Image courtesy of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
For over 25 years, architect and preservationist Angel Ayón, principal of AYON Studio, has advocated for and designed with the idea that conserving our built cultural heritage for future generations is a responsibility, not a choice. Therefore, when he was asked to serve as a Selection Committee member for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s (NTHP) Telling the Full History Preservation Fund program, he knew it was both an honor and a mission.
NTHP created the Telling the Full History grant program, together with National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021. The program helps interpret and preserve historic places of importance to underrepresented communities across states and territories of the United States.
With this mission in mind, Angel, along with the other members of the Committee, went about reviewing, scoring and commenting on the applications submitted. Ultimately, $2.5 million in grants were awarded across 39 states to 80 grantees. Their inspiring stories reflected compelling places, showcasing the multi-layered intersections of underrepresented communities. What's more, they model innovative approaches and inclusive participation, and are particularly relevant to our challenging times and the need to reckon with history and legacies.
Angel’s investment of time and effort in this selection was truly a passion project, perfectly aligning with AYON Studio’s fundamental values and culture. The process was exhilarating, profound and offered great hope for the future of the untold stories of the underrepresented communities that have helped to shape our built environment.