Better together. Building a bright future for the Huron River and its communities.
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 • Washtenaw Community College
State of the Huron Conference
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 • Washtenaw Community College
The State of the Huron Conference is a one-day, immersive experience designed for community members, environmental professionals, and partners dedicated to the Huron River. Attendees will participate in programming focused on the latest water quality research, policy opportunities, and collaborative solutions—equipping you with ideas and connections to advance river protection and community well-being.
People have been working together and with the Huron River Watershed Council since 1965 to reduce pollution and restore and protect the Huron. Let’s join together at the State of the Huron Conference for a day of learning, networking, inspiration and a celebration of our 60th Anniversary. Here is what you can expect:
- Emerge with ideas and connections for future partnerships and actions that help the river, the watershed, and your community thrive.
- Gain a shared understanding of the status of the Huron River including current water quality trends and new research on PFAS.
- Learn and prepare for the most pressing existing and emerging threats facing the watershed.
- Explore opportunities to improve federal, state and local policies and funding for long term river and clean water protection.
- Hear stories of partnerships and community action that embrace equitable solutions for community well-being.
- Attendees will help create a vision of success for the river’s future and a path to get there that involves community engagement, individual actions and collaboration across federal, state and local governments, non-profits, philanthropy, private industry, and academia.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: DR. JALONNE WHITE-NEWSOME
Dr. Jalonne L. White-Newsome is the CEO/Founder of Empowering A Green Environment and Economy, LLC, a strategic consulting firm based in southeastern Michigan.
A nationally recognized visionary, problem solver and passionate leader who recently served in the Biden-Harris Administration, Dr. White-Newsome’s personal and professional experience spans across multiple sectors, disciplines, and geographies advancing environmental justice, equity and environmental health for the last 3 decades.
Throughout her career, Jalonne has been the first in multiple positions: she was the first Climate and Health post-doctoral fellow at the Union of Concerned Scientists; the first Director of Federal Policy at WE ACT for Environmental Justice; and, most recently, the first Federal Chief Environmental Justice Officer, appointed to serve at The White House Council on Environmental Quality, where she led the first Office of Environmental Justice in The White House, advancing the most ambitious environmental justice agenda the United States has ever seen.
Dr. White-Newsome earned a Ph.D. in environmental health sciences from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Southern Methodist University, a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Northwestern University, and a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. Affectionately known as Dr. J, she remains most thankful for her main job – being a wife and mother to her daughters, Arielle and Jeannelyn.
Agenda & Sessions
More Agenda Details Coming Soon!
The Health of the Huron River Watershed. Status & Trends
Discover how local and state data informs our understanding of the challenges facing water quality and public health within the Huron River watershed. A series of engaging lightning talks will showcase HRWC’s volunteer-driven water quality monitoring and recent findings from state and local partners. Together, we’ll examine long-term trends in watershed chemistry and biology, and gain fresh insights from emerging research on social and public health. This session sets the stage for a day of shared learning and action.
Moderator & Session Presenters: To Be Announced
What Threatens the Health of the Huron? Existing & Emerging Threats
As we look to the next 60 years, what are the greatest risks facing our watershed, ecosystems, and communities? In this session, we will confront three major threats – chemical contaminants, development, and climate change – through compelling lightning talks and a panel discussion. Together, we will explore monitoring data, projections, and learn about the innovative tools to better understand these threats and address their impacts to build resilience for decades ahead.
Moderator & Session Presenters: To Be Announced
Working At All Scales For Watershed Protection. Federal, State & Local Levers
The opportunities to implement impactful solutions for the restoration and protection of Michigan’s inland lakes and rivers are everywhere. From land use planning to state funding to federal policy, there are many fronts to fight for clean water and healthy rivers. In this collaborative session, experts at the federal, state and local levels will share where they see the best opportunities and most feasible solutions right now, and what they see as some of the creative solutions for watershed protection. The conversation will extend to the entire room, inviting everyone to build on these ideas and identify new pathways for collective action.
Moderator & Session Presenters: To Be Announced
The Power of Partnership & Community
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
We close our day by celebrating the partnerships and community vision that drive meaningful change for the Huron River watershed. This inspiring discussion brings together diverse voices, sharing stories of collaboration that crosses boundaries and amplifies the power of partnership and community. Rivers flow downstream crossing political boundaries and connecting people and places in unique ways. Watersheds highlight the importance of collaboration toward common goals. We will explore how local knowledge and community involvement can help strengthen our movement. We will envision the future we can create together.
Moderator & Session Presenters: To Be Announced
Become a Sponsor
Click here to view the 2025 Sponsorship Brochure
For questions about becoming a sponsor, contact Wendy Palms.
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