The Mitch Albom Show broadcasted live last night from the Flint Institute of Arts to speak with residents, non-profit organizations and the Mayor of Flint about the water crisis.
Melissa Mays founder of Water You Fighting For, a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting and distributing bottled water to the citizens of Flint sat and spoke about how the people of Flint have been lied to and let down too many times. Everything that has transpired has been a “failure parade.”
The Mayor of Flint, Karen Weaver even stated that “…we don’t trust those people. We have to have independent people come along with testing the water. We don’t believe the results that they give us.” To have that trust broken by the state representatives is outrageous and unforgivable.
When asked if audience members would like to speak, 10 year-old Meredith Knight spoke of her confusion and the misinformation and fear that has grown among students like her.But she does know that this poisoned water can have a terrible impact on her future. “I’m scared that I won’t grow up to be smart. And that I won’t be the best I can be.”
What do you do when your state senators and government officials lie blatantly to the public? Can this trust be repaired? Is there a future for the city of Flint? As new information is being revealed daily, the only certainty that these residents, celebrities, and every person that has donated a bottle of water, must be united not only in the short-term response to the crisis but in the long-term investment in the treatment of all children adversely affected by lead poisoning.
The Mitch Albom Show is proud to announce that with the generous support of show sponsor Absopure, a semi-truck filled with bottled water will be arriving in Flint by Friday, January 29.
Listen to highlights from the show:
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John West, a Flint resident for 64 years.
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Flint Residents, John West and Melissa Mays
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Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, and Melissa Mays the Founder of Water You Fighting For
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Brothers James (left) and Jimmie (right) Thompson walk 2 miles a day to get clean water
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Mitch and Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha
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10 year-old Meredith Knight
Sure there is a future for Flint. Like Detroit, Flint and Michigan have people that are very resilient.
Shame on the people that let them drink that water for 2 years. I felt bad for the young gal Meredith that evening.
I do hope that the majority have little or no real effects from the water but that will keep a lot of tracking for years.
After listening to your show that evening I have confidence that the doctors will have a handle on things.
It will take time getting the pipes changed and houses cleaned up too. There is no place else to go from there but up.