In 2007, Julie Ghrist launches Art of Conservation (AoC): Creating a Healthful Connection between People and Mountain Gorillas, in partnership with Dr. Lucy Spelman and the staff of the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, Inc. (MGVP, Inc.).

Julie designed this outreach program to encourage artistic expression as a form of communication. The target audience for AoC is the community who live near the gorilla park in the northern province of Rwanda, Africa. The art classes provide instruction in basic drawing and introduce ideas about gorillas, nature, and the interconnectedness of life.

This unique outreach program encourages artistic expression as a form of communication, exploring the dynamic relationship between people, mountain gorillas, plants, air, soil, water, domestic animals and wildlife.