Tag: Milliken intern

FLOW Welcomes Milliken Law and Policy Interns, Mary Basso and Irene Namae

Published on July 11th, 2022 by - Blog Posts

FLOW is pleased to announce our ambitious and talented 2022 Milliken Interns for Law and Policy, Mary Basso and Irene Namae.

“At FLOW, our interns jump into the fray and immediately work together with our staff to protect our precious waters,” said Executive Director Liz Kirkwood. “We are thrilled to welcome Irene and Mary to the team, and excited to benefit from their fresh energy and ideas. As our Milliken law and policy interns, they have the skills and attributes to help extend the legacy of environmental protection left by Gov. William and Helen Milliken.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Irene and Mary to the team, and excited to benefit from their fresh energy and ideas. As our Milliken law and policy interns, they have the skills and attributes to help extend the legacy of environmental protection left by Gov. William and Helen Milliken,” said Executive Director Liz Kirkwood.

Each summer, FLOW seeks out bright, talented interns to assist us with communications, policy, and legal research tasks, supported by The Helen and William G. Milliken Fund For Love of Water. The Milliken Fund is designed to support work that protects the Great Lakes and the public trust rights of those who depend on them, inspires community action advancing environmental stewardship, and sustains internships at FLOW—the Great Lakes law and policy center based in Governor Milliken’s hometown of Traverse City—to foster a new generation of environmental leaders.

The family of former Michigan Governor William Milliken, who passed away in 2019, designated FLOW as one of two nonprofits to whom contributions could be made in the Governor’s memory. This choice reminds us that Governor Milliken dedicated much of his public service to the protection of the Great Lakes and all the other waters of Michigan. By supporting internships at FLOW, gifts made in the Governor’s memory serve to inspire remembrances of his work and affirm the potential that young people have for carrying it forward.

A Deeper Dive with Irene Namae and Mary Basso

We recently interviewed Irene and Mary to get to know them, their roots, their passion for environmental advocacy, and what attracted them to FLOW.

FLOW: Where are you from? Where are you located now?

Irene Namae: I was born in Uganda. After finishing my Bachelor’s in law in Uganda, I came to the United States to further my education. I currently reside in Tuscon, Arizona, with my child and we are enjoying the warm summer weather.

Mary Basso: I am from Owosso, Michigan. After finishing my bachelor’s degree, I moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to study law. I returned to Michigan to work with FLOW for the summer.

FLOW: What did you study at university?

Irene: I graduated with a Bachelor of Law from Makerere University in Uganda in 2013. I studied civil law, criminal law, family law, and environmental law during my time there. Following my graduation, I served as a magistrate judge in Uganda, hearing cases in all legal fields and rendering judgments. In 2018, I came to the United States to start my masters in law, which I completed in 2019. Today, I am working on my PhD in law at the University of Arizona, focusing on Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy. 

Mary: I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan in 2020. While attending U of M, I majored in History and French and minored in Women’s Studies and Political Science. After spending a year teaching English in France, I moved to Nashville to start my legal studies at Vanderbilt University Law School. 

FLOW: Outside of work and school, what are your passions?

Irene: Outside of work, I love staying active. I enjoy swimming, hiking, and dancing. When I am looking for a quieter moment, I sit down to read. I prefer literature for relaxation, but I also read legal texts so I can learn more about legal systems around the world. I enjoy traveling, and visiting new places is a special treat.

Mary: I also enjoy the chance to be active outside of work. I like to hike, kayak, and have recently gotten into running. These days, I prefer audio books so I have more time to crochet hats, hang towels, and toys that I sell at the local farmer’s market. At the end of the week, I love trying new breweries and sampling artisanal beers.

FLOW: What life experiences sparked your interest in environmental advocacy?

Irene: I grew up beside the river Manafwa in Uganda. For many years, locals depended on the river to provide nutrients to their crops, drinking water for their livestock, and hydration for their daily lives. However, as I grew up, the river became increasingly polluted and eventually ran dry. Life became more difficult for locals. They had to walk long distances to fetch potable water for their families, had decreased crop yields, and lost livestock. As I got older, I spoke with my father about the law and wondered what could be done to protect and improve the lives of those around me. My desire to serve my community and protect the water rights of marginalized indigenous groups in my nation pushed me into environmental advocacy work.

