Chicago Botanic Garden

The Chicago Botanic Garden will develop and pilot a transitional employment program for military service members who have recently returned from overseas and are reintegrating into civilian life. The program will combine training, pre-vocational internships, and therapeutic horticulture to help 15 individuals transition into the workforce, while addressing their physical and emotional reintegration challenges in a supportive environment. Staff will conduct an interim and final project analysis and track and report on dissemination of the program model and publicity for the program. The Chicago Botanic Garden will support the reintegration goals of military service organizations and government agencies by developing a museum model to address the challenges returning veterans face when reintegrating into their communities and the workforce.