend more time on-site, I’ve come to see how much history surrounds the space and the center; and how past projects remain physically intact, while new volunteers join in to continue their legacy. The experience of this project, along with working with a range of volunteers from new members to organizational veterans, has helped me see how essential this work is for community building and stewardship in the area.

Beyond the archival work, my partner and I have also begun the canvassing portion of our project. WAWA hosts events every week or so to bring kids, youths, and community members together at the center, creating opportunities for people to connect, spend time in nature, and take part in hands-on work to care for the grounds. During these events, we are canvassing to bring attention to statewide policies that are critical to environmental justice in Georgia. One of our priorities is GA House Bill 644, which would prevent corporations with records of environmental violations from receiving permits in the state. Alongside that, we’re also raising awareness about the elections for the Georgia Public Service Commission, which regulates energy, water, and the accessibility, affordability, and cleanliness of our utilities. These policies and elections directly affect vulnerable communities such as Southwest and West Atlanta, hence bringing attention to these allows communities to advocate for environmental justice in their everyday lives.

We’ve created outreach materials that both educate and call to action, with flyers, informational one-pagers, and actionable items that explain the issues and provide clear next steps for those who want to get involved. Whether that means learning more about the PSC elections or contacting a representative to support HB 644, our goal is to equip people with the knowledge and tools to take action. It’s been significant for us to work on these one-pagers and designs for flyers, as my partner and I are both interested in policy work, and this feels like working on a lobbying campaign or advocacy effort. Additionally, being able to present them directly to community members at WAWA events has been exciting, as the feedback has been extremely encouraging. We’ve begun canvassing at the Outdoor Activity Center, during WAWA events, and within our own personal and academic circles. Through these efforts, we’ve been having meaningful conversations, meeting people in the community, and informing them about the issues that affect our daily lives. These real, personal interactions have significantly increased my interest in and appreciation for grassroots outreach, as WAWA also began as a grassroots organization. Lastly, working on this project has empowered us and made us hopeful to see how connecting with others on-site and in our communities can hopefully lead to tangible change. Our work with WAWA and the project for the course has allowed us to connect on a deeper level with others who care about the same issues and are willing to advocate for their community and their state.

For a couple of weeks now, I’ve been working on-site at WAWA as part of the 50th Anniversary Oral History and Archival Project. The goal of this project is to digitize photographs and preserve the history of the organization, its people, and its environmental justice work in West Atlanta. My role involves scanning and cataloging photographs according to specific albums and themes, carefully documenting the visual narrative and history that dates back to the establishment of the organization. Each image in this project tells a unique story, with plants, people, and landscapes reflecting resistance, environmental justice, and community initiatives to transform West Atlanta neighborhoods.

WAWA’s history is rooted in fighting against discriminatory wastewater practices, but their work doesn’t just stop there. Alongside resistance, WAWA has built a legacy of education and stewardship in Atlanta, especially in places like the Outdoor Activity Center and several parks around the city. While cataloging, I came across a series of photos from the Outdoor Activity Center, with kids exploring the trails, attending workshops, and engaging with the land. These images have been especially impactful as they feel alive and present. The center is more than just greenspace at WAWA, it is a natural, living classroom for the community. Being on-site every week has this similar feeling, as the space itself with its rooms, walls, and surrounding environment feels like it holds the memories of the people and kids captured in those photographs. The Oral History Project has also allowed me to connect with the people who work at WAWA now. I’ve had the chance to ask questions and share images, making it clear how they too, are part of this space’s living history. As I scan and catalog the photos, I often feel like I’ve stepped back into the 1990s, standing in the exact spot where a photo was once taken. It allows me to observe how the space has changed while still holding onto the same spirit. The wooden walls, the open classroom space, and the trails outside preserve the energy of the past, where people have worked and learned to care for the environment with their community by their side.

This sense of continuity is serene, and it ties into my interests in photography. As someone who’s always loved photography, I understand how powerful images can be in preserving memory and evoking nostalgia. The photos I work with are more than just pictures. They are archives of moments that tell significant stories, especially of those of the African American and Indigenous communities in West and Southwest Atlanta. Working on this project has been personally meaningful, as I feel connected to my community, while also ensuring that those who came before me are not forgotten or erased. This forward-facing project is also essential to the local history of Atlanta. The images reveal the foundation of WAWA through grassroots organizing, protection, and education from within our communities. They tell the stories of people who cared enough to act and educate others, and of the people who built something bigger to preserve their environment and create a better future for their neighborhoods. As I continue working through the albums, I’m excited to see how these archives will eventually come together for students, families, activists, and anyone else who wants to better understand the environmental justice movement in Atlanta.

Beginning my work with the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA) has been a very interesting experience. My team recently had our initial introductory meeting with our supervisor at WAWA, which helped us align our goals with the organization’s ongoing mission and projects. WAWA’s strong commitment to environmental stewardship, education, and justice inspired us to focus our work on advocacy and education. For our project, we are developing a policy brief on a specific Georgia bill that aligns with WAWA’s environmental stewardship objectives.  

Our proposed project centers on environmental policy advocacy and mobilization. It consists of three main deliverables:  

• Policy Memo: This document will analyze and present recommendations on a relevant environmental policy issue. The memo will include a summary of the law, arguments for or against the policy, and potential amendments.  
• Community Organizing: We will engage in canvassing and petitioning efforts at WAWA events. This will involve educating the community about the selected policy, collecting petition signatures, and sharing a QR code that leads to digital resources, encouraging civic engagement.  
• Final Presentation: We will create a digital presentation summarizing our research, advocacy efforts, and outcomes.  

This project is important to my team because we are both interested in policy work and advocacy, and this experience provides us with valuable hands-on learning while also supporting WAWA’s mission. I have thoroughly enjoyed the research process, as it allows me to delve into policy analysis and explore different ways to create meaningful change. We are currently preparing to present our research ideas to WAWA’s advocacy team, which will help refine our approach and ensure our work aligns with the organization’s goals.  

In addition to the policy project, I am excited to participate in WAWA’s photo archiving initiative for their oral history project. This project is significant in documenting underrepresented communities around Atlanta and preserving stories that highlight the city’s environmental and social history. I found this project particularly surprising and unique because it offers a different perspective on environmental stewardship, as it focuses on memory, storytelling, and historical preservation. I look forward to seeing how Atlanta’s communities have changed over time and how WAWA’s work has influenced these transformations. While we have not faced any major challenges so far, one difficulty I anticipate is translating complex legislative language into accessible and actionable insights for the public, the WAWA community, and policymakers. This requires our research to be clear, precise, and compelling to ensure our recommendations are practical and persuasive.  

In the coming weeks, I also plan to attend the Urban Forest Festival, an event hosted by WAWA that celebrates nature and community. The festival has activities such as hiking, biking, art creation, and volunteering, providing opportunities to connect with nature, learn, and contribute to environmental preservation. Attending this event will allow me to witness WAWA’s work firsthand and engage with community members about our project. This experience with WAWA has been inspiring, deepening my understanding of community-driven environmental efforts, and reinforcing the importance of grassroots initiatives. I look forward to continuing this journey and contributing to WAWA’s mission in the upcoming weeks.