Last week, the Raleigh Water Communications team attended the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) annual Strategic Communications: H2O Workshop in Detroit. This event is unique in its focus on communications issues related to public clean water. The team aimed to learn and apply some of the best communication strategies from around the country.
The workshop spanned two days, featuring panel discussions and networking opportunities with other professionals committed to providing safe, clean water. Kimberly Holmes-Iverson, Communication Manager for Raleigh Water, expressed her enthusiasm about the experience: “Our time at the NACWA H2O Workshop in Detroit was truly inspiring! Connecting with fellow water communicators and exploring innovative strategies for community engagement and trust-building has left us energized and ready to dive into our shared water challenges.”
Jacob Barnhart, a Communication Analyst, noted a key theme from the conference: “A key theme of the conference was that meaningful communication cannot exist without substantial trust. My main takeaway from this event is that disinformation has become a reality in communication today.”
Holly Sharp, Communications Administrator, also found value in hearing real-life examples from other cities: “I loved the focus on communications and hearing real-life examples from other cities,” she said. She is eager to implement these lessons back in Raleigh.
In addition to work-related activities, the team enjoyed local cuisine and spent quality time together. They returned with renewed excitement to continue their mission of ensuring strong communication and maintaining clean water standards for Raleigh.
