Authors
Victoria Nau (CIRES), Anne Gold (CIRES), Megan Littrell (CIRES), Christine Okochi (CIRES), Katie Boyd (CIRES), Ami Nacu-Schmidt (CIRES), Ethan Knight (CIRES), Brigitta Rongstad Strong (CIRES)

Abstract

We are Water partners with libraries to bring STEAM programs and an exhibition to rural, Latino/Hispano, and Indigenous communities in the Four Corners Region of the U.S. The project engages community members in conversations about their personal and community connections to local water topics. Stories and community voices are highlighted and woven throughout the exhibit components and hands-on activities. Through experiences with We are Water, communities explore their shared watershed and local ecosystems and connect with neighbors through their shared and unique experiences with water in the region. Our activities encourage individuals, families, and communities to share their memories and stories about water and come together to imagine a future they want for their communities. In addition, CEEE designed virtual and take-home activities for library patrons, and a trilingual exhibition (Navajo, Spanish, and English). The traveling exhibition was hosted by libraries from 2022 through the end of 2024. Community Exhibit We are Water is now applying what the team learned about community-based work and has started the co-development of two small, locally customized We are Water Community Exhibits in rural libraries across the Four Corners Region. Building on the original project's success in connecting underserved Tribal, Latinx, and rural communities with culturally relevant water education, these downscaled exhibits will remain permanently at host sites and reflect local water issues, languages, and stories. Through a collaborative design process involving community advisors and library staff, each site will co-create bilingual exhibit panels, interactive components, and locally focused programming. The project emphasizes cultural responsiveness, community engagement, and place-based learning, with evaluation led by CEEE and external partners to document impact and refine the approach. This effort extends We are Water's reach and deepens its commitment to honoring community knowledge and voices in informal STEM education. STEM Day We are Water was selected to be the host of one of NSF's 75th anniversary STEM Day celebrations. We are organizing a Community Celebration event on May 10, 2025, marking the opening of the We are Water exhibit's new long-term home at The Powerhouse, a science museum in Durango, Colorado. Building on five years of successful community engagement across the Four Corners Region, the event will celebrate regional water connections through culturally responsive, multigenerational programming, including interactive water-themed activities, storytelling, educator training, and a local film festival. The celebration will bring together community organizations, Tribal partners, educators, and families to highlight local water issues, showcase NSF's investment in community-based STEM learning, and foster lasting partnerships in the community.