2nd Annual CLM Symposium

Presenting Sponsor: Garrett Boone

The Constellation of Living Memorials (CLM) completed its successful 2-year proof-of-concept pilot and has entered its launch phase, soon to become an independent national nonprofit. The 2nd Annual CLM Symposium is intentionally designed as a working event. Rather than simply presenting a completed model, participants will help design the national framework that will guide CLM's growth across Texas and, ultimately, the nation.

Each session includes:

• 10-minute opening presentation

• 50-minute moderated conversation

• 20-minute facilitated small group discussions with report-out

The ideas generated throughout the day will help shape CLM's national scaling strategy.

Emcee: Nathan May, Co-President, North Texas Master Naturalists / Educator, Trinity River Audubon Center

SCHEDULE

8:30am – 9:00am — Light breakfast

9:00am – 9:10am — Welcome — Xiomara Diaz-Vargas, Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Dallas County

9:10am – 9:15am — Opening Remarks — Grady McGahan, Director of Strategic Partnerships, CLM

9:15am – 10:35am — Session I

10:35am – 10:45am — Break

10:45am – 12:05pm — Session II

12:05pm – 12:45pm — Lunch, provided

12:45pm – 1:45pm — Keynote with Q&A

1:45pm – 3:05pm — Session III

3:05pm – 3:10pm — Closing Remarks — Nathan May, Emcee

3:10pm – 3:30pm — Guided walking tour of property — Dr. Fouad Jaber

SESSION I: 9:15am – 10:35am

Sponsor: Forest Hills Neighborhood Association (with Sue Benner and Andi Comini)

PRESENTATION (10 mins)

America's Civic Landscapes at a Turning Point: National Trends Shaping the Future of Historic Cemeteries

Presenter: Tamela Thornton, Executive Director, Urban Land Institute Dallas-Fort Worth

PANEL (50 mins)

Reimagining the Purpose of a Historic Cemetery: Sacred Grounds and Civic Anchors for Nature, Memory, and Community

Description

Using Freedman's Cemetery as the centerpiece, this panel explores how one of Dallas's most significant cultural landscapes can become a national model for community transformation. Historic cemeteries are presented as civic anchors that strengthen neighborhoods through biodiversity, historic preservation, education, public health, cultural identity, and economic vitality. The conversation explores how sacred places can become essential civic infrastructure.

Moderator

Tamela Thornton, Executive Director, Urban Land Institute Dallas-Fort WorthTamela leads initiatives that advance sustainable development, community revitalization, and innovative land use. She brings more than 30 years of experience building partnerships that strengthen communities through thoughtful planning and equitable development.

Panelists

Jason Ney, Manager, Park Planning and Acquisitions, City of Dallas

Jason’s work guiding the planning and acquisition of Dallas' park system places him at the intersection of conservation, public access, and community development. Jason’s perspective would be invaluable as we explore how historic cemeteries can evolve into civic anchors that strengthen neighborhoods through nature, culture, and public engagement.

Corrin Breeding, President/CEO, Jackson-Breeding Consultant Group

Corrin’s leadership and experience with Freedman's Cemetery, along with his broader expertise in cultural landscape planning and historic preservation, makes him uniquely qualified to help explore how this nationally significant site can serve as a model for communities across the country.

Daniel Mirabal, Tourism Development Strategist, AretéCG USA

As a tourism development strategist, Daniel brings expertise in destination strategy, place based economic development, and cultural tourism. His work demonstrates how authentic places can become meaningful destinations that strengthen community identity, attract visitors, and contribute to sustainable economic vitality. His perspective will provide valuable insight into how historic cemeteries can evolve into civic anchors that benefit both residents and visitors while celebrating a community's unique history and natural heritage.

Dr. Marsha Prior, Urban Anthropologist

Marsha is a resident expert on Freedman's Cemetery, often providing talks on behalf of Remembering Black Dallas. As an urban anthropologist and historical research consultant, she specializes in the intersection of history, culture, and environmental stewardship, helping preserve and interpret one of Dallas's most significant historic and cultural landscapes.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION (20 minutes)

Collect ideas spawned by engaging with this paradigm shift.

BREAK: 10:35am – 10:45am (10 mins)

SESSION II: 10:45am – 12:05pm (80 mins)

Sponsor: In Honor of Michele Wahlder (Michael Kerber & Tommy Wahlder)

PRESENTATION (10 mins)

The CLM Guide for Texas

Presenter: Matthew Orwat, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent, Dallas County

PANEL (50 mins)

Growing a Community of Stewards: How Cooperative Extension Is Cultivating the Next Generation of Cemetery Leaders

Description

Historic cemeteries are transformed not by organizations alone, but by people who choose to care for them. This session explores how community leadership, volunteer stewardship, and cooperative programs are cultivating the next generation of conservation leaders while reconnecting people to history, nature, and place.

