“Silence keeps these issues hidden.”

—Michael rainwater, tedxuga 2025 “Is your zip code a sacrifice zone?”

Michael Rainwater is a pianist, arranger, and TEDxUGA 2025 speaker whose work extends beyond music into research, advocacy, and public speaking. His TEDx talk, “Is Your ZIP Code a Sacrifice Zone?”, draws on personal experience to confront the hidden environmental injustices that impact communities across America. Through storytelling, research, and action, Michael challenges audiences to recognize how political choices shape health, opportunity, and survival — and to fight for a future where no community is left behind.

Read more at ted.com