named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Gene Norman Preservation Awards Gala
Annual gala honoring individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to Harlem’s preservation; named after the first African American chair of the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission
Harlem African Burial Ground Initiative
Collaborative effort to map, memorialize, and develop a cultural education center at the site of the historic 17th-century African burial ground in Harlem, now under a bus depot
Malcolm X Plaza Designation Initiative
Advocacy and community campaign that led to the official designation of Malcolm X Plaza as a DOT Pedestrian Plaza at 110th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard
Road to Harlem Series
Virtual and in-person educational series exploring the history of Black Manhattanites and early African American churches, including Shiloh Presbyterian Church’s role in the abolitionist movement and Underground Railroad
Sou Sou! Saturdays: Crafting Memory
Community archiving events co-presented with the Harlem PMCA to preserve cultural memory and personal archives of Harlem residents
Take the A Train Walking Tours
Architectural and cultural walking tours exploring historic districts in Central Harlem and Bedford-Stuyvesant, highlighting late 19th-century row houses and sites tied to the Harlem Renaissance and Civil Rights Movement
activities · 4 groups
What they do
-
Historic Site Designation Advocacy 5 activities
- Advocacy for landmark and historic district designations in HarlemAdvocates for the designation of individual landmarks and historic districts in Harlem, including specific efforts for Minton’s Playhouse, the Central Harlem 130th–132nd Streets Historic District, the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Historic District, Astor Row, the Harlem Alhambra, the NAACP Headquarters, and Masjid Malcolm Shabbaz. The organization has proposed the designation of five historic districts and 36 individual landmarks to the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission and has successfully achieved landmark status for multiple properties.
- Engagement of volunteers and public participation in preservation advocacyEngages volunteers to support landmark designation campaigns and contextual zoning efforts, and encourages public participation in Landmarks Committee Meetings of Manhattan Community Boards 9, 10, and 11.
- Prevention of demolition and protection of designated historic propertiesCollaborates with community partners and the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission to prevent the demolition of historic buildings in designated districts and advocates for the protection of endangered sites, including the Renaissance Theater and Casino. Documents deteriorated conditions of historic structures to support preservation advocacy.
- Protection of landmark properties through documentation and testimonyEngages in the protection of landmark properties by documenting deteriorated conditions of historic theaters and submitting formal testimony to the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission, such as regarding the Loew’s 175th Street Theater.
- Securing inclusion of historic sites in the National Register of Historic PlacesSuccessfully advocated for the inclusion of significant historic sites such as the Regent Theater, Strivers’ Row, and the 1963 March on Washington planning brownstone in the National Register of Historic Places, enhancing their recognition and eligibility for preservation support.
-
-
Historic Site Public Programming 2 activities
- Organization of preservation-focused events and conferencesOrganizes and hosts events such as the Save Harlem Now! Preservation Conference and the Gene Norman Preservation Awards Gala to advance historic preservation efforts and honor individuals contributing to Harlem’s cultural heritage.
- Public education and outreach on historic preservationProvides public education on historic preservation, real estate development, tax credits, and affordable housing in Harlem through workshops, walking tours, and public events. Organizes cultural and educational programming such as the Langston Hughes Birthday Celebration and Jane's Walks celebrating Black leaders.
-
-
Guided Historic Site Tours 1 activity
- Conducting cultural and architectural walking tours in HarlemConducts walking tours in East and Central Harlem, including visits to the Harlem African Burial Ground and comparative architectural tours between Central Harlem and Bedford-Stuyvesant, to promote public engagement with local history and preservation.
-
-
Uncategorized 1 activity
- Advocacy for renaming and official designation of public spacesWorked with community partners such as Friends of Malcolm X Plaza to secure the renaming of the 110th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard subway stop and supported the official DOT designation of Malcolm X Plaza.
-
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$58K
Contributions & grants$69K119%
Program service revenue$8742%
Investment income$740%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$114K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$101K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$113K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$113K
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -61.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 8
- Britt Densmore — Board Member
- George Siampalioti — Board Member
- Henrietta Lyle — Board Member
- Joseph Landon — Board Member
- Leslie Jill Hanson — Board Member
- Lisa Rachel Nickie — Board Member
- Mark Satlof — Board Member
- Roberta Washington — Board Member
relationships · 34
Who they work with
- CCCADI Partner — Collaborating on the launch of the Harlem PMCA (Harlem Place, Memory & Culture Archive)
- CCCADI Partner — Collaborating on the launch of the Harlem PMCA and co-presenting the "Sou Sou! Saturdays: Crafting Memory" event.
