The Arboretum community includes roughly 100 staff, researchers, interns, and associates; hundreds of volunteers, members, and donors; tens of thousands of social media followers and website users; and millions of annual visitors to our landscape. We’re working to broaden and diversify this community while interrogating how we increase welcoming and feelings of belonging.
Public Programming
Recent programs have aimed to connect with expanded communities across Boston. A partnership with Abilities Dance Boston generated a performance that interrogated the concepts of equitable land use through an intersectional disability lens. A yearlong partnership with multimedia artist Daniel Callahan and Castle of our Skins culminated in a daylong celebration of Boston’s artistic communities of color.
Entrance Improvement Project
Our ongoing Entrance Improvement Project aims to renew and improve our entrances to provide a safe, accessible, and welcoming experience for all visitors. Five gates have been selected for the initial remodel, several of which adjoin Massachusetts-designated Environmental Justice Populations.
Translation
We are working on providing resources and content in languages other than English. Our Wonder Spots—online learning opportunities for children and families—are fully bilingual, presented in Spanish and English. Our mobile app, Expeditions, is fully translated into Spanish and Simplified Chinese. And Gathering Historias, a multimedia storytelling project created by Steven Fisher, explores the connections between the natural world and the Latine communities surrounding the Arnold Arboretum and beyond in Spanish and English.
Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee
Our interdepartmental Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee is comprised of staff who are working to create a more equitable and inclusive culture for Arboretum staff, researchers, and volunteers.