Mary: I grew up near the Shiawassee River hearing stories about the high level of pollution it contained. Realizing what an important resource these local water ways were, I went to work with my district’s environmental advocacy group. I led recycling efforts within my school district, pushed for education on conservation and pollution, and helped start an annual day of service for district students which featured environmental cleanup efforts. During my years at the University of Michigan, I was involved on the Campus Farm where students learned sustainable farming practices and helped provide produce to the university and local shelters.

FLOW: Why are you excited to work with FLOW?

Irene: I am excited to work with FLOW because I fell in love with the organization’s mission and its team during my internship search. While doing my research on summer opportunities, I came across FLOW’s website. I was entranced by the group’s vision for the future of water rights, the group’s goals and objectives, and the steps that the group is taking to advocate for water rights. Upon watching informational videos on FLOW’s website, I was hooked and knew I had to apply. 

Mary: Law students in the United States have limited time to explore different fields of law and I knew that I wanted to spend the summer doing public interest work. During my summer internship search, I stumbled upon FLOW. As I poured over the website, I was thrilled to see a passionate group of people taking concrete steps to address water rights issues in my home state. I am excited to spend the summer working with people who are devoted to environmental advocacy in the state I love. 

FLOW: What will you do after your time with FLOW?

Irene: After my time with FLOW, I plan to finish my PhD at the University of Arizona and return to Uganda to continue working in the Judiciary. Grounded with new knowledge, I hope to be a better advocate for indigenous people in my region seeking protection of their water rights and plan to address issues related to the privatization of water. 

Mary: As the summer comes to an end, I will return to Vanderbilt Law School. I plan to pursue coursework in Water Law and Environmental Law. Outside of class, I intend to do pro-bono work with the Environmental Law Society.

A Next Generation Voice Speaks Up to Keep Our Water Public and Protected

Published on May 19th, 2022 by - Blog Posts, News

“Protecting our precious waters is a multigenerational mission,” said FLOW Executive Director Liz Kirkwood. “We put that mission into practice not only by pursuing solutions to water problems that will pay off for generations to come, but also by engaging young people who will carry forward the work as part of a rising generation.”

Each summer, we at FLOW seek out bright, talented interns to assist us with communications, policy, and legal research tasks, supported by The Helen and William G. Milliken Fund For Love of Water. The Milliken Fund is designed to support work that protects the Great Lakes and the public trust rights of those who depend on them, inspires community action advancing environmental stewardship, and sustains internships at FLOW—the Great Lakes law and policy center based in Governor Milliken’s hometown of Traverse City—to foster a new generation of environmental leaders.

The family of former Michigan Governor William Milliken, who passed away in 2019, designated FLOW as one of two nonprofits to whom contributions could be made in the Governor’s memory. This choice reminds us that Governor Milliken dedicated much of his public service to the protection of the Great Lakes and all the other waters of Michigan. By supporting internships at FLOW, gifts made in the Governor’s memory serve to inspire remembrances of his work and affirm the potential that young people have for carrying it forward.

“Protecting our precious waters is a multigenerational mission,” said FLOW Executive Director Liz Kirkwood. “We put that mission into practice not only by pursuing solutions to water problems that will pay off for generations to come, but also by engaging young people who will carry forward the work as part of a rising generation.”

We are very pleased to announce that FLOW’s summer 2022 Milliken Intern for Communications is Mackenzie Joseph, a native of Johnstown, Ohio, and rising senior at Ohio University in Athens, who is majoring in Communication Studies with minors in History, English, Writing, and Political Communication. We asked Mackenzie to tell us a little about her background and what appeals to her about FLOW’s work.

Mackenzie Joseph: A Passion for Words and Freshwater Protection

I am from Johnstown, Ohio, and when not in school, I am heavily involved with performing in community theater and other arts programs in the Columbus area. In addition to my academic focuses, I am also the vice president of the award-winning Ohio University Speech and Debate Team and the overall individual events champion of the Ohio Forensics Association’s 2022 state tournament. My participation in collegiate speech and debate over the past three years has taught me many communications skills I plan to utilize during my work with FLOW. But it also led me to discover a personal passion for water advocacy and the importance of educating citizens and leaders to conserve and protect fresh water. 

