Former WEF President and Charlotte Water Deputy Director Jackie Jarrell on Providing Safe, Supportive Spaces for Women in Water Workspaces and Conferences

Jackie Jarrell is Deputy Director of Charlotte Water and Past President of the Water Environment Federation or "WEF" (wef.org), which is the largest water association in the US with 35,000 members. The Water Environment Federation focuses primarily focuses on clean water and water quality side of water (while the American Water Works Association or "AWWA" deals more with drinking water supply and related issues - which may overlap with WEF in the current "One Water" approach to water supply and water resources protection).

Jackie's WEF Presidency began in the Fall of 2019, which means that her one-year term included challenges such as the early days of COVID-19 - with the associated lockdown for many water professionals and designation as "essential workers" (risking their lives to keep our water and sanitation systems working) for others - as well as the George Floyd protests and racial tensions that rocked water utilities (often one of the largest employers in town) and the communities we serve.

Jackie shares with us her background - the daughter of Columbian immigrants - and how she began her career in Civil and Environmental Engineering - working at a utility headed by a man who was supportive of women. We talked about her current GM, Angela Charles - one of few Black Women water utility leaders and Jackie's first female boss - and the tendency Women Water Utility Leaders have of including more women among their leadership teams. Angela was recognized for the significant role she has placed in promoting Diversity and Inclusion for underrepresented groups in WEF - and for the difficult decisions she made to protect their predominantly minority workforce while still providing services at the start of the COVID lockdown.

We then discussed Jackie's involvement with WEF and efforts to protect the Water Workforce and especially the "essential workers" who could not quarantine at home at the start of the Pandemic. Jackie discussed the importance of keeping the Workforce safe with Personal Protective Equipment. They also talked about the events that led up to the George Floyd demonstrations and riots, including the impact of COVID-19, and how the pandemic exacerbated the Water Access Gap on black and brown communities as discussed in the US Water Alliance Report: Closing the Water Access Gap in the United States.

Immediately following the release of the George Floyd video and demonstrations that followed, the Water Environment Federation made a statement against police brutality and racism. Jackie noted that she had already been leading discussions on DEI within WEF in the months leading up to the start of the Pandemic, and that these conversations and actions were accelerated. Jackie and DrCat also recommended an edition of the WEF Podcast "Words On Water" co-hosted by Travis Loop and Rahkia Nance on "Conversations On Equity" with 3 Black Utility Leaders: Cincinnati's Cathy Bennett Bailey, Philadelphia's Randy Hayman, and Louisville's Tony Parrott.

We talked about the importance of Professional and Industry Associations for career development, as they provide opportunities for leadership and skill development. Jackie also stresses the importance of discussing difficult issues, sharing diverse perspectives, and including young and non-traditional professionals in organizations. We also discussed the need to support individuals who are re-entering the workforce and invites them to be a part of the water sector.

We also talked about the significance of mentoring and sharing experiences in leadership. The speakers acknowledge workplace issues, such as respect and harassment, and suggest one-on-one conversations as a way to handle such situations, if possible. DrCat also shared about her experiences of bullying by Association staff, which Jackie acknowledged to be disrespectful. They also discuss the challenges of being a solopreneur or small non-profit and how working for a larger organization can be helpful. The speakers touch on bad actors and bullying in association conferences and emphasize the importance of being prepared for workplace incidents.

In the closing remarks, the importance of having someone to talk to when faced with workplace harassment was highlighted. It was also emphasized that mutual respect and learning can lead to faster change in the industry. The need for intentional action to address issues of harassment and discrimination in the water sector was stressed. Finally, the importance of creating an industry that is welcoming and supportive to all, especially women, was underscored.