Dr. Marccus D. Hendricks describes the importance of participation in our communities. Excessive water and flooding have become even more of an issue in the past few years, but this has been a reality for people in marginalized communities since the beginning. Even though we may want to depend on “professionals” to complete research on this topic, all community members have the ability to make a positive change. Dr. Marccus D. Hendricks is a first-generation Black American scholar and academic mentor who was born in Dallas, Texas. Currently, Hendricks is a recently tenured Associate Professor of Urban Studies and Planning at the University of Maryland in College Park Maryland, where as a community-engaged scholar, he emphasizes participation and action using methods such as photography, visual inspection, and environmental sampling to better understand environmental exposure and impact. Hendricks holds a PhD in Urban and Regional Science and a Master of Public Health, both from Texas A&M University.