The water sector can’t fully serve communities if it doesn’t reflect them — and for too long, people of color have been underrepresented across the industry.
That lack of representation creates trust gaps, reinforces barriers, and signals to many young professionals that they don’t belong. That’s the challenge Patricia Lindsay-Harvey, President of the Black Water Professional Alliance, is determined to change.
As President of the Black Water Professional Alliance, Pat helped launch the organization three years ago to build a safe, nurturing space for Black professionals in water — a place to talk openly about challenges, share solutions, and create a pathway for growth. The goal is simple but powerful: strengthen support systems so people don’t feel isolated, under-resourced, or pushed out of a career that desperately needs their leadership.
By fostering community, elevating lived experience, and building a pipeline that helps retain Black professionals in water careers, Pat and BWPA are reshaping what inclusion looks like in the sector.
And for anyone asking how to help, Pat says the first steps are clear: acknowledge the problem, support the work, and commit to creating an industry where this disparity no longer exists.
Content from the US Water Alliance One Water Summit.
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