Ideas worth spreading

A creative solution for the water crisis in Flint, Michigan

2,213,121 views | LaToya Ruby Frazier • We the Future

Artist and TED Fellow LaToya Ruby Frazier spent five months living in Flint, Michigan, documenting the lives of those affected by the city's water crisis for her photo essay "Flint is Family." As the crisis dragged on, she realized it was going to take more than a series of photos to bring relief. In this inspiring, surprising talk, she shares the creative lengths she went to in order to bring free, clean water to the people of Flint.

Artist and TED Fellow LaToya Ruby Frazier spent five months living in Flint, Michigan, documenting the lives of those affected by the city's water crisis for her photo essay "Flint is Family." As the crisis dragged on, she realized it was going to take more than a series of photos to bring relief. In this inspiring, surprising talk, she shares the creative lengths she went to in order to bring free, clean water to the people of Flint.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Learn more about the advanced atmospheric water generator and how you can help sponsor a machine somewhere in need of free, clean water.

About the speaker

LaToya Ruby Frazier

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LaToya Ruby Frazier focuses her camera lens on working class families, exploring themes of family, inequality, health care and environmental racism.

Mattie Kahn | Elle.com, 2016 | Article

"Flint Is Family"

A five-part story, with photographs and a video by LaToya Ruby Frazier.

LaToya Ruby Frazier | Vimeo, 2016 | Watch

"Flint Is Family"

The video portion of LaToya's time in Flint.

LaToya Ruby Frazier | Aperture, 2016 | Book

The Notion of Family

Photographs exposing the legacy of racism and economic decline in America’s small towns, as embodied by LaToya's hometown of Braddock, Pennsylvania.

Erica L. Green | New York Times, 2019 | Article

"Flint's Children Suffer in Class After Years of Drinking the Lead-Poisoned Water"

Kayla Ruble, et al. | PBS, 2019 | Article

"Five Years In, the Flint Water Crisis Continues Its Deadly Toll"

LaToya Ruby Frazier | Newcomb Art Museum, 2019 | Explore

LaToya Ruby Frazier: Flint Is Family

An exhibit at the Newcomb Art Museum in Tulane.

Latoya Ruby Frazier | The Renaissance Society, 2019 | Explore

Latoya Ruby Frazier: The Last Cruze

A new body of work by artist LaToya, centering on the workers at the General Motors plant in Lordstown, Ohio.

Various artists | SFMOMA, 2019-2020 | Explore

SOFT POWER

An exhibition about the ways in which artists deploy art to explore their roles as citizens and social actors.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Learn more about the advanced atmospheric water generator and how you can help sponsor a machine somewhere in need of free, clean water.