Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and senior vice president of the National Trust,
will speak Sept. 14 in Portland at the "Expanding the Black Preservation Movement in Oregon" symposium on discovering and preserving Black stories and places.
"Expanding the Black Preservation Movement in Oregon"
September 14, 2024 in Portland
9:30 am - 1:30 pm
• How are Black historic sites being preserved in Oregon?
• How can storytelling and digital media support historic preservation?
• How can the public get involved?
Join us for the Albina Preservation Initiative's half-day symposium to hear how local individuals and organizations are tackling these questions. Our keynote speaker is Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and senior vice president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Celebrating Black historic preservation in Oregon, the symposium seeks to discover and preserve Black stories and places, build relationships, recognize culturally-defined preservation efforts, and deepen partnerships. API is a collaboration of Oregon Black Pioneers, Moreland Resource Consulting, and Restore Oregon.
On Saturday, September 14, 2024, from 9:30 am - 1:30 pm, the symposium will take place in the Auditorium at Portland Community College - Cascade campus. The keynote address will lead off the event, followed by three panels of Oregon experts, and conclude with a community share out. Keynote speaker Brent Leggs is a dynamic national leader in the historic preservation movement. Mr. Leggs will provide context and inspiration for how Black culture and historic preservation are growing and flourishing on the national scale. “We are honored to bring Mr. Leggs to Oregon so we can learn from his exceptional work in this field, as well as share our combined work to preserve Oregon’s African American history,” says Kimberly Stowers Moreland of Moreland Resource Consulting.
“Not all histories are treated equally in the preservation field. Historic landmarks are typically designated based on their relationship to the dominant historical narrative of the area,” said Zachary Stocks, Oregon Black Pioneers’ Executive Director. “As a result, structures associated with people of color, women, immigrants, and LGBTQIA+ folks are often overlooked by preservation agencies.”
“This symposium is a great opportunity to highlight the work being done to preserve these often overlooked and underappreciated places and stories of the Black community,” adds Mariah Rocker, Oregon Black Pioneers’ Public Programs and Exhibits Manager.
“Restore Oregon’s strategic work to amplify the untold stories, voices, and histories that are grounded in the physical spaces of Albina and throughout Oregon is a critical step in valuing these places so that future Oregonians can better understand, appreciate, and protect them,” said Nicole Possert, Executive Director of Restore Oregon.
The Billy Webb Elks Lodge at 6 N. Tillamook St. in Portland is being restored.
Dean’s Beauty Salon and Barber Shop
Albina's Hill block circa 1910.
For more than 30 years, Oregon Black Pioneers has illuminated the seldom-told stories of people of African descent in Oregon through engaging exhibits, public programs, publications, and historical research.
The Mount (Mt. Olivet Baptist Church) in Portland has been a place of influence in for more than a century.
This symposium is made possible by Restore Oregon, generous grants from the statewide Partners of the Oregon Cultural Trust, City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, Architectural Heritage Center, and the Mellon Foundation (Just Futures Initiative) for the Pacific Northwest Just Futures Institute for Racial and Climate Justice, University of Oregon.