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FLINT, Mich. – Rapper and actor Jaden Smith unveils a portable water filtration system in Flint.
"I'm really excited, Flint Love!" He said, "I'm so excited for the bottles of water."
Smith returned to the city with his mother, Jada Pinkett Smith, who briefly spoke after a program at the First Trinity Missionary Baptist Church.
Flint Mayor Karen Wear said the Smiths had been engaged in the city of the vehicle since the declaration of the state of emergency.
"I remember meeting with Jada Pinkett Smith, who said to me," We will not forget about Flint. "It was just after we declared the emergency," Weaver said. "And they do not do it."
The launch of The Water Box took place at First Trinity, which worked on the project with several organizations, including The Last Kilometer, Rethink H2O, Black Millennials for Flint and 501CTHREE.
Drew FitzGerald, a 501CTHREE member with Jaden Smith, said he wanted to partner with First Trinity. They were motivated by church water distribution efforts and by a drop in bottled water donations.
"So we said, that's what we want to do. We want to create a system that can create purified water, replace bottled water and be much faster, "FitzGerald said.
Reverend Ezra Tillman, pastor of First Trinity, said the partnership was a response to prayers.
"This particular water solution now opens another path for us to try to reach the community because we no longer have the excuse to fire people."
The water box goes through four stages of filtration to reduce potential contaminants such as metals and bacteria, according to Jaron Rothkop, president of The Last Kilometer, a nonprofit organization that was behind the design and looking for the system.
"Instead of the first thing they think, is how can we get loaded trucks that we can distribute," he said. "This may be a temporary measure, but they think: how can we get a water box and solve the problem ourselves and test the water ourselves."
Weaver agreed.
"We are looking for sustainable solutions, we are looking at technology and ways to make things better."
Pinkett Smith announced to the crowd that she would donate for the construction of another system. When that could happen it was not immediately known.
FitzGerald and Smith added that 501CTHREE would cover all expenses incurred by the church due to water distribution, including utility costs and maintenance.
The First Trinity Missionary Baptist Church will be distributing water from The Water Box on Thursday from 11:30 to 13:30. People are welcome to bring their own jugs.
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