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Reintegrating Humanity with Nature: Historic Cemeteries as Public Health Infrastructure- Presented to Texas Physicians for Social Responsibility, by Julie Fineman

This lecture introduces the Constellation of Living Memorials, a growing network of historic cemeteries reimagined as living civic infrastructure that supports public health by restoring both cultural memory and native ecology. Developed through a two year Dallas pilot, CLM offers a replicable framework that transforms neglected sacred spaces into biodiverse landscapes that improve air quality, reduce urban heat, manage stormwater, and provide accessible spaces for reflection and community connection. To date, CLM has mobilized over 13,500 volunteer hours, documented 3,000+ species observations, and restored acres of land into functioning ecosystems that support pollinators, improve soil health, and reduce long term maintenance costs. Partnerships with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the Native Plant Society of Texas ground this work in science based, community driven stewardship. Participants will gain insight into how historic cemeteries are onboarded into the constellation, from site assessment and partnership alignment to restoration planning and long term care, while exploring measurable public health outcomes such as heat mitigation, improved environmental quality, and reduced nature deficit. Rooted in the belief that memory is held in the land, CLM demonstrates how reintegrating humanity with native nature can strengthen both ecological systems and community wellbeing.

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March 31

Building the Constellation Together: A Collaborative Dialogue at the Hunt Institute

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April 7

Resurrecting History, Restoring Nature, Reconnecting Community, Presented by the Collin County Master Naturalist Chapter, Featuring Julie Fineman