Staff and commissioners from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) were joined by members of the public to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Black History Month with a discussion on STEM and water.

The MWRD welcomed Dr. Kelly Easterly, managing director of STEM at Distinctive Schools, for a program featuring music by singer Zion Ali. In her role, Dr. Easterly leads the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of high‑quality STEM learning experiences across the Distinctive Schools network. Watch the program here.

“Black History Month is a time to honor the achievements, contributions, and resilience of African Americans throughout history and to reflect on how those legacies shape our work and our communities today,” said MWRD President Kari K. Steele. “This year’s theme, ‘Waves of Innovation: 100 Years of Black Excellence in STEM and Water,’ celebrates the tremendous impact Black scientists, engineers, inventors, and environmental leaders have made—and continue to make—in fields essential to our mission.”

The event follows flag‑raising ceremonies held on Feb. 2 at the MWRD’s Barbara J. McGowan Main Office Building at 100 E. Erie St., as well as at all seven water reclamation plants across Cook County. These ceremonies honored the African American communities the MWRD serves and recognized the many African American employees who contribute to the essential services that protect the region’s water environment.

“Thank you to Dr. Easterly for joining us at our Black History Month event and highlighting the important contributions African Americans have made to our environment,” said MWRD Commissioner Yumeka Brown. “We hope this inspirational message uplifts those working in the science and engineering fields dedicated to protecting our water resources.”

Throughout February, the MWRD celebrated Black History Month to highlight the agency’s commitment to diversity, support of the Black community, and recognition of African Americans whose leadership has shaped the fields of water, science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The luncheon gathering centered on the experiences, achievements, and impact of Black professionals driving progress in the water sector. Dr. Easterly, the featured speaker, shared insights from her work advancing STEM education across Distinctive Schools.

The MWRD also participated in the Black Creativity Career Showcase at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry on Feb. 14. These events underscore Black History Month as a powerful time for acknowledgement, reflection and inspiration.

Black History Month traces its roots back to 1926, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson launched a movement to recognize the achievements and struggles of the African American community during one week in February.