Chapter Meeting – Wednesday, May 7th, 2025

Roots for Wings: A Program to Promote Native Pollinator Gardens in Lewisville

Urbanization is a driver of global change due to habitat loss, rapid biodiversity decline,
and loss of ecosystem services.  There is a need for unified solutions that allow for
municipal progress yet include natural resource rejuvenation.  This shift in policy and
management is critical for maintaining Earth’s biodiversity health.  How can we
manage municipal land areas more effectively for the inclusion of native blue-green
infrastructure to promote local biodiversity?  How can these improvements benefit the
community members of cities?

The city of Lewisville’s Mayor T.J. Gilmore will present Lewisville’s award-winning green
centerpiece, Extending the Green and Roots for Wings Initiatives.  He will provide a
unique perspective to how Lewisville is creating a path towards progress AND native
habitat inclusion for their community.  Dr. Jamie Baxter-Slye will engage discussion
about community outreach, specifics on plant choices, and how to measure the success of
native installations.

Speakers T. J. Gilmore

TJ Gilmore is mayor of Lewisville. He has been a resident of Lewisville since 2001 and
has held many leadership positions in the community and local government. TJ is
originally from Yuma, Arizona and attended the University of Arizona. Growing up in arid
Arizona gave TJ a special appreciation for the importance of water conservation and
native plants.
Mayor Gilmore brings this experience in implementing two award-winning programs,
Extending the Green and Roots for Wings. He bring his unique perspective to discuss
how Lewisville had implemented these programs to promote biodiversity and habitat
conservation.

Speaker Dr. Jamie Baxter-Slye

Speaker Bio:
Dr. Jaime L. Baxter-She has over 20-years of collegiate teaching and is a sought-after
mentor for undergraduate ecology education. Trained in classical aquatic ecology, she
appreciates how land-use affects water quality and resilience, especially in the DFW
Metroplex. Her approach embraces prairie reconstruction, stream ecology,
avian/pollinator habitat, and nature-based solutions into her curriculum and research
projects with the overall goal of improving water quality and biodiversity within the north
central Texas region. Conservation and establishment of native Texas flora and fauna
habitat is the primary focus of her work.

She holds a PhD from the University of North Texas Biological Sciences and
undergraduate degrees from Texas A&M University, Kingsville. Dr. Baxter-Slye has let
conservation projects for Grand Prairie, Corinth, Denton, Lewisville and the UNT
campus.

Zoom Registration Link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QjHzDVLSSxSDwEsLqp4Feg

Join us in North Dallas at Dallas College Brookhaven Campus, Building H, Room 125.  (Brookhaven Campus map). Note: It is best to enter the Mountainview campus from Duncanville Road; there is construction but you can park directly in front of the S building. Room 1029 is on the lower level, continue down past the administration areas and turn left once you see a Subway and go down short hallway.

Or join us in South Dallas at Mountain View College, Building S (Administrative offices), Room 1029. (Mountain View Campus map).

Or for folks in East Dallas, Mesquite, Rockwall, or Kaufman, join us at Eastfield Dallas College Building C, Room 324(Eastfield Campus map)

Schedule:
 6:30 Camera Roll and Socializing
 7:00 Introduction and Announcements
 7:20 Featured Presentation
 8:45 Adjournment

Bring Food and Snacks to share at all locations!