WASHINGTON, D.C. – The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (WHI) today recognized the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) for its efforts to connect HBCU architecture students to the field of historic preservation through the Preservation in Practice program.
During the final day of the HBCU Week Virtual Conference, the WHI premiered the ACHP’s video about Preservation in Practice.
“We are proud to participate in the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” ACHP Chairman Aimee Jorjani said. “Our work with HBCU students on Preservation in Practice, as well as our partnership with other federal agencies in the Initiative’s Arts, Humanities, and History Cluster contribute greatly to our mission and to our work to build a more inclusive preservation program.”
Preservation in Practice is a joint program with the ACHP, National Park Service (NPS), and National Trust for Historic Preservation’s HOPE Crew. It is designed to raise awareness about the importance of historic preservation and conservation, bring African American young professionals into preservation-related careers, invite them to experience authentic learning in place at historic sites, and educate about the rich cultural legacy of HBCUs.
Preservation in Practice is a paid internship program for HBCU architecture students, which strives to model a comprehensive curriculum that directly connects architectural practice to preservation practice and articulates the important and meaningful role architects can play in preserving heritage of all kinds.
Since 2018, 18 students from Morgan State University and Tuskegee University have participated in Preservation in Practice. Some of those students have since received full scholarships to study historic preservation in graduate school, been awarded preservation-related internships and jobs, and focused their architecture education on historic preservation.
“I’m a graduate of an HBCU, Huston-Tillotson University, and the White House Initiative’s work has brought to the forefront this great pool of potential historic preservation professionals who can lead the way in telling the full story of our nation’s history,” said Robert Stanton, ACHP expert member and former NPS director. “Preservation in Practice is a wonderful opportunity to both increase awareness about the need for historic preservation among black students and give them marketable skills as they enter the job market.
In addition to Preservation in Practice, the ACHP, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Institute of Museum and Library Services, and Department of Education make up the Arts, Humanities, and History Cluster of the WHI. The Cluster hosted two sessions during the HBCU Week conference: “Applying for Success,” to promote federal funding opportunities that support HBCUs and “Discover Your Place in the Creative Economy,” to advise HBCU leaders about careers and other opportunities for students in the arts, history, and culture space. The September 24 sessions had 240 people participating.
The Cluster page on the WHI website includes many resources for HBCUs, information from the two conference sessions, and details about each agency in the Cluster.