Tiana Starks

As we pack backpacks and prepare classrooms for back to school, fill water bottles and add snacks to lunchboxes, the idea of turning on the tap might be taken for granted. But along with school supplies, curriculum planning, and scheduling, water can be a source of anxiety for hundreds of thousands of Michigan families, teachers, and students. For students, proper hydration is linked to focus, behavior, and academic performance. When children are dehydrated, they struggle to concentrate....

Every Earth Day, we look to the horizon, celebrating electric vehicle mandates, solar power breakthroughs, and ambitious net-zero pledges. But this year, as we gaze at the sky, millions of Americans are being forced to think about something far closer to home: the simple act of turning on a faucet. Accessible and affordable water issues are Earth Day issues, too. This quiet crisis is getting louder in Michigan. Surrounded by 20% of the world's fresh surface water, the Great Lakes State is a...

People who work in the water sector around the world recently celebrated World Water Day. A day when water researchers, advocates, and suppliers recognize the importance of access to water in everyday life. And yet, we know families in every corner of the world, across the United States, and throughout Michigan struggle to access this essential, lifesaving resource. The conversation about affordability is happening in homes across the country. Families are feeling the pressure of rising...