Campaign for Clean Water

Client: Central Alabama Water

Community Partner: Alabama Rivers Alliance

During a historic drought, Birmingham’s public water authority needed to activate the public around water conservation and lake stewardship at Lake Purdy, Birmingham’s primary source of drinking water. I expanded the engagement opportunity and connected it with a local university and environmental advocacy organizations.

Phase 1: Lake Purdy Cleanup

I organized a cleanup event with 100+ volunteers who collected thousands of pounds of trash from around the lake.

Phase 2: UAB Art Partnership

After the cleanup, I developed a partnership with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), featuring art students casting found objects from the cleanup into original metal works of art. The finished products came out as stunning visual reminders of the impact humans have on our environment. The UAB students' artwork was presented to the heads of three local riverkeeper organizations at a fundraising event for the Alabama Rivers Alliance.

Phase 3: Positively Alabama Water

To further support the work of Alabama Rivers Alliance member organizations, I created unique mementos that transformed old wine bottles into “Positively Alabama Water.” Each of the 20 bottles was “imbued with” positive character traits and was sold or auctioned off at the fundraising event, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the riverkeeper organizations.

From the label: “Originating in the Heart of Dixie, our water is blessed with the intentional, focused energy of wise women and wise men. Each varietal of our water is permeated with a positive character trait, so you're not only drinking better water, you're also becoming a better person.”