Magnolia Springs Library Volunteer Alida Given advocates to bring Southern Exposure DVDs to county libraries

By Jessica Vaughn
Posted 8/21/19

MAGNOLIA SPRINGS - Beginning in January 2018, the Alabama Rivers Alliance assumed the role as primary sponsor of the Southern Exposure Film Fellowship program, a program actively seeking to raise …

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Magnolia Springs Library Volunteer Alida Given advocates to bring Southern Exposure DVDs to county libraries

Posted

MAGNOLIA SPRINGS - Beginning in January 2018, the Alabama Rivers Alliance assumed the role as primary sponsor of the Southern Exposure Film Fellowship program, a program actively seeking to raise awareness concerning Alabama’s natural resources and important environmental issues impacting us all. The fellowship includes emerging filmmakers from across the country who create short documentaries telling stories about Alabama’s environment and the people advocating for its protection.

Now, the entire 2018 Southern Exposure Film collection will be available throughout Baldwin County’s Libraries thanks to the efforts of Magnolia Springs Library Volunteer Alida Given.

“I saw an article where the DVDs were given to Jefferson County Libraries by Alabama Rivers Alliance,” Given said. “One DVD in particular, Ashes to Ashes, is very pertinent to our area, but the others are equally beneficial.”

Along with being a dedicated library volunteer, Given is also a member of Friends of the Magnolia River, which is chaired by councilmember Ben Dykema. The Friends of the Magnolia River meet the third Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m. at Magnolia Springs Town Hall, discussing the river and ways to preserve and protect it. The group includes members from Weeks Bay Foundation, Mobile Baykeeper, and the Weeks Bay Watershed Management who work with the town to find and implement solutions to any problems arising on the river.

With the support of Friends of Magnolia River, Given reached out to the Alabama Rivers Alliance and requested copies of the 2018 Southern Exposure DVDs for each library in Baldwin County. Her request was met with success.

“Those of us know about how precious this area and our world are, but not everyone has been exposed to the awareness of some of the real threats,” said Given. “We Friends of the Magnolia River are grateful to Alabama Rivers Alliance for sharing these important environmental films with our Baldwin County Library Patrons.”

The 2018 Southern Exposure Films include: an Introduction by Liza Slutskaya giving an overview of the Southern Exposure program; Ashes to Ashes by Kaitlin McMurry concerning the impact of coal ash in communities; If They Build It, What Will Come? by David Diaz, about the threats posed by the Cahaba Beach Road; The Accidental Environmentalist: Catherine Flowers by Ellen Esling, about Alabama woman Catherine Flowers whose life was changed by a single mosquito bite; Water: Plan On It by Amelia Tyson, about the problems faced in the future surrounding clean, affordable water for next generations; and Who’s Your Farmer? by Jess Lingle, about the importance of knowing where your food comes from.

“The Southern Exposure film series is an amazing resource to have at our local libraries as these films shed light on environmental issues and efforts that are specific to our area,” said Executive Director of Weeks Bay Foundation Yael Girard, who will be featured in two of the upcoming 2019 Southern Exposure Films. “So many documentaries tackle problems around the country, or in far-flung corners of the world. This series of films allows viewers to connect with challenges that affect their waterways and lands. It also helps them see what is being done to address these concerns and who they can turn to for more information.”

For more information on Southern Exposure, check out their website at www.SouthernExposureFilms.org. Stop by your local library and ask about the new Southern Exposure Films available for checkout.