A Juneteenth reflection on my childhood dreams

I’m Alexis, a member of the Elephant Care Team here in the Mammal Department. My journey with Zoo Atlanta started before I can even remember it. According to my mom, it was my very first outing as a baby. Like so many Atlanta children, I grew up wandering these pathways, marveling at animals from around the world, and dreaming about what it might be like to work with them one day.

Back then, Kelly and Tara were already stars in my eyes. I watched them throughout my childhood, fascinated by their intelligence, their personalities. Never in a million years did I imagine that one day I would have the privilege of working alongside the team that cares for them and would get to know these remarkable elephants as individuals.

Today, Kelly and Tara remain beloved members of Zoo Atlanta’s elephant herd. As African elephants, they represent the largest land mammals on Earth, a species known for its intelligence, strong family bonds, and critical role in maintaining healthy ecosystems across Africa. Their presence helps connect guests to wildlife and conservation efforts that extend far beyond the Zoo’s gates. 

As we celebrate Juneteenth, I find myself reflecting on the power of representation and the importance of seeing possibilities for ourselves. Growing up, careers in wildlife conservation, zoology, and animal care weren’t always fields where I saw many people who looked like me. Yet my love for animals never depended on whether I saw myself represented. It simply existed.

What representation does provide is a reminder that these spaces belong to all of us. Conservation needs people from every background, perspective, and community. The future of wildlife depends on diverse voices coming together around a shared goal: protecting the natural world for generations to come.

For me, working at Zoo Atlanta feels like coming full circle. The place that inspired wonder in me as a child is now where I have the opportunity to contribute to animal care, conservation, and guest education. Every day, I get to learn from incredible animals like Kelly, Tara, Msholo, and Titan while helping guests create memories that may inspire them just as much as the Zoo inspired me.

Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, resilience, and progress. It is also an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come and how much further we can go. My hope is that when young visitors walk through Zoo Atlanta and see people from different backgrounds caring for animals, conducting research, and leading conservation efforts, they understand that these opportunities are open to them too.

After all, you never know where a childhood trip to the Zoo might lead.

Alexis J.
Keeper II, Elephants