Latest news with #BrentLeggs
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
$8.5 million awarded to preserve 30 Historically Black Churches across the U.S.
WASHINGTON, DC — The National Trust for Historic Preservation's African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is awarding $8.5 million in grants to 30 historically Black Churches as a part of its third annual Preserving Black Churches grant program. Having raised more than $150 million in total funding since its founding in 2017, the Action Fund is the nation's largest resource dedicated to preserving historic African American sites. 'We are honored to support the ongoing legacies of these churches, which have stood at the forefront of social progress for generations,' Brent Leggs, Executive Director of the African American Cultural Heritage Fund, said. 'This $8.5 million investment marks a critical step in safeguarding historically Black Churches as enduring symbols of faith, strength, and community leadership. By preserving them, we ensure that their powerful presence continues to live on in their communities and inspire future generations.' The Preserving Black Churches program is a $60 million initiative supported by Lilly Endowment Inc. that provides congregations with the funding and technical expertise needed to protect their historic assets and legacies. This year's grants, ranging from $50,000 to $500,000, will help congregations address urgent preservation challenges such as demolition threats, deferred maintenance, and structural issues, in addition to providing critical resources to help congregations strengthen their stewardship plans, enhance asset management, and grow fundraising capacity nationwide. With generous support from Lilly Endowment Inc., the Action Fund is expanding its efforts to preserve and sustain historically Black Churches during this third iteration of the Preserving Black Churches program. Sites selected for this year's Preserving Black Churches grants include: - The a.m.E. Zion Church in Charlotte, North Carolina: The African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) Church, a Christian denomination established in 1796, is known as 'The Freedom Church' and has been a long-standing champion of abolition, Civil Rights, and spiritual empowerment. Its historic members include Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Frederick Douglass. Funding will help the AME Zion Church Inc., headquartered in Charlotte, NC, to establish a denomination-wide Preservation Endowment to ensure historic AME Zion churches across the country are preserved and maintained for future generations. - Historic Bethel Baptist Church Community in Birmingham, Alabama: A National Historic Landmark, Historic Bethel Baptist Church was constructed in 1926 and is home to a congregation dating back to 1904. Under the leadership of Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth, Historic Bethel was instrumental to the Civil Rights Movement and is one of seven sites included in the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. Funding will support the expansion of interpretation and programming using virtual and augmented reality to help visitors learn about the Civil Rights era and Historic Bethel's leadership role in the movement. - St. Paul United AME Church in Birmingham, Alabama: Founded in 1869, St. Paul United Methodist Church was the site of the first mass meeting following the first major campaign to desegregate Birmingham's public bus system. The church is one of seven sites included in the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. Funding will support the development of interactive exhibits to tell the story of its role in Civil Rights activism in Alabama. - Boynton United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas: Boynton United Methodist Church was founded in 1880 and has been a long-term fixture of Houston's Third Ward community. The church's current Mid-century Modern building was completed in 1958 and designed by Texas' first licensed Black architect, John S. Chase. It was named a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 2023. Funding will support several preservation projects to restore the church's windows and masonry. - First Congregational Church of Marion in Marion, Alabama: First Congregational Church of Marion was founded in 1869 by formerly enslaved people and the American Missionary Association. It is the oldest unaltered historically Black church remaining in Marion. The church was the first one led by Civil Rights Movement leader Rev. Andrew Young, who later became the first African American U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Funding will provide for critical repairs, including the stabilization of the church's steeple, and accessibility and systems upgrades. - New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan: Commissioned in 1961 by Rev. C.L. Franklin, father of musical icon Aretha Franklin's father, New Bethel is a prominent site in Detroit's civil rights history. Several significant events, including the planning of the 1963 Walk to Freedom, occurred at New Bethel. Funding will allow continued efforts to reverse the water damage the building has suffered. To learn more about our mission to tell the full American story, visit us
New York Times
02-03-2025
- General
- New York Times
Black Churches Are Awarded $8.5 Million in Grants for Preservation
