What first drew me to Oakland was the history—I wanted to support an organization that valued historical research and preservation. But what keeps me coming back are the people and the sense of appreciation.

I moved to Atlanta from St. Louis, Missouri in 2006. While familiarizing myself with the city, I decided to ride my bicycle through Oakland Cemetery. I was immediately enchanted. Although it was a few years before I started volunteering, I eventually signed up for Oakland’s second Saturday garden volunteer sessions, and the rest is history.