Worldview is on the road. Today, our show comes to you from Flint, Michigan. While here, we are visiting the Flint Development Center, which features recreational and educational activities for residents of all ages. Among the Center’s programs is the Flint Community Lab. Initially piloted last summer, the Flint Community Lab will soon offer citizen-run water testing services for city residents, many of whom lost trust for government testing amid the Flint water crisis. Local youth take on much of the responsibility at the lab, helping their neighbors determine if their water is contaminated by lead or other metals. Joining us to discuss water access in Flint is Jill Ryan, executive director of Freshwater Future, an organization that champions healthy water in the Great Lakes Region. Also with us are Shelly Sparks, who directs the Flint Development Center, and Daryl Sparks, a student who has participated in the Flint Community Lab.

The Worldview bus tour is visiting communities throughout the Great Lakes region for a week as we celebrate the show’s twenty-fifth year on air. From water insecurity in Flint to indigenous rights in Kalamazoo, we are sharing stories that allow you to experience the world through the communities in your own backyard.