Alabama Water Rally

2026 agenda

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Alabama Water Rally is THE one event of the year you do NOT want to miss for water advocates, environmental protectors and all Alabamians interested in protecting rivers and streams across the region!

This year’s annual gathering will be a very special Water Rally. The city of Montgomery and the Alabama River, both past and present, play an important role in our efforts to protect clean water throughout Alabama. We bring Alabama Water Rally back to Montgomery during a time when local elected officials have shown a great interest in amplifying the significant importance of the mighty Alabama River, winding right through the center of the city. We are excited to bring Water Rally to the brand new Elevation Hotel, a place built by the Equal Justice Initiative as a hub for their efforts to shine a light on the important history of racial injustice and civil rights in Montgomery and beyond. As we return to our capital city of Montgomery to collaborate, celebrate and learn how we further engage voters and candidates ahead of the important statewide elections in 2026, we look forward to Experiencing Montgomery like you have never seen it before!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 2026 AGENDA!

ABOUT THE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

ANTHONY DAVIS, JR., GROUNDWORK PROJECT

We are excited to welcome Anthony Davis Jr. to Alabama as our Saturday afternoon keynote speaker! Anthony is a strategist, organizer, and systems-builder focused on strengthening the infrastructure of civic engagement, social justice movements, and political campaigns. As Groundwork Project’s Director of Programs, he works with Groundwork’s partner organizations, coalitions, and campaigns to design strategies, build operational capacity, and develop leaders capable of sustaining long-term community power.

Anthony’s work sits at the intersection of organizing, political strategy, and institutional development. He has led and supported voter engagement initiatives, leadership development programs, and movement-building efforts. His approach emphasizes moving beyond episodic mobilization toward durable systems that align strategy, people, and infrastructure.

Anthony helps organizers translate values into measurable outcomes and scale their impact without losing accountability to the communities they serve. His work is rooted in the belief that sustainable change requires not only strong organizing, but strong systems, strong leaders, and strong relationships.

DR. MARCUS BRIGGS-CLOUD, EKVN-YEFOLECV

Saturday evening will be one to remember as we humbly welcome Dr. Marcus Briggs-Cloud (Maskoke) to share his story, RETURNING TO OUR HOMELANDS. Marcus is a language revitalizer, scholar, musician and co-director of Ekvn-Yefolecv (ee-gun yee-full-lee-juh): an off-grid, climate-positive, income-sharing ecovillage comprised of Maskoke People. After 180 years of having been forcibly removed from traditional homelands – in what is commonly/colonially known as central Alabama – the Indigenous Maskoke People returned in January 2018 with unwavering commitments to: the revitalization of Maskoke language and culture, natural building construction, ecological restoration, endangered species conservation, restorative economics, and regenerative agriculture. Designed as a decolonization and reindigenization paradigm shift, the community seeks to exemplify a Just Transition from extractive economies to more equitable, culturally and ecologically regenerative lifeways, all while serving as a replicable archetype for other communities to manifest in their own culturally responsive ways.

ABOUT THE SESSIONS AND PLENARIES

This year’s plenaries will focus on engaging with government at the state and local levels, while preparing our river movement to strategically engage in the upcoming election year that will shape the direction of our state’s leadership for the next four years. Our breakout sessions will offer four exciting tracks – collaboration, civic engagement, issue advocacy and organizational development. There is sure to be something for everyone’s interest and valuable tools and insights for you to take home to your communities and your organizations!

SESSIONS INCLUDE: Media Training for Advocacy, Deep Canvassing, Celebrating Alabama’s Biodiversity and Communicating About It In New Ways, Fundraising for Advocacy, Statewide Water and Energy Planning, Voting for the Environment, Fundraising for Advocacy Work, Water Infrastructure Funding for your Community, Working with Your Local Government and more!

ABOUT THE ELEVATION HOTEL

Our group will be one of the very firsts to gather in the brand new Elevation Hotel! Located in the historic Cottage Hill neighborhood of Montgomery, Elevation Convening Center & Hotel puts equality, history, and social justice at the forefront. The Elevation Hotel serves as a hub for visiting Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Sites, including: a reflection garden and library, The Legacy Museum, Peace & Justice Memorial and the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park. We’re thrilled to be in this location to bring more understanding to the Alabama River and how it reflects the rich history of Alabama’s capital city. And special bonus!

EXTRA FOR CONFERENCE ATTENDEES

All guests of Alabama Water Rally have access to:

Elevation Fitness, a state-of-the-art Technogym and wellness space
Fourth floor heated pool and cabana
On site coffee and pastries market and after-hours market

SPEAKERS INCLUDE

Anthony Davis, Jr. (Groundwork Project), Dr. Marcus Briggs-Cloud (Ekvn-Yefolecv), Montgomery City Councilor Andrew Szymanski, Montgomery County Commissioner Isaiah Sankey, David Butler (Cahaba River Coalition), Carletta Davis (Mayor of Prichard), Bill Deutsch (author), Terah Boyd (Southern Environmental Law Center), Ryan Anderson (Southern Environmental Law Center), Debbie Chang (Citizens Climate Lobby), Julianne Tharp (GASP), Jacob Smith (Alabama ARISE), Charles Miller (ARA), John Dodd (Energy Alabama), V Miller (ARA), Andre Ivey (Southern Poverty Law Center), Portia Shepard (BlackBelt Women Rising), Kathleen Kirkpatrick (The Capacity Collaborative), Luke Kiszla (Mobile Baykeeper), Jennifer Barker (ADEM), and more!

FIELD TRIPS AND FREE TIME

With so many EJI Legacy Sites to take in, the stunning Montgomery Whitewater Park to explore, and new trails along the Alabama River to wander, we’ve intentionally built in time on Friday and Sunday for you to take it all in. As you make your Water Rally plans, be sure to allow yourself time before or after – or both! – to Experience Montgomery.