Published Jan. 3, 2022
WHAT: Groundbreaking ceremony for Ester Gallow Community Garden
WHEN: 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022
WHERE: Beside Roy Neal Shelling Sr. Elementary School, 4200 Elm St., Monroe
WHY: ULM project for MLK Day of Service
MONROE, LA - The University of Louisiana Monroe will host a groundbreaking ceremony at 11 a.m.,
Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, to establish a community garden in memory of Ester Gallow.
Each year, ULM chooses a community service project for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
of Service, a federal holiday on the third Monday in January.
Pamela Higgins Saulsberry, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity
and Inclusion, has organized the university MLK Day of Service for over a decade.
“This is the annual service-learning activity ULM provides as an opportunity for students,
staff, and faculty to engage in the community by helping to address a community need.
This project is transformational now and has the potential to continue to transform
the nutritional opportunities for this community,” Saulsberry said.
The community garden will be on land owned by the Gallow family next to Roy Neal Shelling
Sr. Elementary School at 4200 Elm St. in Monroe.
“Ester Gallow was a lifelong resident of the community, a businesswoman, and community
activist who was instrumental in establishing the senior living complex adjacent to
the community garden,” Saulsberry said. “The seniors will participate in this project
as a social engagement opportunity, and Shelling students will help at the garden
as an academic and social learning experience.”
Preparation of the garden will be the week of Jan. 10-14. On MLK Day of Service, Monday,
Jan. 17, volunteers will fill planters, prepare walking paths, and place signs at
the community garden.
For more information, email Saulsberry at saulsberry@ulm.edu.
