While many municipalities have seen a return of commercial and residential investment, too many remain mired in cycles of poverty, community degradation, poor quality education, and unemployment. Public gardens cannot by themselves reverse these long-standing problems, but through partnerships with community organizations they can develop programs that address real needs in ways that are culturally sensitive and locally based. In so doing, gardens can become active members of their communities, to the mutual benefit of both the gardens and local residents. In this session, speakers with long experience in public horticulture and
community outreach will share replicable strategies and processes for effectively engaging communities.
Presenters: J. Schwarz Ballard, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, Illinois; D.
Rakow, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York; M. Z. Gough, Wilder School of
Government and Public Affairs, Virginia Commonswealth University, Richmond,
Virginia; D. Chavis, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond, Virginia; S. Lee,
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
