Out(sider) Preservation Initiative: Building Momentum
As we move deeper into 2025, the Out(sider) Preservation Initiative (OPI) continues to advance its mission to support descendant-led preservation efforts through grantmaking, storytelling, research, and education. Guided by a vision to uplift Black placemaking and cultural memory, our work has expanded across multiple states and platforms, with exciting developments underway.
Grant coaching in action!
We gathered at the Houston Freedmen's Town Conservancy to connect with potential grantees, offer hands-on support, and build community.This in-person session helped bring applications to life while deepening relationships rooted in place and preservation.
Pilot Projects Launched
We’re proud to announce the launch of five inaugural pilot projects! These projects, based in Texas and Virginia, reflect the creativity, resilience, and leadership of descendant communities. From Juneteenth homecomings and site activation guides to immersive archival performance and community-based tourism models, each pilot brings a unique vision to life while informing OPI’s broader preservation strategy. Keep an eye out for pilot project updates in future newsletters and on social media!
First Grant Cycle: Powerful Response
We called, and they answered. Our first grant cycle received 166 applications totaling over $10 million in funding requests—a powerful indication of just how many descendants, organizers, and creatives are ready to protect Black historic places. This round is now closed, but we’re already looking ahead. Our next grant call will open in late Fall 2025.
In the meantime, we’ve hosted grant coaching and workshops, supported applicants through a thoughtful review process, and are continuing to build a robust foundation of tools, partnerships, and support systems for the preservation community.
Coming Soon: “I Am an Out(sider) Preservationist” Campaign
Launching this summer, the “I Am an Out(sider) Preservationist” campaign will highlight Freedom Colony leaders in Texas who are preserving their communities through creative, nontraditional methods. Through short videos and social storytelling, the campaign will explore what it means to practice preservation outside of mainstream institutions—rooted in memory, place, and cultural expression.
— Daniele Dixon, CCL Project Associate
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