NSU Doctoral Student Makes a Difference in the Flint, Michigan Water Crisis

Crystal Chavez, doctoral student in the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies (DCRS) in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), has shown that one person can make a difference! After having selected and studied the Flint, Michigan, water crisis as a case study in a class taught by Robin Cooper, Ph.D., Chavez became determined to take action. She started with an education campaign and contacted organizations in Flint, including Trinity Baptist Church. She learned much from them about the situation, including about a donation of The Water Box from rap artist Jaden Smith. Delivered in June 2019, this allowed residents to fill up jugs of water from a portable filtered water system, but even more water was needed.

Chavez decided to launch a Go Fund Me page and was able to raise enough money to buy over 40,000 bottles of water to ship to Flint. She decided to travel to Flint to help hand out the water and meet the team from Trinity Baptist Church. On the day of distribution, there were lines of cars already wrapped around the church equal to ten long city blocks. She hopes to make a second trip to Flint with more water.

According to Chavez, “My studies at NSU have given me a greater purpose for the type of work I was born to do.  This will be a part of my legacy in this life.  I am grateful to Nova, Dr. Cooper, and the people of Flint for helping me realize that the gifts I want to give the world are the gifts of love, kindness, compassion, and generosity.”