Documentary short and community conversation highlight how Florida’s coastal communities adapt, recover, and rebuild after repeated storms
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (September 1, 2026) – The Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS), a partner program of the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (PIE Center), in collaboration with University of Florida Gulf Scholars and the Bob Graham Center for Public Service, will host a special screening of a new documentary short film examining hurricane recovery and resilience in Cedar Key, Florida, followed by a panel discussion featuring community members and experts directly involved in storm preparedness and recovery efforts.
The event, “Our Gulf, Our Future: Voices from Cedar Key,” will take place on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Pugh Hall Ocora at the University of Florida. The program is free and open to the public and will also be livestreamed via the Bob Graham Center’s YouTube channel.
The documentary explores how Cedar Key, a small fishing community on Florida’s Gulf Coast, has weathered multiple hurricanes in recent years and how residents continue to rebuild their homes, businesses, and livelihoods after repeated storm impacts. The film also highlights SCCAHS’s work supporting the health, safety, and resilience of individuals who live and work in environmentally sensitive coastal communities.
“By bringing together community members, students, and practitioners, this event creates an opportunity to learn directly from those who have experienced disaster recovery firsthand and to better understand what resilience looks like in a coastal community.” – Ashley McLeod-Morin, associate director for strategic communication at the Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS), and event organizer.
Following the screening, there will be a panel discussion focused on hurricane preparedness, disaster recovery, and the role of community partnerships in building long-term resilience.
The program is designed for community members, students, Extension professionals, emergency preparedness practitioners, local government leaders, researchers, and anyone interested in the future of Florida’s coastal communities.
Attendees can participate either in person at the University of Florida or remotely through a live YouTube broadcast, expanding access to audiences throughout Florida and beyond.
A reception with panelists will follow the program. Parking information and event updates will be posted on the event webpage as the date approaches.
Event Details
What: Our Gulf, Our Future: Voices from Cedar Key
When: Tuesday, September 1, 2026 | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: Pugh Hall Ocora, University of Florida; 296 Buckman Dr, Gainesville, FL 32611
Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@BobGrahamCenter/streams
Cost: Free and open to the public
For additional information and event updates, visit: https://calendar.ufl.edu/event/55687-our-gulf-our-future-voices-from-cedar-key
Contact Information
Phone: 352-846-1575
Email: Graham-Center@ufl.edu
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ABOUT SCCAHS
The Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS) is part of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Agricultural Health and Safety Initiative.
SCCAHS explores and addresses the occupational safety and health needs of people working in agriculture, fishing, and forestry in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
ABOUT UF/IFAS PIE CENTER
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (PIE Center) conducts and disseminates objective interdisciplinary research and educational programs to increase public understanding of and engagement in agricultural and natural resources issues.
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