In celebration of Earth Day, Richland is hosting a special screening of the PBS docuseries “Chasing the Tide,” a project that documents a 21-day, 370-mile journey along the Texas coastline. The event will be held in collaboration with RAD (Richardson Area Democrats), the campus Student Government Association and the Lake Ray Hubbard Democrats.
Filmmakers Jay and Chrissy Kleberg, who also produced the feature “Deep in the Heart of Texas,” will attend the event and participate in a post-screening discussion. The Earth Day program will include two episodes from the six-part series.
“This film opens our eyes to the wild coast in a way that instructs us that it’s so much more than just a Spring Break destination or the place where NASA controls space travel from. Chrissy and Jay Kleberg’s love of and respect for the natural world is inspiring,” said Ginny Laughlin, president of the Richardson Area Democrats. She described the film as “a rich and beautifully filmed documentary about the diverse environments of the great state of Texas.”
“Chasing the Tide” follows the Klebergs as they traverse seven barrier islands from Beaumont to the Rio Grande, capturing the region’s natural landscapes, wildlife habitats, and development concerns. The series aired nationally on PBS earlier this year.
The April 22 event also marks the North Texas premiere of the series and is expected to draw attendees from across the DFW metroplex. A number of civic and political organizations have signed on as co-hosts, including the Garland Area Democratic Club, Funky East Dallas Democrats, Plano Area Democrats, Preston Hollow Democrats, Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, LH Blue 2025 and the Lake Highlands / White Rock Democrats.
“This is an opportunity to address not just the beauty of the Texas coast, but the very very real environmental pressures facing it,” said Richland SGA Vice President Dyanna Ortiz. “Having the filmmakers on campus brings that conversation directly to our students and community.”
The event is free and open to the public.
