What does recurring flooding look like in your community — and how does it affect your health, daily life, and well-being?
Join Southside ReLeaf, the University of Richmond, and the Virginia Department of Health for a community listening session as part of WATER: Workplan Action Towards Environmental Resilience, a two-year project focused on co-creating a community-governed research roadmap on flooding and health equity in Southside Richmond.
What?
This listening session will be an opportunity to share your experiences, concerns, and ideas, and to help shape the questions future research should explore. We’ll discuss the different ways flooding can affect health and daily life, including health care access, exposure to standing water and other contaminants, drinking water, safety, transportation, mental health, and more.
You will also have the opportunity to complete the WATER drinking water survey, which asks Richmond residents where they get their drinking water, how they experience its quality, and what influences their choices.
Dinner will be provided.
Who should attend?
We welcome residents and community members who live, work, go to school, or serve residents in Southside communities affected by recurring flooding. You don't need to be a flooding or research expert to participate. We're interested in YOUR experiences and perspectives.
When?
Thursday, November 19, 2026
6 - 7:30 p.m. (1.5 hours)
Where?
The location is to be determined in Southside Richmond. We will contact all registrants once the location is finalized.
Do I need to register?
Yes! To help us get an accurate headcount for dinner and to accommodate any dietary restrictions, please sign up through our Google Form (linked below). If you have any questions about this event, please email Lisa at lisa@southsidereleaf.org.
Accessibility & Participation
Southside ReLeaf is committed to making our programs and events accessible and welcoming to everyone, including children and families. If you need a disability-related accommodation, interpretation, translated materials, transportation support, child care support, dietary accommodation, or another form of assistance to participate and enjoy this event, please complete our Accessibility & Participation Support Request form.
We encourage you to submit requests at least 72 hours in advance, or as early as possible so we have time to make arrangements, but you may contact us at any time. If you have an urgent accessibility question about an upcoming event, you can also contact us at hello@southsidereleaf.org or 804-446-1029 (call or text).
About WATER
Southside ReLeaf, the University of Richmond, and the Virginia Department of Health are working together to better understand how chronic flooding affects health and well-being in Southside Richmond through WATER — Workplan Action Towards Environmental Resilience.
WATER is a two-year planning project funded by the Jeffress Trust Award. Through community conversations, listening sessions, surveys, and neighborhood outreach, we’re working with residents and community partners to understand community concerns, examine available data, and identify priorities for future research.