Thursday, January 23 at 7:00 PM
Capitol Theatre
1390 W 65th St
Cleveland, OH 44102
$10/person (Registration Required)
LIMIT: 250
Western Reserve Land Conservancy is pleased to host a showing of the documentary Ripples of Plastic at the Capitol Theatre on the evening of Thursday, January 23, 2025.
Embark on an eye-opening journey through the unseen impacts of plastic pollution in the Great Lakes region. Guided by Dr. Sherri Mason and other regional voices, witness the vast extent of contamination pathways, effects of microplastics, and the unexpected toll on human health. Beyond individual action, the film inspires a collective movement for transformative progress toward a plastic-free future. Explore the unseen impacts of Great Lakes plastic pollution, inspiring a movement for systemic change and a plastic-free future.
Following the movie, we’ll host an in-person Q&A session with Film Director Chris Langer, as well as Researcher Dr. Sherri Mason and Sustainability Coordinator Jill Bartolotta—both of whom are featured in the movie.
Biographies
Sherri “Sam” Mason, Ph.D.
Dr. Mason holds a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Montana and is a leading researcher in freshwater plastic pollution. While a Professor of Chemistry at SUNY Fredonia, her research group was among the first to study the prevalence and impact of plastic pollution within freshwater ecosystems. Her award-winning work has drawn international attention to the threats posed by microplastics and led to the passage of national measures banning microbeads.
Jill Bartolotta
Jill is the Climate Action and Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Lakewood. Through collaborative partnerships and community engagement, she implements the City’s first Climate Action Plan using science-based information and local knowledge to inform the decision-making process. Her areas of focus include environmental literacy, waste management, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and healthy communities, ecosystems, and economies. Before her time with the City of Lakewood, she served as the Emerging Contaminants Specialist and Extension Educator for Ohio Sea Grant and The Ohio State University Stone Laboratory where she focused on the issue of plastic pollution in the Great Lakes.
Chris Langer
Chris is a filmmaker and photographer known for his unwavering commitment to shedding light on critical issues throughout the Midwest. Born and raised in the Northeast Ohio region, Chris’ connection to the natural world and his early experiences in photojournalism laid the foundation for his career. He studied at Rochester Institute of Technology, graduating in 2011 with a degree in Photojournalism. His career started in photojournalism and evolved into filmmaking soon after moving back to the Cleveland, Ohio area. He owns a video production company called Wonderhouse Films.
Chris’ journey as a first-time filmmaker began with a profound desire to explore the complex issue of plastic pollution, particularly in the Great Lakes region. His commitment to bringing this story to the forefront of the public led to the creation of his first feature-length documentary, “Ripples of Plastic.”
Organizer: Renee Boronka, rboronka@wrlandconservancy.org, 216-533-8761