Cornell Botanic Gardens embraces and actively works to increase diversity among all the communities with which we engage—Cornell students, faculty, and staff, visitors, supporters, its employees, and its plant collections. We envision a world where biological and cultural diversity are respected, sustained and celebrated. We cemented our commitment to that vision with our name change in 2016, and our new mission and vision that embrace biocultural diversity and conservation. Our Strategic Plan established a road map for our organization to lead public gardens and conservation stakeholders in advancing biological and cultural diversity through programs, initiatives, and priorities.
Tangible steps Cornell Botanic Gardens has taken to achieve its diversity and inclusion goals include:
- Increased understanding of the Black experience in America and the ways in which the formerly enslaved made possible the plants, foods, and practices enjoyed and embraced today
- Found Hope in the Face of Climate Change
- Reduced barriers for African Americans to the outdoors
- Developed the next generation of environmental leaders
- Collaborated with AIISP and native communities for Cayuga Language and Culture class
- Brought the wonder of nature to 600 area third graders
- Provided leadership and participation for both campus and community DEI efforts, such as, CALS’ Leaders in DEI (Sonja Skelly), TCAT to Trails initiative (Todd Bittner), Ithaca Children’s Garden board of directors (Sonja Skelly), and International biological and cultural conservation (Christopher Dunn)
Progress toward a strategic plan for diversity, equity, and inclusion is on-going, with an expected completion date of December 2022. The plan will be informed by, and provide support to, the three main goals of our organizational Strategic Plan 2018-2023.