Last month, members from the Pittsburgh and Milwaukee Water Equity Taskforce teams met in Milwaukee to learn from one another in a first-of-its-kind, independently organized learning exchange.

Both Pittsburgh and Milwaukee participated in the Water Equity Taskforce, which was created to investigate challenges and potential solutions to water system inequity. Participating in a mix of tours, on-site visits, and guided conversations, the gathering allowed the two teams to exchange experiences and the important lessons they’ve learned.

Among the topics discussed were how to build community partnerships that can create a more equitable water future in our region. The teams also focused on workforce development: how can we attract a workforce that’s representative of the communities in which we live and work?

Moving forward, the Pittsburgh team hopes to continue its progress building authentic partnerships (see the image at right) and improving its workforce development efforts. We have a great model to follow, and we left feeling excited about how we could replicate portions of Milwaukee's strong apprenticeship programs and community-focused approaches to workforce development.

A big thank you to Joe Fitzgerald of Milwaukee Water Commons, Jamil Bey, PWSA Board member, and Mora McLaughlin, PWSA Construction Communications Project Manager, for organizing the learning exchange.