Film: A Radical Thread (2026) + Q&A with Director Jeanne Finley

In this soulful, gorgeous new documentary by Jeanne C. Finley, a back-to-the-land community fights off corporate Goliaths intent on environmental devastation while using the same collective ethos to stitch an 83-foot tapestry that visualizes their story. NOTE: The program takes place in the Latino Room (lower level).

Set against the dramatic scars of 19th century hydraulic gold mining, A Radical Thread follows a Sierra Foothills back-to-the-land community as they invent national models of sustainability in their fight against the corporate goliaths of mining, logging and damming. The community's 17-year collaborative project stitching an 83-foot tapestry visualizes the Ridge's story in twelve narrative embroidered panels. Now, as they face their greatest threat of all, climate-driven wildfires, they pass their knowledge of environmental justice to the next generation.

"A Radical Thread beautifully weaves together the stories, told through a set of tapestries, of poets, back-to-the-land settlers, and the region's original Native peoples along the San Juan Ridge near the Yuba river California. Despite waves of disruption - from the Gold Rush to mining and now climate-driven wildfires - this film highlights a community's deep resilience and enduring connection to place.--Thomas Kersen, Associate Professor of Sociology, Jackson State University

Director: Jeanne C. Finley

NR, 70 mins., 2026. Subtitles (SDH) in English

Please stay for the post-screening Q&A with director Jeanne Finley.

Jeanne C. Finley is an artist and filmmaker

Connect:

A Radical Thread - Website | A Radical Thread - Facebook | Jeanne C. Finley - Instagram

This event is part of Everybody’s Climate 2026: Connect with others to address the climate crisis in ways that are meaningful to you, from poetry and music to science and practical action.

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Host or Publisher The General Collections & Humanities Center