Our Story
Why Rooted Futures exists—and what we’re building through biophilia, education, and healing spaces.
From Plant Lover to Community Healer
Rooted Futures Initiative was founded by Lakeisha Jones, owner of Atlanta's Pink Pothos—a luxury houseplant boutique in a bright pink shipping container at Pittsburgh Yards. After spending 13 years in IT, Lakeisha followed her passion for plants and opened Pink Pothos in 2022, creating a space where Atlantans could find expert plant care, beautiful specimens, and a welcoming community.
But while running Pink Pothos, Lakeisha noticed something troubling: the customers who could afford therapeutic plant installations, biophilic office designs, and lush indoor gardens lived in a completely different Atlanta than the schools, hospitals, and senior centers serving under-resourced communities. Those healing spaces—the ones that needed nature's calming presence most—had bare walls, fluorescent lights, and no access to the mental health benefits that plants provide.
The opportunity gap was clear. Biophilic design shouldn't be a luxury reserved for those who can afford it.
That realization planted the seed for Rooted Futures Initiative. In 2025, Lakeisha launched this nonprofit with a simple but powerful mission: bring the healing power of plants to Metro Atlanta's under-resourced schools, hospitals, and senior centers—and teach communities how to care for them.
We're not just dropping off plants and leaving. We're creating sustainable green spaces, hosting hands-on workshops, and building long-term relationships with the communities we serve. Every installation comes with education. Every workshop builds confidence. Every follow-up visit ensures these living spaces continue to thrive.
Why This Matters
Research consistently shows that exposure to plants and nature reduces stress, improves focus and learning outcomes, speeds recovery times, and supports emotional well-being. But in Atlanta, access to these benefits follows the same inequality patterns as everything else—wealthier neighborhoods have parks, gardens, green schools, and therapeutic landscapes. Lower-income communities often don't.
Rooted Futures Initiative exists to close that gap. We believe healing spaces deserve to feel alive, no matter what zip code they're in.