The CLM 2-year pilot proved that the model works. Now, we’ll examine what comes next: how cemetery leaders sustain volunteer participation, transfer knowledge, develop new leaders, engage younger generations, measure progress, and connect local work to broader networks of expertise.Drawing upon the varied experience of the panelists, the conversation will explore a continuum of stewardship.

CLM connects partners with cemetery communities and translates their knowledge into practical tools and pathways for action, resources that will continue to evolve as CLM learns from cemetery leaders and measures impact over time. Lasting transformation occurs when local commitment is strengthened by knowledge, meaningful participation, shared leadership, and partnerships that endure.

Moderator

Dr. Candice Lucas-Bledsoe, Global CEO, Action Research Center

Candice is an internationally recognized educator, researcher, and leadership strategist who holds faculty appointments at Penn State University, SMU's Cox School of Business, and SMU Hunt Institute for Engineering & Humanity. For more than two decades, she has been dedicated to developing leaders, advancing innovative ideas, creating meaningful educational experiences, and preserving the wisdom of changemakers through initiatives such as the American Leadership Legacy Initiative. Her expertise in leadership development, cross sector collaboration, and educational innovation provides valuable insight into building the partnerships and organizational capacity needed to scale the Constellation of Living Memorials into a sustainable national movement.

Panelists

Matthew Orwat, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent, Dallas County

Matthew has been instrumental in developing CLM's partnership with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, helping connect Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, and community volunteers with historic cemetery restoration. His experience demonstrates how Extension programs can empower local leadership while fostering environmental stewardship and community engagement.

Paul Kwiatkowski, Director of Urban Ecology & Sustainability, Mount Auburn Cemetery

Paul is an ecologist at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, MA. He focuses on protecting and improving terrestrial and aquatic wildlife habitat in the landscape and creating educational programming for the public. Paul has assembled a team of local experts to conduct biodiversity research on the cemetery grounds and established a citizen science naturalist program to support the research through primarily observation-based data collection. Citizen scientists participate in classroom and field trainings to learn about local flora and fauna, as well as protocols to collect data for each field project. There are 18 biodiversity research projects underway at Mount Auburn. Since 2016, more than 500 people have participated in classroom trainings, and 145 people participated in field projects in 2026.

Mallory Hohl, Urban Gardens Specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest NNY

Mallory is an extension specialist who supports community gardens across Buffalo, Rochester & Western NY, and coordinates the Community Gardens Soil Testing Program, with support from NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. She has career and volunteer experience working alongside gardens and urban farms for over a decade, in addition to participation in food policy and grassroots community growing groups.

Jessie Eagan, Administration and Communications Coordinator, Homegrown National Park

Jessie leads community-based programming and volunteer engagement at Homegrown National Park, connecting people with practical ways to plant native and remove invasive species where they live. Her work supports communities and organizations, turning everyday yards, schools, and neighborhoods into habitat that supports birds, pollinators, and a healthier ecosystem for everyone.

Randy Osteen, RN, MBA, President, Western Heights Cemetert Association

Randy leads an all‑volunteer team, guiding restoration, beautification, and long‑term stewardship of one of Dallas’s oldest burial grounds, with graves dating to 1848. His professional background includes leading large teams in developing innovative technologies and clinical practices, experience that now informs his approach to engaging volunteers from diverse backgrounds. Randy’s collaborative leadership style helps transform community ideas into sustainable plans and practices that preserve and strengthen this historic community resource.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION (20 Minutes)

Test the cemetery leads' findings against individual experiences. Each table identifies one practice to carry forward and one barrier CLM should help remove.

LUNCH: 12:05pm – 12:45pm (40 mins)

KEYNOTE Q&A: 12:45pm – 1:45pm (55 mins Keynote + 5 min Q&A)

Sponsor: Letum Financial

Joseph Charap, Vice President of Landscape, Green-Wood Cemetery

Joseph’s nationally recognized work in one of America’s most celebrated historic cemeteries integrates historic preservation, ecological restoration, horticulture, and public programming, demonstrating how these spaces can serve as vibrant cultural and environmental resources for their communities. His perspective offers valuable lessons for adapting the CLM model across the country. Joseph will share the vision, partnerships, and long-term stewardship practices that demonstrate how sustained community engagement, education, and thoughtful management can create a legacy that extends far beyond preservation.

