The oakland ZOO will pilot a community feedback and conservation project to promote community engagement, access, and inclusion

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded a $497,500 Museums for America (CFDA 45.301) project grant to the Conservation Society of California (doing business as The Oakland Zoo) to pilot a community feedback and conservation project. The project aims to promote community engagement, access, and inclusion by utilizing an internal steering committee, an external community advisory council, and a listening tour in Oakland to solicit community feedback. The project will also engage local middle school students and teachers to collaboratively create a community conservation project that addresses climate and environmental justice issues. The results of this pilot project will inform the zoo's future approaches to gathering and responding to community feedback, as well as models for collaborative programming.

The ZOO will utilize an internal steering committee and an external community advisory council to guide the project, and staff will organize a listening tour in oakland to solicit community feedback. Staff will also work with students and teachers at local middle schools to collaboratively create a community conservation project that addresses climate and environmental justice issues. The results of this pilot project will inform future approaches to the ZOO's practices of gathering and responding to community feedback and models for collaborative programming.