"The Influencers," a Zube Lecture Presented by Abra Lee

Join the UMass Department of Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning for "The Influencers," a Zube Lecture presented by Abra Lee on Thursday, November 21st at 4 PM in the Design Building Lecture Hall (DB 170).

Black Americans have long created their own cultural blueprint for how gardens and nature can be used as a means of remembrance, inspiration, and creativity. In this conversation, we will journey back in time to discuss historic legacies and give insight into some extraordinary people and the plants they used to bring joy into their lives.

Abra Lee is a storyteller and author of the forthcoming book “Conquer The Soil: Black America and the Untold Stories of Our Country’s Gardeners, Farmers, and Growers.” She has spent a whole lotta time in the dirt as a municipal arborist and airport landscape manager. Her work has been featured in media including The New York Times, NPR, Fine Gardening, and Veranda Magazine. Lee is a graduate of Auburn University College of Agriculture and an alumna of the Longwood Gardens Society of Fellows, a global network of public horticulture professionals. Her current role is Director of Horticulture at Oakland Cemetery, a revered Victorian garden cemetery and vibrant park located in downtown Atlanta.