Derrick Evans outside his great grandfather’s house in Turkey Creek after Hurricane Katrina, leaning on a sign he built before the storm.
Photo by Spencer Weiner / SAWfoto.com
Press Release
PROTAGONIST OF AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY “COME HELL OR HIGH WATER: THE BATTLE FOR TURKEY CREEK” NAMED “RIVER HERO”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: zamlerfilms@gmail.com
Derrick Evans, the protagonist of Come Hell or High Water: The Battle for Turkey Creek, the critically acclaimed documentary about the struggle for justice in a coastal Mississippi community settled by former slaves, has been named 2016 “River Hero” by the national River Network. Evans will be presented with the award on the final day of the annual River Rally, held this year May 20-23 in Mobile, Alabama. The film will be screened earlier that day on Monday, May 23 at 2:00 pm followed by a Q&A with Derrick Evans and Joe Womack of Mobile’s Africatown. Evans and Womack write about their communities’ struggles and resilience on Bridge The Gulf, a media project that lifts up the voices of Gulf Coast communities working toward justice and sustainability. Both Turkey Creek and Africatown were founded by freed slaves and face myriad environmental and other threats today. Evans’ work to protect Turkey Creek will be commemorated at an awards banquet at 6:30 pm. Both events will take place at the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel …
DOWNLOAD FULL PRESS RELEASE:
DOWNLOAD EVENT FLYER:
High Res Photos
Click on photo thumbnails below for high-res version.
Derrick Evans on Turkey Creek.
Photo by Andrew Whitehurst
Derrick Evans and Leah Mahan on the banks of Turkey Creek.
Leah Mahan filming the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Photo by Lolita Parker, Jr.
Derrick Evans in the ruins of his great grandfather’s well-drilling business. In the film Derrick says, “I get my name from the derricks that he used to erect to get that artesian well water.”
Photo by Leah Mahan
Children and adults gather for Turkey Creek’s 2004 Creek Sweep – an annual clean up and outreach event.
Photo by Derrick Evans
Turkey Creek community members gathered outside the Mount Pleasant United Methodist church for a photograph taken by the Mississippi Heritage Trust when the community was placed on its list of 10 Most Endangered sites in 2001.
Photo by Chip Bowman for Mississippi Heritage Trust
Additional photos and video can be found in the Multimedia Gallery
Contact Leah
Please use the contact form for any questions or special requests.