- CCNY PMCI (Place Memory Culture Incubator) Partner — Collaborating on the launch of the Harlem PMCA (Harlem Place, Memory & Culture Archive)
- CCNY PMCI (Place Memory Culture Incubator) Partner — Collaborating on the launch of the Harlem PMCA (Harlem Place, Memory & Culture Archive).
- Dorrance Brooks Square Property Owners and Residents Association Partner — Partnered with SHN! to secure landmark designation for the Dorrance Brooks Square Historic District.
- Ford Foundation Funder — Provided a grant in 2022 to support SHN!'s infrastructure.
- Ford Foundation Funder — Supported the Save Harlem Now! Preservation Conference 2022.
- Friends of Malcolm X Plaza Partner — Collaborated on the designation and renaming of Malcolm X Plaza
- Friends of Malcolm X Plaza Partner — Collaborated on the designation and renaming of Malcolm X Plaza.
- Guides Association of New York City Partner — Awarded the Apple Award for Outstanding Achievement in Support of New York City - Preservation in 2023.
- Harlem Cultural Archives Partner — Collaborating on the launch of the Harlem PMCA (Harlem Place, Memory & Culture Archive)
- Harlem Cultural Archives Partner — Collaborating on the launch of the Harlem PMCA.
- Historic Districts Council Partner — Co-organized the "Take the A Train" walking tours exploring Harlem and Bedford-Stuyvesant
- Historic Districts Council Partner — Co-sponsored the "Take the A Train" walking tour series exploring Harlem and Bedford-Stuyvesant.
- Historic Districts Council Partner — Collaborated on an action alert in support of the Central Harlem 130th–132nd Streets Historic District designation.
- NAACP Partner — Advocates for the preservation of the NAACP Headquarters building in Harlem.
- NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission Government — Entity to which Save Harlem Now! has submitted proposals for landmark designation.
- NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission Government — Lobbying target for securing landmark designations in Harlem.
- National Trust for Historic Preservation Funder — Provided a grant to support hiring Save Harlem Now!'s first Executive Director.
- National Trust for Historic Preservation Funder — Provided funding through its African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund to support SHN!'s organizational capacity.
- New York City Council Government — Councilmember Kristin Richardson Jordan provided funding for educational workshops for low-income and elderly homeowners.
- New York City Historic Districts Council Partner — Awarded the Grassroots Preservation Award in 2019.
- New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission Government — Submitted public testimony to the Commission advocating for the preservation of the Loew’s 175th Street Theater.
- New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission Government — Worked with to prevent demolition of properties in designated historic districts
- New York Landmarks Conservancy Funder — Awarded the Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award in 2020.
- New York State Senate Government — Senator Cordell Cleare provided funding in 2023 to support educational programming for historic property owners.
- Preservation League of New York State Funder — Awarded the Pillar of New York State Award to Save Harlem Now! President Valerie Jo Bradley in 2023.
- Riverside Church Partner — Hosted Save Harlem Now!'s third annual awards dinner at its landmarked neo-Gothic site.
- Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture Partner — Co-hosted "Two Voices: One Harlem," an evening with David Levering Lewis and Victoria Christopher Murray.
- Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture Partner — Co-hosted the "Two Voices: One Harlem" event with David Levering Lewis and Victoria Christopher Murray
+ 4 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Driven Preservation Through Collaboration and Educationmethodology: community-driven preservationBy engaging local organizations, volunteers, and faith-based institutions in documentation and public education, we strengthen grassroots ownership of preservation efforts, because community-led advocacy produces more sustainable and culturally resonant outcomes.
- Cultural Preservation Through Historical Documentation and Archivingmethodology: preservation-through-documentationBy systematically documenting physical deterioration and underrecognized histories, we create an evidentiary foundation for advocacy and policy change, because archival records empower marginalized communities to assert cultural justice and counter erasure.
- Landmark Designation as a Tool for Cultural and Historical Recognitionmethodology: landmark-designation-advocacyBy advocating for formal landmark designation, we secure legal recognition and protection of sites significant to African American history, because such status prevents demolition and development pressures while affirming the cultural value of Harlem’s heritage.