“Path of the Panther,” presented by Sing Out Loud & Live Wildly Foundation

Sing Out Loud Festival and Live Wildly Foundation are proud to present a free public screening of Path of the Panther, the acclaimed documentary that chronicles the fight to protect the Florida panther from encroaching development. The screening will take place on Thursday, Sept. 19 at the Gamache-Koger Theatre located at 50 Sevilla Street inside the Ringhaver Student Center at Flagler College. The screening is free and open to the public with advance RSVP.

Path of the Panther tells the story of how a haunting image of the elusive big cat draws together a wildlife photographer, veterinarians, ranchers, conservations, and Indigenous People to confront the expanding development that has pushed the Everglades to the brink of ecological collapse. Path of the Panther is a cautionary tale that resonates across the globe. The panther’s habitat has become an island paradise vanishing into thin air, its lush territory transformed into subdivisions. Perched on the edge of extinction, the panther is an emblem of our once connected world, a vision of what could be again – or a harbinger of what could befall our planet if the ‘Path of the Panther’ becomes a dead one.

Following the film, Live Wildly Foundation will host a panel discussion and Q&A session with Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Paul Renner, City of St. Augustine Commissioner Professor Barbara Blonder and National Geographic Photographer George McKenzie.

Panelists:

Paul Renner is a lawyer and politician who presently serves as the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives for the 2022-24 Florida Legislature. He has been in office as a state representative since April 2015, where he currently represents the 19th District, which includes Flagler County and parts of lower St. Johns County.

Barbara Blonder is a St. Augustine City Commissioner and an associate professor of Natural Sciences at Flagler College. She was instrumental in the creation of Flagler College's flagship Coastal Environmental Science program, the first of its kind in the history of the college.  With her bachelor's degree in Zoology from the University of New Hampshire, and Master of Science in Marine Biology from Florida Tech, Commissioner Blonder returned to St. Augustine in 2001 to work for the Florida Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, before taking a position at Flagler College. Prior to 2001, she worked as an environmental scientist for the Florida Park Service and as a conservation planner for The Nature Conservancy and the National Estuarine Research Reserve.

George McKenzie Jr. is a National Geographic Explorer and Live Wildly Adventurist whose award-winning photography powerfully captures the intersection of wildlife, natural history, and conservation. George's work celebrates nature and is a powerful tool for social change. Through his photography, he challenges perceptions and amplifies often overlooked voices, all while promoting a deeper understanding and appreciation of the world's natural wonders.