Grants were awarded to churches in 19 states, from Alabama to California. Credit... via The National Trust for Historic Preservation The initiative to save historic Black churches has aided 108 congregations since 2023. March 2, 2025 Black churches across the country recently were awarded more than $8 million in grants, part of an effort to preserve buildings that played significant roles in Black history. The grants, ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 and totaling $8.5 million, were announced on Feb. 24 and went to 30 churches. They were awarded by the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, a program operated by the nonprofit National Trust for Historic Preservation, with support from Lilly Endowment Inc. Since its inception in 2023, the $60 million Preserving Black Churches initiative has worked with 108 congregations and invested $19.5 million, said Brent Leggs, the executive director of the fund and a senior vice president at the National Trust for Historic Preservation. 'We wanted to leverage the tools of historic preservation to ensure the long-term viability and sustainability of these historic landmarks that are crucial in understanding the fabric of American life and history,' Mr. Leggs said. Image Aretha Franklin's father, Rev. C.L. Franklin, commissioned the New Bethel Baptist Church in 1961. The Detroit church was recently awarded a $500,000 grant, which will help fund a new roof and repairing water damage. National Trust for Historic Preservation calls Black churches 'the oldest institutions created and controlled by African Americans.' But in recent years, congregation numbers have declined, with many churches struggling to attract younger people. The grants are aimed at addressing 'urgent preservation challenges such as demolition threats, deferred maintenance, and structural issues, in addition to providing critical resources to help congregations strengthen their stewardship plans, enhance asset management, and grow fund-raising capacity nationwide,' according to a news release. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The National Trust Just Awarded $8.5 Million to Preserve 30 Historic Black Churches
The National Trust for Historic Preservation's African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund just announced it is awarding $8.5 million in preservation grants to 30 historically Black churches across the country. The Preserving Black Churches grant program is aimed to help preserve Black churches that have long served as pillars of communities, sanctuaries of faith, and symbols of change and resilience throughout history. Since its inception in 2022, the Preserving Black Churches program has supported over 100 historic sites in the United States. Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Fund, said in a press release, 'We are honored to support the ongoing legacies of these churches, which have stood at the forefront of social progress for generations. This $8.5 million investment marks a critical step in safeguarding historically Black Churches as enduring symbols of faith, strength, and community leadership. By preserving them, we ensure that their powerful presence continues to live on in their communities and inspire future generations.' The $60 million initiative, supported by Lilly Endowment Inc., provides congregations with funding to address urgent preservation challenges and structural issues, as well as supporting stewardship and management plans. The 30 grantees this year include major stops on the Underground Railroad, landmarks of the Civil Rights Movement, and structures built by groundbreaking Black architects. Constructed in 1926, Historic Bethel Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama played a crucial role during the Civil Rights Movement as an essential meeting place under the leadership of activist Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth. Funding from the grant program will help expand programming using virtual and augmented reality to allow visitors to understand Historic Bethel's rich history. Another Birmingham church, St. Paul United AME Church, will also receive funding to build interactive exhibits for guests to learn about its role in civil rights activism. The landmark served as the first mass meeting spot following the first major campaign to desegregate Birmingham's public bus system. The African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) Church, also known as 'The Freedom Church,' has remained a champion of abolition, civil rights, and spiritual empowerment since its establishment in 1796. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, its church congregation included historic leaders such as Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Frederick Douglass. Funding will help AME Zion Church establish a denomination-wide Preservation Endowment to preserve historic AME Zion churches across the United States. Rev. C.L. Franklin, father of music icon Aretha Franklin, commissioned the building of New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan in 1961, which later served as the planning spot for the 1963 Walk to Freedom. It will receive funding to repair significant water damage to the building, its roof, exterior wall, and HVAC systems. Head to the National Trust for Historic Preservation's website to learn more about the 30 churches awarded grants this year. To support the preservation of historic black churches, visit Might Also Like Spectacular Gifts for the Most Stylish Women in Your Life 16 Gorgeous Indoor Plants for Homes of All Sizes
