Advocacy

Raising awareness, martialing our membership, inspiring action.

Advocacy Committee Meetings are the 2nd Monday of each month, at Alley 26, beginning at 8PM. Please join us! 

Advocacy Policy

Advocacy is a crucial part of Preservation Durham’s mission. When a building or community is slated for demolition, alteration, or potentially threatened, the Advocacy Committee considers the following before advising the Executive Director and Board on possible intervention:

Is it an important building (architecturally, culturally, historically, etc)?
– Review building’s status in existing research and documentation (NR nominations, local historic districts, Durham Inventory, Open Durham, etc.)
– Compare with other structures of a similar era/form/district/design
– Consider ramifications of the loss of structure

Is it endangered?
– By whom?
– How imminent is the threat?
– What is the current physical condition (especially structural)?

What are the possible solutions?
– Which possible outcome is Preservation Durham’s preferred?

How can Preservation Durham facilitate that end goal?
– Who are the players necessary to reach the various solutions?
– What timeline is necessary?
– What are the political ramifications of advocacy/silence?

The Advocacy Committee may produce appropriate materials to advocate for our preferred goal, including a press release, Places in Peril listing, talking points for public meetings, and social media outreach. The Committee may also initiate targeted conversations with key players, stakeholders and constituents or call on assistance from outside partners and organizations like Preservation North Carolina, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Durham History Museum, Duke University, and so forth.  If a historic designation such as statewide significance, National Register listing, Local Landmark status would help, the Committee or Staff may pursue that as well.

Want to get involved?  Contact us.