The worn headstones and overgrown paths of many historic cemeteries tell a story of neglect, but a new symposium in Richmond is working to change that.

The Library of Virginia will host the Richmond Cemetery Collaboratory’s first symposium, “Cultivating Perpetual Care Communities: A Richmond Cemetery Collaboratory Symposium,” on Saturday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The free event will focus on sustaining long- term cemetery care, particularly in historically African American cemeteries.

Topics will include physical maintenance, volunteer management, preservation planning, policymaking, archival research and community engagement. Morning sessions will offer workshops on indexing and transcribing archival records, as well as an opportunity to visit Black cemeteries in Richmond.

Limited transportation will be provided for hands-on demonstrations at local cemeteries. Afternoon sessions will feature speakers from Friends of East End Cemetery and the Woodland Restoration Foundation, along with representatives from Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Richmond, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and other local organizations. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.

The event is sponsored by the Library of Virginia, the Richmond Cemetery Collaboratory, the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University. Registration is required at lva-virginia.libcal.com.