On Saturday, December 17, Community Cinema Nashville hosted a special screening at the Nashville Public Library of TAKING ROOT: THE VISION OF WANGARI MAATHAI. To celebrate the work of Kenya’s Maathai, the Nobel-prize winner and Green Belt Movement founder who died in September, students from Whites Creek High School and Sierra SCENE (Student Coalition Empowering Nashville Environmentalists) presented their research projects for guests during a pre-screening reception and eco fair. Following the film, Dr. Cliff Cockerham from Whites Creek High School led a discussion with Sierra SCENE student representatives who all offered eloquent and confident responses to the film and the issues it raised. Cockerham also presented awards to several students for their outstanding environmental science research projects. To further honor the legacy of Maathai, Metro Beautification and Environment Commission donated 75 bald cypress seedlings to attendees and announced plans to plant a special tree at Whites Creek High School in honor of the event.
Raw video of the panel discussion is embedded below.