SESSION III: 1:45pm – 3:05pm (80mins)

Sponsor: PJB Surveying LLC

PRESENTATION (10 mins)

The CLM Grant

Presenter: Melinda Garde, Constellation of Living Memorials Community Onboarding Liaison

PANEL (50 mins)

Who Will Carry the Constellation Forward? Building the Framework. Measuring the Impact. Scaling the Movement.

Description

As CLM reaches the midpoint of its 18-month launch phase through Texan by Nature's Conservation Wrangler program, this conversation examines what it takes to transform a successful pilot into a sustainable statewide and national movement.

Rather than focusing solely on ideas, this panel explores the systems, partnerships, and organizational infrastructure required to scale while remaining true to CLM's community centered mission. Panelists will discuss how strategic partnerships, measurable outcomes, higher education, community leadership, and innovative research are being woven together to create a framework that can be replicated across the country.

The discussion will highlight how Texan by Nature's Conservation Wrangler program is helping accelerate CLM's organizational development by strengthening partnerships, refining measurable outcomes, expanding corporate engagement, and preparing the organization for long term growth. Together with SMU Hunt Institute leadership and researchers, Dallas College, and community cemetery leaders, the panel will explore what must be built today to ensure CLM can thrive for decades to come.

Moderator

Dr. Brenda Floyd, Project Leader for Special Academic Programs, Dallas College

Brenda leads experiential learning initiatives connecting students with science-based research, environmental stewardship, and real-world community challenges. She organizes and mentors student-led programs that build leadership skills while creating opportunities for students to present their work at state, national, and international conferences. A lifelong North Texas rancher and experienced educator, Brenda brings a practical perspective to connecting higher education, workforce development, and community engagement. Through Dallas College’s collaboration with the Constellation of Living Memorials, she is helping engage students as the next generation of conservation and community leaders.

Panelists

Emily Plauche, Program Lead, Neighborhood Greening, Texas Trees Foundation

Emily is a DFW native and currently lives in Dallas with her husband and their two kids. Emily is a certified arborist and received a master’s degree in forestry from Mississippi State University and a bachelor’s degree in natural resource and ecology management from Louisiana State University. At Texas Trees Foundation, Emily helps manage the South Dallas Greening Initiative program, which is a holistic urban forestry program focused on expanding the tree canopy in South Dallas. This program combines data-driven research and community input to identify and plant in high-impact areas while focusing on education to ensure long-term stewardship and tree survival. Emily’s role at Texas Trees Foundation allows her to combine her background of research, eagerness for community outreach and passion for educating others on the importance of trees. Emily has always felt connected to the outdoors and enjoys getting other people excited about the trees and plants surrounding them.

Dr. Jessie Marshall Zarazaga, Associate Director, SMU Hunt Institute for Engineering & Humanity

Jessie builds partnerships that connect research, innovation, and community impact. Through the institute's collaboration with the Constellation of Living Memorials, she is helping advance initiatives such as Mapping Memory while fostering interdisciplinary partnerships that strengthen CLM's organizational framework and support its expansion as a nationally replicable model.

Jake Cooper, Program Manager, Texan by Nature

Jake helps accelerate high-impact conservation initiatives across Texas through strategic partnerships, organizational development, and measurable outcomes. His experience guiding collaborative conservation efforts provides valuable insight into building the partnerships and infrastructure needed to scale the Constellation of Living Memorials nationwide.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION (20 minutes)

Collect insights that will become part of CLM's ongoing design and scaling process.

CLOSING REMARKS, 3:05pm – 3:10pm

WALKING TOUR, 3:10pm – 3:30pm

Dr. Fouad Jaber, Professor and Water Resources Extension Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Fouad is an internationally recognized expert in watershed management and nature-based solutions, he helps communities apply science-based approaches to improve water quality, reduce flooding, and create more resilient landscapes.

Guided walking tour of property showcasing water retention and flood management

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Presenting – Garrett Boone

Leadership

In Memory of Michele Wahlder (Michael Kerber & Tommy Wahlder)

PJB Surveying LLC

Session

Forest Hills Neighborhood Association (with Sue Benner and Andi Comini)

Keynote

Letum Financial

Community

Southwest Perennials Inc

Jimmy’s Food Mart

Viki Hall Staffing

Native Plant Society of Texas

EarthX

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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is an equal opportunity employer and program provider. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides equal opportunities in its programs and employment to all persons, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

Please Contact the Dallas County Extension Office by September 25th, 2026 at 469-224-4753 if special accommodations are needed.

Event venue

Texas A&M AgriLife Water & Natural Resources Building – 17360 Coit Rd. Dallas, TX 75252, 17360 North Coit Road, Dallas, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

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