Rev. Deborah Conrad of Flint's Woodside Church answers questions about Flint's ongoing water crisis during this month's Concert for a Cause on Friday, Feb. 19, 2016 at First Congregational Church in Saginaw. Donations from the event went towards a new water filtration system for Woodside Church.

FLINT, MI -- Pastor Deborah Conrad of Woodside Church in Flint offered a blunt assessment of the systemic issues she said are at the root of the city's water crisis ahead of an appearance by Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.

Sanders is making a stop in Flint after a Feb. 15 visit to Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti ahead of the candidate's March 6 debate with challenger Hillary Clinton in Flint.

"I think we need a wholesale replacement of the folks in charge. The issues we are facing now are not unrelated to the past 35 years of public policy, the austerity, the poor revenue sharing, the blaming black people for everything that goes wrong in our country, or the immigrants, or Muslims, or the mass incarceration issues," Conrad said. "This water issue is not unrelated to those public policies."

Sanders' visit comes after he said Gov. Rick Snyder should resign over the water crisis. Clinton also called for some accountability during a Feb. 7 speech at House of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church in Flint.

Conrad said the visit by Sanders to the East Court Street church came about after they were asked by someone in the community if they would have the space to host the community forum on the water crisis and environmental justice.

"We have a lot of community groups that use the building, a lot of community events that happen here," she said. "We think it is part of our stewardship and responsibility."

The church has been involved in social actions for decades, Conrad said, from the Underground Railroad, marching at Selma, counter protesting on behalf of immigrant children, fair housing movement, marriage and income equality, racism, and environmental justice.

Conrad said a water committee was formed at the church more than one year ago, after issues arose of access and affordability "and then found out the water was poisoned and then we adapted and done everything we can to be helpful in that regard."

The committee has worked as an informational resource for the congregation, pointing out actions planned, and served as a liaison to community groups operating in the community including the Flint Democracy Defense League.

Conrad added the systemic issues are not the only factors that led to the city's water crisis.

"We are living right now the result of how we've been voting for the last 35 years," she said. We need to change how we vote."