“Everglades on Trial”: Eve Samples to Speak March 26 at Rappaport Speaker Series
Stuart, Fla. – The future of the Everglades and the water that sustains millions across South Florida and the Treasure Coast is being shaped right now in courtrooms, policy chambers, and development hearings across the state.
On Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m., environmental leader Eve Samples, Executive Director of Friends of the Everglades, will present “Everglades on Trial: A Test for Environmental Policy in America,” the final program in this year’s Rappaport Speaker Series at Temple Beit HaYam in Stuart.
Samples will examine the powerful forces shaping the Everglades today, from restoration progress and water management decisions to development pressures and ongoing legal challenges that will determine the region’s environmental future for generations.
For communities along the St. Lucie River, Indian River Lagoon, Lake Okeechobee, and coastal waterways, these issues are not theoretical. They directly influence when and how water is released, what flows into our estuaries, and whether the fragile balance between growth and conservation can be sustained.
The Rappaport Speaker Series brings nationally and regionally recognized thought leaders to Stuart each year to inform, challenge, and inspire meaningful community dialogue on issues that matter. Few subjects are more consequential to this region than the fate of the Everglades, often called the “River of Grass” and widely regarded as one of the most unique ecosystems on Earth.
Eve Samples spent two decades as an award-winning journalist before becoming Executive Director of Friends of the Everglades in 2020. She previously served as statewide opinion editor for the USA TODAY Network-Florida, a columnist for Treasure Coast Newspapers/TCPalm, and a reporter for The Palm Beach Post and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Her work has focused on environmental policy, growth, and the intersection of politics and natural resources in Florida.
This program offers residents a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of the state’s most influential environmental advocates about what lies ahead for South Florida’s water, wildlife, and way of life.
Veteran journalist Michael Williams will bring his skills as a moderator and his knowledge of the issues gained from years of covering South Forida to this discussion and question-and-answer session.
Program Details
Date: Thursday, March 26
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Temple Beit HaYam (home of the Rappaport Center) in Stuart
Tickets are $20 and available now at www.RappaportSpeakerSeries.com.
More information about the Rappaport Center, the Speaker Series, and past presenters can be found at: www.RappaportSpeakerSeries.com and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RappaportCenterSpeakerSeries
About the Rappaport Foundation
The Phyllis & Jerome Lyle Rappaport Foundation partners with leading institutions in Boston and beyond to cultivate emerging leaders in public policy, mental health, neurodegenerative research, and the arts. The Foundation has a long and proud history of supporting emerging leaders, including civic leaders who improve the lives of their constituents and communities, medical researchers who have unlocked the mysteries of the brain, mental illness and Alzheimer’s disease, and artists who enrich lives, ignite imaginations, and challenge us to see the world in a new light. In Stuart, Florida, the Foundation sponsors the Rappaport Center Speaker Series to promote informed dialogue on issues of national and international importance.
About Temple Beit HaYam
Founded in 1993, Temple Beit HaYam is a Reform Jewish congregation in Stuart dedicated to Torah (lifelong learning), Avodah (worship), and Gemilut Chasadim (acts of kindness and justice). Temple Beit HaYam is a Reform Jewish Congregation committed to Torah (life-long Jewish education), avodah (worship through prayer and service) and gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness). The Temple offers Hebrew and religious training to youngsters from kindergarten through high school, has active Sisterhood and Brotherhood programs, and is an active cultural hub, hosting concerts, lectures, and community events that enrich the Treasure Coast.