When brainstorming a topic for my persuasive speech last fall, I stumbled upon an article detailing a cyberattack on a water treatment plant in Oldsmar, Florida. In February of 2021, a hacker attempted to poison local drinking water there by introducing the chemical lye into the water treatment system. Learning more about this attack and other similar instances, I was shocked and frankly terrified that a water system could so easily be contaminated and how vulnerable many small municipal water facilities were to cyber threats. From this newfound knowledge, I then crafted a 10-minute persuasive speech focusing on the problems and causes behind the issue and how we as citizens can work together to produce tangible solutions. 

The Ohio River Basin has been a crucial player in the coal mining industry of rural Appalachia. But decades of this infrastructure have not come without cost. Acid mine drainage from abandoned coal mines seeps into the freshwater sources and threatens vital aquatic life, endangers people taking part in recreation, and makes the water unfit for human consumption.

After spending months researching, writing, revising, and rehearsing my speech, I found myself deeply invested in water advocacy and ensuring that every citizen can exercise their right to safe water access. And by performing my speech numerous times at collegiate tournaments, I could share this passion with students and faculty from universities across the nation. At the Pi Kappa Delta National Speech and Debate Tournament in March, my speech received 8th overall in the nation and I had the honor of performing it in a showcase for hundreds of audience members.

Watch Mackenzie Joseph’s speech about the challenge of water security. 

But cyber security is only one issue plaguing our fresh water. Moving to Southern Ohio for college, I witnessed firsthand the threats to water facing my new community and the Appalachian region. The Ohio River Basin has been a crucial player in the coal mining industry of rural Appalachia. But decades of installing and operating this industrial infrastructure have not come without cost. Acid mine drainage from abandoned coal mines seeps into the freshwater sources and threatens vital aquatic life, endangers people taking part in recreation, and creates water unfit for human consumption. With Southern Ohio being home to millions of people, many of whom survive on incomes well below the poverty line, this issue is only heightened.

I was immediately drawn to FLOW’s mission to acknowledge that water ‘belongs to all of us and is owned by no one.’ Water is something we physically cannot live without and it, therefore, impacts every one of us.

Before moving to my small college town, I had never lived under an alert to boil my water before use. But these alerts have become the unfortunate norm for residents, with more than 20 issued in a given year. Once I saw the firsthand impact on those in my community, I knew I wanted to use my knowledge and skills to help those in and out of Southern Ohio.

My journey in college and speech ultimately led me to discover FLOW, and the work the staff at FLOW does every day to defend and protect the water of the Great Lakes—including groundwater and drinking water.

I was immediately drawn to FLOW’s mission to acknowledge that water “belongs to all of us and is owned by no one.” Water is something we physically cannot live without and it, therefore, impacts every one of us. I was captivated by FLOW’s work in the public trust to ensure the protection and access to our water sources. As a communications intern this summer, I am honored to contribute my voice and knowledge to further FLOW’s mission to ensure the waters of the Great Lakes Basin are healthy, public, and protected for all.

FLOW Welcomes Interns Nora Baty, Matt Harmon, and Henry Ludwig

Published on June 2nd, 2021 by - Blog Posts, News

Photo montage: From left, Nora Baty, Matt Harmon, and Henry Ludwig and his dog Sadie.

FLOW is thrilled to welcome our ambitious and talented crop of summer interns—Milliken law and policy interns Nora Baty and Henry Ludwig, and our Milliken intern for communications, Matt Harmon.

“At FLOW, our interns jump into the fray and immediately work together with our staff to protect our precious waters,” said Executive Director Liz Kirkwood. “We are thrilled to welcome Nora, Matt, and Henry to the team, and excited to benefit from their fresh energy and ideas. As our Milliken interns, they have the skills and attributes to help extend the legacy of environmental protection left by Gov. William and Helen Milliken.”

