Camille Mays, Peace Garden Project MKE

Camille Mays, a resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin familiar with the trauma of gun violence, recognized the pressing need for love and revitalization in her Sherman Park neighborhood, often marked by the sound of gunshots and memorials for victims.

In response, Mays initiated the “Peace Garden Project MKE” in 2015, aiming to transform temporary memorials into permanent gardens to cultivate hope and vitality. Through her activism and volunteer work with Crimestoppers, Mays strives to prevent further violence. Personal tragedy struck when her son Darnell fell victim to gun violence at the young age of 21. Despite her grief, Mays persists in spreading hope by advocating against gun violence, using her talents to inspire and heal others.

Camille and her partners at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee  hosted the Climates of Inequality exhibition in Milwaukee in Spring 2024.

See Camille’s local story for the Climates of Inequality project, “Urban Blight as Environmental Injustice” and hear her speak about the transformative power of gardens.