The atlanta botanical garden will launch "propagating our future," an innovative conservation outreach initiative

The Atlanta Botanical Garden, Inc. received a $522,993 Project Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the Museums for America program (CFDA 45.301), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028. The award funds "Propagating Our Future," a conservation outreach initiative designed to advance public understanding and engagement with rare and imperiled plant species in the southeastern United States. The project will establish a Conservation Engagement Coordinator position responsible for designing and implementing interactive exhibits, digital media content, public tours, and educational programming that connect visitors of all ages to local biodiversity and conservation science.

The initiative delivers integrated educational components targeting high school students, incorporating conservation science into curricula to develop future environmental stewards. Deliverables include hands-on experiences, compelling storytelling exhibits, and community engagement activities that foster visitor connection to regional flora. The project incorporates performance metrics and audience feedback mechanisms to ensure sustained institutional impact and alignment with organizational goals in conservation, science literacy, and community engagement. Activities are performed at the garden's Atlanta, Georgia facility and support IMLS's core objectives of lifelong learning, community engagement, and public service through educational and interpretive programs.

The project will establish a conservation engagement coordinator to design interactive exhibits, digital media, public tours, and educational programs, aiming to foster public understanding of the southeast's rare and imperiled plants. Through hands-on experiences and compelling storytelling, visitors of all ages will be inspired to connect with local biodiversity and support conservation efforts. Educational components, particularly for high school students, will integrate conservation science into curricula, nurturing future stewards of the region's unique flora. Performance metrics and audience feedback will ensure sustained impact, aligning with institutional goals in conservation, science literacy, and community engagement.