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The Constellation of Living Memorials, a Friends of the Warren Ferris Cemetery two-year pilot project, reimages forgotten neighborhood cemeteries as vibrant wildlife sanctuaries. Envision a tapestry that intertwines cultural and natural history, bridging the gap between humanity and nature. This groundbreaking shift from despair to creating new paths for the survival of local and migratory wildlife is a beacon of hope. It offers opportunities for humanity to reconnect with nature, fostering a sense of renewal and rediscovery, and nurtures the soul to reconnect with an authentic sense of self and place. CLM offers a groundbreaking opportunity to celebrate the circle of life through mixed-use space.
In September 2023, The Texas Historical Foundation provided the $30K matching grant for native land restoration for the enrolled historic cemeteries in Dallas' underserved communities. CLM has enrolled five historic forgotten cemeteries in underserved communities to transform their grounds into wildlife habitats, resurrecting Dallas’ rich natural and cultural history. The enrollees for the two-year pilot are Oakland, Western Heights, Beeman, W.W. Glover, and Albert Carver cemeteries.
In the first nine months since launch (Nov. 2023), CLM received a $50K grant from the Eugene McDermott Family Fund, accelerating momentum.
“You opened my eyes to the fact that there are little cemeteries all over Dallas. What a wonderful idea to turn them into learning laboratories and wildflower parks. Congratulations on finding hidden treasures in plain sight treasures.”
Mary McDermott Cook
City Council Member Paula Blackmon recognizes our innovation, “The Constellation of Living Memorial project is the perfect way to create public open space for all to enjoy in the heart of an urban area while preserving our rich Dallas history. It’s a paradigm shift for our City. This is an opportunity for Dallas to influence cities across America.”
A few key highlights:
1. This year, we were invited on the EarthX global expo stage with Dallas dignitaries, which has led to substantial recognition, including front-page coverage in the Dallas Morning News, an invitation for a grant from PepsiCo, and other cemeteries seeking to become part of the expanding constellation.
2. CLM received the esteemed SMU Texas Impact Enterprise Award and was included in the Texas Impact Map Hub, a pioneering mapping platform aimed at showcasing the diverse impact of enterprises across various sectors in our state.
3. . CLM partnerships include Texas A &M Agrilife extension programs: Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, 4-H, and Master Wellness.
4. CLM is utilizing innovative, measurable metrics solutions to enhance community awareness and volunteer growth through a community-wide art initiative/cemetery in partnership with significant Dallas Museums (pending).
5. Collaborating with crucial community stakeholders within South Dallas is Key. Through trustworthy and transparent educational-community partnerships, CLM aims to learn more about public health needs affecting the under-championed population. Give-backs to each community: a mulch/compost giveaway/cemetery in collaboration with Home Depot (pending) and eco-tourism/cemetery plans.
Dallas County Commissioner Dr. Theresa Daniels says, “The Constellation of Living Memorials helps us reconnect with nature in our historic cemeteries. This will be accomplished by restoring the grounds to intentional native landscapes. Through this action, we promote the health of our community, enhance the life of our residents, and foster vital habitats for wildlife.”
We're ready to move full steam ahead into the next growth phase.
Garrett Boone, Container Store Co-founder and Greening Czar of Dallas elaborates on CLM’s importance to our city, as seen in this 30-second testimonial on the Constellation of Living Memorials YouTube channel.
As we pass the abandoned historic cemeteries, sorrow washes over us. These forgotten sites, thousands scattered across America, mirror the heartbreak we feel amid an unprecedented extinction of fauna, with over one million at risk of disappearing in the next few decades. The enormity of this loss is hard to fathom.
Cemeteries can be sacred places, portals rich with renewed life. They have untapped potential to offer an authentic sense of place and belonging to their local communities. A groundbreaking approach, cemetery wildlife sanctuaries will strengthen local economies, create jobs, reverse nature-deficit disorder, and attract visitors from across the state and country.
Your support toward the Constellation of Living Memorials pilot is the first step towards an expanded vision to replicate statewide.
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Onwards and upwards!
Using the success of the Friends of the Warren Ferris Cemetery as a model, we are offering Texas communities assistance to transform their neglected historic cemeteries into climate-resilient native habits to honor Texas pioneers for generations to come.
Partnerships and funding to execute the remaining 1.3 years of the pilot program to be replicable and roll out statewide.
To support goals #3, #4, #5 from above, this work will be executed by the Constellation of Living Memorials Public Health Director, May Rigby and Community Engagement Director, Willette Jackson.
As a team, we will be enlisting community advisors, leaders, corporations and government to guide us to success.
At Friends of the Warren Ferris Cemetery, diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to identity as an organization. Our commitment to these values is unwavering – across all of our work. They are central to our mission and to our impact. We know that having varied perspectives helps generate better ideas to solve the complex problems of a changing—and increasingly diverse—world.
We believe that to truly thrive as an organization, it is critical for our team to leverage a variety of people with a diverse set of skills, talents, and personalities.
Please contact Julie Fineman to review for the Constellation of Living Memorials Program budget proposal - julie@ConstellationofLivingMemorials.org
Organization name
Constellation of Living Memorials
Causes
Environment & Conservation
Operating Budget
$100,000 - $249,999
Counties Served
Wise, Tarrant, Somervell, Rockwall, Parker, Palo Pinto, Navarro, Montague, Kaufman, Johnson, Hunt, Hood, Grayson, Fannin, Erath, Ellis, Denton, Dallas, Cooke, Collin
BIPOC Serving
Hispanic or Latinx, Black or African American
Equity Statement
Equity Statement
Address
1609 St. Francis Ave.