President Barack Obama will travel to Flint, Michigan on Wednesday, May 4th, the White House announced today (April 27), where he will hear first-hand from local residents about the public health crisis. Obama is expected to receive an in-person briefing on the federal efforts in place to help respond to the needs of the people of Flint and deliver remarks to community members. Further details regarding the president’s travel to Michigan will be available in the coming days.

Today, President Obama responded to the letter of Mari Copeny , an eight year old resident of Flint, who is known around town as “Little Miss Flint.” She wrote Obama last month to share how she is working to bring attention to the water and health crisis in her community. In her letter, she asked if she could meet the President during her upcoming trip to Washington, D.C.

In his response to her, President Obama wrote back with some news: He’s coming to town. See his touching letter to her: https://medium.com/@WhiteHouse/asked-and-answered-president-obama-responds-to-an-eight-year-old-girl-from-flint-48be6bfc36cc#.z08ojor48

Flint was been been dealing with contamination within it’s water for two years. In April 2014, the Flint emergency manager switched the city’s water supply from the Detroit water treatment system to the Flint River in an effort to save money. Shortly thereafter, residents began complaining to local leaders about tainted, foul-smelling tap water—and health symptoms such as rashes and hair loss from drinking and bathing in it. For 17 months, city and state officials insisted the water was safe, even though multiple tests showed high levels of E. coli, coliform bacteria and lead in the Flint water supply leading to a national outcry.

On February 28, 2016, REVOLT partnered with United Blackout to produce a #JusticeForFlint concert to raise money and awareness for the people of Flint. Special guests included Stevie Wonder, Janelle Monáe, Dej Loaf, Jazmine Sullivan and more.