This year may be the biggest in decades for our Nation’s infrastructure. The pledge of Federal investment has been deferred for far too long, the US lagging behind our global neighbors in context of sustainability, climate resiliency, and socioeconomic equity within the urbanized environment. However, political pressure to act has been building alongside increased public recognition of our infrastructure inadequacies. Now is the time to build for tomorrow, starting with a transformative pivot in how we design, plan, construct, and rebuild infrastructure – coupled with equitable urban policy. United for infrastructure, we can accelerate equitable development strategies to begin a JUST normal…
the organizational framework and fundamental structures & facilities necessary for a healthy, prosperous society
ˈinfrəˌstrək(t)SHər
The last year has brought the criticality of building resilience and equity in the urban environment to the mainstream, thanks to countless professionals, advocates, and social activists. Infrastructure Week 2021 united thousands across the nation highlighting projects and initiatives bringing transformative, ecological change in the infrastructure evolution. Here in Seattle, we hosted a five-day event with fifteen local organizations representing their efforts in public, private, and non-profit sectors. All events are available to view below, as we break-down and highlight each focus area…Be sure to check out the links for our partners, and videos from each day!
And please, fill out our survey and let us know how to make IW better…
What is Infrastructure Week and why should I care?
IW serves as a platform for professional stewardship & advocacy; an accessible forum to enhance public awareness and community engagement. A collaborative movement between Public, Private, and Non-Profit organizations to build more sustainable, if not regenerative, symbiotic infrastructure. This event is part of a nationwide movement by United for Infrastructure a 501(c)4 non-profit started in 2013 in Washington D.C., a coalition of over 500+ cross-sector affiliates to drive infrastructure investment and highlight opportunities within the built environment. The mission of IW and Utility² is to facilitate transformative, ecological change in the infrastructure evolution with community as primary stakeholders.
Seattle, like many west coast cities, is experiencing rapid growth compounded by aging inadequate infrastructure. Our region’s ecosystem at large faces many unique challenges associated with the effects of anthropogenic climate change. We must recognize the legacy of infrastructure transcends original scope, affecting the environment and surrounding communities for generations, and in many cases, has led to systemic socioeconomic inequity. We hope that our events serve as a reminder that individual actions can make a big difference in building a more sustainable and resilient society.
05.10: History of Modernity to ReThink Infrastructure + Build Better
We kick-off IW traveling time through the Human Era and how humans have been living alongside infrastructure for over 12,000 years. Our second generation of infrastructure has brought us MODERNITY and the desire to remain at the forefront of progression; questioning our present state and seeking improvement to what is considered modern. We continually chase this idea of Modernity, most recently in the form of convenience and instant access. When we place our thinking of infrastructure in context with the Human Era at large, the Earth has witnessed two fundamental generations of infrastructure reshaping the planet and disrupting its natural balance in the process…Learn why the evolution to symbiosis is needed and hear from our presenters on what they are doing to get us there!
05.11: Trash Talk and Municipal Solid Waste
In our present throw-away culture, we often prioritize convenience over durability and consideration of long-term impacts. Americans use over 100 billion plastic shopping bags every year and discard 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour! Join our session where we highlight the history of municipal solid waste throughout the Human Era, the importance of Lifecycle Thinking using the Waste Hierarchy, and criticality of individual habits in managing our trash…
05.12: All things H2O Infrastructure
Humans can go 3 weeks without food, but only 3 days without water. Unfortunately, in pursuit of Modernity, we have degraded much of the natural water supply and now require distributed water infrastructure to meet our needs while preserving environment. Listen to this session to learn more about H2O infra of the Human Era, challenges in the aquatic environment we must address, and how we can reduce our water consumption as a society. Our presenters share some novel water infrastructure and projects in Seattle to reduce environmental impact of the urbanized environment…
05.13: Building Greenspaces + Transforming Energy
Greenspaces and energy have become increasingly interrelated as we understand the impact of traditional systems, and pursue green alternatives. This event highlights energy innovations of the Human Era, summarizing many of the promising technologies to transition towards a carbon-neutral society. Check out some staggering energy statistics, and hear from our presenters on a wide range of issues…
05.14: Shaping A(d)JUST Normal + Equitable Infrastructure Legacy
Most critical for the infra evolution to address is environmental racism and classism; the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on people of color and low-income communities. These include institutional policies and corporate decisions that deliberately target certain neighborhoods for locally undesirable land uses and lax enforcement of zoning and environmental laws, resulting in such communities being exposed to toxic and hazardous waste based upon race of economic status. While many of these development decisions were made decades ago, the effects remain omnipresent – contaminated water & soils, increased rates of asthma, heart disease, lower birth weight, and shortened lifespan. We discuss this, and host youth leaders from two organizations sharing their views on infrastructure…If you want to advocate for EJ and make positive changes in your community, this is not to be missed!
Youth Leaders on Infrastructure: DVYC & IYAI+
Below are links to more infrastructure reading, and relevant resources!
United for Infra: https://unitedforinfrastructure.org/
America Jobs Plan Outline: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/31/fact-sheet-the-american-jobs-plan/
WA Environmental Justice Disparities Map: https://frontandcentered.org/ej-map/
Lake Washington Dumps: https://www.historylink.org/File/10171
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell on Energy Death Tolls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzfpyo-q-RM&t=571s
Indigenous Nations Map: https://native-land.ca/
WA Tribes Map: https://www.washingtontribes.org/
Pay Your Rent: https://www.realrentduwamish.org/
Front & Centered EJ Map: https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/wtn/WTNIBL/
UW Evictions Study: https://www.washington.edu/news/2020/02/10/uw-study-reveals-gender-racial-disparities-in-evictions/
