*This is part 1 of a two-part program in partnership with Duke Gardens, led by Kati Henderson! Part 1 will take place in the Main Library MakerLab and part 2 at Duke Gardens, 420 Anderson St, Durham, NC 27708.

Learn about queer ecology and put it to practical use finding a personal home within environmental relationships. Build your understanding of the diversity and interconnections in the living world while we practice ways to build strong networks with each other and the environment around us. You’ll get a foundation in queer ecology, from the conceptual to real-world examples. In both sessions, you'll use your senses and engage in making art to find reflections of and support for yourself within our local, natural world.

In part 1: Get a foundation in queer ecology concepts, with some plant examples, and start connecting those ideas to the practice of growing healthy communities! We’ll start building our own community together and create a vision of the interconnected & supportive community we want, all in the context of diverse and complex ecosystems.

In part 2: Visit Duke Gardens and get familiar with plants and the ecosystem here! We’ll learn some plant identification, observe some of the plants we learned about last week, spend time outdoors as a place of community & refuge where we can see ourselves reflected, and continue connecting with each other.

Parking: If you're planning to park at Duke Gardens during the workshop, be aware that there is a fee of $2/hour. Duke Gardens can pay the fee for you if it would be prohibitive. To do that, we need to know the state & number of your license plate; please enter that information in the registration form.

Parking at Duke Gardens is not necessary; participants may also be dropped off for this workshop or get here via other transportation. If you do not need Duke Gardens to pay for your parking here, just leave that box blank in the registration form.

Participation Agreement: Please download and review the participation agreement attached to this event listing, then enter your name and today's date in the registration form to indicate that you have read and agree to all terms of the participation agreement. We will need signatures from participants and guardians.

Kati Henderson works at Duke Gardens, where she supports people in growing their relationship with plants & the land. This work includes managing an equity-focused research & storytelling program for university students, facilitating community building workshops on queer ecology & land history, organizing public programs for intergenerational audiences that share community resources, and providing support for groups interested in holding their own programs in the garden for their learning, cultural practices, and wellbeing. She loves growing connections for a healthier world.

If you have any accessibility questions or accommodation needs, please contact Gavin at gshelton@dconc.gov. We ask that all requests be made at least three (3) business days prior to the event to ensure we can provide the best accommodations possible.