FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 11, 2017
SAUGATUCK, MI – The Saugatuck-Douglas History Center will screen “Shifting Sands: On the Path to Sustainability” on Thursday, April 20 at 7:00 p.m. at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts. Event sponsors include Kathleen and James Cook, CottageHome, the Saugatuck Dunes State Park Hikers, and the Saugatuck Center for the Arts.
The Chicago/Midwest Regional Emmy® nominated documentary explores how the Indiana Dunes region, through its influential environmental battles, offers a blueprint towards a more sustainable future.
“The story of conserving the Indiana Dunes is relatable to many pockets of the country—including ours,” said Nathan Nietering, executive director of the Saugatuck-Douglas History Center. “This film captures a narrative that weaves the importance of ecology, the environment, and consensus building into one story.”
The 60-minute film chronicles the journey of a movement for the United States to have its first national park in an urban setting; a movement which eventually led to game-changing environmental policies with worldwide impact. Today, the advocacy from that movement has transformed into a new model of cooperation, where industrialists and environmentalists—once bitter adversaries—work together to steer its community toward a more sustainable future.
“We are excited that communities see ‘Shifting Sands’ as an opportunity to engage their stakeholders in conversations about sustainability,” said Patricia Wisniewski, the film’s producer and director.
The documentary, an idea of Lee Botts—a prominent American environmentalist known primarily for her work related to conservation and restoration of the Great Lakes—comes a century after a national park was first proposed to safeguard the Indiana Dunes’ spectacular landscape of towering dunes, green woodlands, rich wetlands and unsurpassed biological diversity—just one-hour from Chicago. Currently, a congressional bill is proposed to retitle the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to Indiana Dunes National Park. If passed, the bill would create Indiana’s first national park.
After the screening, members of the film’s production team will lead a discussion with the audience. Members of the production team include Lee Botts, executive producer; Pat Wisniewski, producer and director; Tom Desch, producer, editor and writer; and Rana Segal, producer and director of photography.
For more information about the screening, visit http://sc4a.org/Happenings/Real-to-Reel-Shifting-Sands.aspx.
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About Saugatuck-Douglas History Center
The Saugatuck-Douglas History Center (SDHC), a volunteer-based 501(c)3 organization, preserves the greater Saugatuck-Douglas community’s local history, and inspires learning to inform and improve the community. SDHC also connects residents and tourists with the area’s unique cultural heritage through planned activities and volunteer opportunities. For more information about SDHC, its award-winning Pump House History Museum and Old School House, visit MySDHistory.org.
About “Shifting Sands: On the Path to Sustainability”
“Shifting Sands: On the Path to Sustainability” explores how the Indiana Dunes region, through its influential environmental battles, offers a blueprint towards a more sustainable future. Since its August 2016 nationwide debut, #ShiftingSandsMovie has aired across 241 public television stations. The film was also nominated for a Chicago/Midwest Regional Emmy® Award by the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Proceeds from the film benefit Lakeshore Public Television (WYIN) and the Dunes Learning Center. For more information about the film, visit shiftingsandsmovie.com.
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