From Grief to Action: Harlingen Initiative Honors Daughter Through Environmental Restoration

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HARLINGEN, TEXAS (News Release) - What began as a shared expression of grief has grown into a community-led environmental initiative focused on protecting waterways, wildlife, and public health across the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

The project, led by Erin Dahl in collaboration with Esmi Castle, honors Castle’s late daughter, Angie, who had a deep love for the beach and the ocean. By combining eco-art, youth engagement, and long-term environmental planning, the initiative seeks to transform personal loss into collective action.

Courtesy photo by Erin Dahl.

“This work lives at the intersection of grief, creativity, and environmental action,” Dahl said. “Esmi and I wanted to honor Angie in a way that reflected who she was. She loved the beach, and art felt like the right language — something that could turn loss into beauty and inspire people to care.”

The initiative operates on two levels. At the micro level, it uses creative challenges, visual storytelling, and social media engagement to prevent trash from entering canals and waterways. With an emphasis on behavior change — particularly among youth and community members — the project aims to stop pollution at its source rather than responding after environmental damage has occurred. Organizers say art serves as a tool for awareness and engagement, not decoration.

At the macro level, the effort expands into a multi-year plan to restore resacas and canals so they can effectively filter water again. Organizers are also pursuing grant funding for long-term infrastructure solutions, including advanced water treatment technologies such as reverse osmosis for drinking water systems.

“At its core, this is a public health issue,” Dahl said. “In the Lower Rio Grande Valley, poor water quality is not just harming wildlife like sea turtles and dolphins — it is impacting human health. Contaminated waterways and drinking water systems are linked to serious illnesses, including increased cancer risks.”

Dahl, a volunteer with Sea Turtle Inc., said witnessing the effects of pollution firsthand reinforced the need to move beyond awareness alone. “We need prevention, restoration, and infrastructure change,” she said.

The idea began taking shape in August and September and solidified following Angie’s passing. What started as shared social media posts of ocean waves at South Padre Island in Angie’s memory evolved into a broader plan for healing — both for the environment and the community.

The City of Harlingen has expressed support for the initiative, and organizers are now focused on building community momentum. They are calling on youth leaders, artists, and residents to participate and help spread the message.

“Awareness is not passive,” Dahl said. “It’s an active campaign. When people feel connected to something — emotionally and creatively — they act. That’s how real change happens.”

Learn more and participate:
Instagram: @RGVTrashToTreasure
Facebook: @TrashToTreasure