Nora Baty is a rising third-year law student at the University of Michigan Law School, living and working in Ann Arbor. Nora is an articles editor with the Michigan Journal of Environmental and Administrative Law and the lead student coordinator of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters’ Green Gavels project. Prior to law school, Nora studied Environmental Microbiology at Michigan State University, where she was the Women’s Team Captain of the MSU Fencing Club for two years. During her time at FLOW, Nora is working on projects related to Line 5, particularly the revocation and termination of the easement and the pipeline permitting process.

“Environmental protection has always been a central value of mine,” says Nora. “Originally, I had planned to work in scientific research, hence the environmental microbiology degree. However, as time went on, it became increasingly clear to me that while I loved environmental microbiology, and still do, there was a need for legal advocates with a background in environmental science. I was immediately interested in FLOW’s work safeguarding the Great Lakes. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from the wonderful advocates at FLOW this summer.”

Matt Harmon is a recent graduate from the University of Michigan with a major in International Studies and a minor in Playwriting. He is a writer, musician, and theater facilitator currently living in Royal Oak, Michigan. He is in the process of completing a year of service with AmeriCorps as a Green School Coordinator with the Youth Energy Squad, a program that engages Detroit students in hands-on, environmental justice-focused service learning projects.

Whether he’s writing music for a new play he wrote, organizing poetry readings and concerts with Rent Party Detroit, or hosting theater workshops with Sofa Stories Detroit, Matt is always looking to bridge the arts and community. With FLOW, Matt is serving as our Communications Intern, writing articles, taking photos, and recording interviews on water-related issues in Southeast Michigan and beyond.

“I was first attracted to FLOW’s dedication to covering all dimensions of water justice throughout the state,” says Matt. “This means interviewing activists, it means examining the role art plays in protecting our environment, and it especially means acknowledging that water ‘belongs to all of us and is owned by no one,’ as FLOW’s mission states. Water is something that is both tangible and elusive. It is a public good all around us and yet someone is always looking to capitalize off of it. FLOW’s commitment to public trust solutions continues to inspire me and is something I am incredibly excited to help further with my writing.”

Henry Ludwig is a rising second-year law student at Columbia Law School in New York City, where he is beginning a focus on environmental law and justice. Henry previously graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Political Science and International Studies. Henry is currently based in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, but plans to return to New York for the fall semester. At FLOW, Henry is working to develop a green infrastructure model statute for state and local governments, surveying groundwater protections in Michigan and across the country, and continuing to build on FLOW’s Public Water, Public Justice model legislation, which addresses both the sale of water for profit and the protection of drinking water and public health with new infrastructure funds.

“Growing up in Indiana, my family took regular vacations to Lake Michigan,” says Henry. “Still, it wasn’t until we took a week-long road trip circumnavigating the lake and visiting the Straits of Mackinac and Lake Superior that I began to understand the true nature and scale of this precious and invaluable resource.”

“My understanding of how water shapes life in this region changed again during my time at the University of Michigan,”Henry continues. “While living in the state, the Flint Water Crisis was ongoing, and the attention to the dangers posed by Line 5 began to skyrocket. I began to realize how this great resource was being abused for private gain and recognize the grievous inequities in access to the resource, which should be shared equally by all.”

“FLOW is an organization with bold and ambitious goals and has a team with the talent and knowledge to achieve them,” says Henry. “I was drawn to this team to help fight to end the inequities and abuses of the water that is so important to all of our lives. FLOW’s novel focus on the public trust is not only intriguing as a law student, but critical in holding our public officials accountable for protecting the resource that belongs to all of us. I am very excited to be on the team.”

Support the Milliken Fund and the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders

In 2020, FLOW launched the Helen and William G. Milliken Fund For Love of Water to extend the former First Family of Michigan’s legacy of equity and environmental protection.

The Milliken Fund is designed to support work that protects the Great Lakes and the public trust rights of those who depend on them, inspires community action advancing environmental stewardship, and sustains internships at FLOW—which is based in Governor Milliken’s hometown of Traverse City—to foster a new generation of environmental leaders.

Established at FLOW by a bequest from the Milliken family, the Milliken Fund is welcoming donations from members of the public interested in investing in and extending Helen and Governor Milliken’s legacy of protecting the environment and especially the Great Lakes, advancing social equity, and promoting civility and bipartisanship.