Master’s student focuses capstone on female environmental activists in Appalachia
Katie Gardner, a student in the Communication and Development master’s degree program at Ohio University, is working towards completing her creative capstone project Dear Appalachia. The project provides a multi-media space for the stories of female environmental activists in the region to share how extractive industry inspired them to advocate for a more sustainable future.
As an Appalachian herself, Gardner’s project is inspired by her aspirations to explore her heritage and environmental issues in her own backyard. Her great-great-grandfather came to the area several generations ago to mine coal. Her maternal grandmother always taught the importance of preserving the history of Appalachia and its people.
Gardner discovered her passion for communication, storytelling, and social change while working toward her Bachelor's degree in Globalization and Development at OHIO.
Parts of the Appalachian region have economies with deep roots in extractive industries, such as coal mining and fracking, or hydraulic fracturing. Fracking has been shown to emit pollutants and create health problems for people who live near these industrial sites, commonly known as “frack pads.” These health issues include, but are not limited to, higher rates of cancer, headaches, and respiratory problems. An essential goal of Gardner’s capstone project is to show that there are more sustainable ways for economic development in the region to occur and that these new pathways will not compromise the identities of Appalachians.
Although the project began as a documentary film, the impacts of COVID-19 have transformed it into a multimedia project, which will consist of a short documentary, written articles, podcasts, and potentially a photo essay. These pieces will include the stories of several interviewees who have been impacted by extractive industries in some way. Thus far, Gardner has interviewed the founder and director of Freshwater Accountability Project, a communications specialist at the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, a research chemist, a registered nurse, and more. Most recently, she interviewed Jill Hunkler, a community activist from Belmont County who has a very powerful story.
“Jill’s enthusiasm and commitment to stay in the area even though she and her family have been negatively impacted by extractive industries was extremely encouraging to hear,” Gardner said.
Although the pandemic has restricted her from traveling much, Gardner’s favorite parts of this project have been virtually meeting new people and editing their stories together. She looks forward to one day being able to visit all the places impacted by these extractive industries.
Gardner’s creative capstone will be completed near the beginning of April and she will graduate from the Communication and Development Studies Program at the end of that month.