First Annual Sustainability Workshop for African American Historic Sites
By Brent Leggs
On January 21, 2010, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Northeast Office, in partnership with the John Nicholas Brown Center at Brown University and The 1772 Foundation, convened representatives from 24 African American sites, from Maine to Delaware, in Providence, Rhode Island for a two-day sustainability workshop. A diversity of places were represented, and the stories embodied in those places are truly, truly inspiring. These places included a former Negro league baseball stadium, Underground Railroad and abolitionist sites, extant cultural landscapes and historic resources from free Black communities, heritage trials, a slave quarter, the first African American meeting houses in the country, and sites representing jazz and vocal legends. Together these places represent the Northeast’s rich African American heritage and help to better our understanding of the Black experience in America.
The goal of this program was to enhance the preservation leadership capacity at African American sites by providing access to nationally-recognized preservation and non-profit consultants. This year’s theme, “The Business of Preservation,” promoted strategies for encouraging a more business-minded approach in preservation stewardship. Topics included Robert Bull and Ann Ackerson’s presentations on governance, mission, and planning, the three building blocks of sustainable organizational development. Gregory Farmer led an informative training in preservation planning and how to be the best steward of your historic resource, which was complemented by Donna Harris’ presentation on innovative approaches for preserving and utilizing historic structures. On day two of the workshop, Beverly Morgan-Welch and John Carnahan offered successful strategies for fundraising and community engagement.
The Northeast Office thanks these excellent trainers for their time and energy, as well as the Northeast Advisory Committee members who helped to plan this workshop. They include Wendy Nicholas, Annie Valk, Gretchen Sorin, Marita Rivero, Keith Stokes, Charlotte Bonini, Max van Balgooy, Pam Green, and Melissa Jest.
To learn more about the Northeast Office's projects, please email Brent Leggs.
Preservationist Brent Leggs is a former NTHP Mildred Colodny Fellow now serving as the Northeast Regional Office Field Representative. He is actively involved in implementing initiatives to protect and promote African American Historic Places around the country.
