Water4Seasons: Using Research-Based Theatre to Explore the Status of Water Health Equity

Stephani Etheridge Woodson is a professor in the School of Music, Dance and Theatre at Arizona State University where she specializes in community cultural development and community-engaged practices. She serves as director of the Herberger Institute’s Design and Arts Corps, an initiative to partner all Herberger Institute students with the community. Her research and creative interests focus on theatre and performance with, by and for children and youth; representational ethics; arts in wellness practices; and the group creation and performance of original work. Currently serving as associate dean for students in the Herberger Institute, she is a founding member of CENAS (Cultural Engagements in Nutrition, Arts and Sciences), a transdisciplinary working group of scholars and artists who develop, implement and evaluate innovative approaches to community and individual wellness, with arts practices at its center.

Warren Brown is a water operator responsible for 13 drinking water systems in his community and one of the only Lytton First Nation staff to remain behind during the wildfires in 2021 to ensure the water systems remained operational. Warren wants fellow operators to open their doors and offer tours to community leadership and youth so they can understand the hardships and successes of being a water operator in a First Nation community and the critical work being done to have clean drinking water.

Katy Thorne is a Certified Water Professional (CWP) and Certified Wastewater Professional (CWWP) from Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc (TteS). She operates and maintains a significant wastewater collection network that services both her community as well as its industrial and range of economic development clients who receive water/wastewater services from TteS (e.g., the Sun Rivers golf course, residential homes that are located on the golf course, and multiple trailer parks). There are magnitudes of responsibilities that Katy has in her day-to-day work as an Operator. She is passionate about learning and sharing knowledge regarding the importance of safe drinking water and wastewater management to a community’s health, economy, and quality of life.