Written By Paul Garwood

From churches to community centers, dozens of Black heritage sites are receiving new resources to protect their stories.

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, announced $3 million in grants in 2025 for 24 sites across the United States that represent Black joy, resilience, innovation, and activism. These awards help restore historic buildings, create new exhibits, and upgrade community spaces that have long anchored Black neighborhoods

Funded projects range from civil rights landmarks to cultural centers and churches, demonstrating that preservation isn’t just about mansions—it’s about the places where every day Black life has unfolded. In a time when many Black communities are threatened by displacement and disinvestment, this kind of support keeps our physical and spiritual landmarks standing.

The Positive Black Network can highlight a few of the funded sites, showcasing how local elders, activists, and young leaders are collaborating to preserve history—and how readers can support similar efforts in their own communities.

With support from the Ford Foundation and the Robert D.L. Gardiner Foundation, this program continues to grow. Learn more about some of this year’s grant recipients below.

1. Muddy Waters Mojo Museum

A living tribute to the father of modern Chicago blues, the Muddy Waters Mojo Museum preserves the home where Muddy created a new sound that shaped American music forever. It stands as a reminder that Black creativity doesn’t just influence culture — it defines it.

2. Dr. James & Janie Washington Cultural Center

Celebrating two legendary Black artists, the Washington Cultural Center nurtures the intersection of art, spirituality, and community. Their home-turned-studio now inspires new generations to create boldly and live with purpose.

3. Apollo Theater

The Apollo is more than a stage — it’s a cultural throne. From Ella Fitzgerald to Lauryn Hill, this Harlem icon has launched legends, amplified Black joy, and kept the heart of Black performance beating for nearly a century.

4. Town of Glendora

Once shaped by the painful legacy of the Delta, the Town of Glendora is rewriting its story through preservation, education, and community power. It stands today as a testament to resilience, truth-telling, and the strength of rural Black America.

5. Jewel Theater

One of the last remaining African American–owned theaters of its era, the Jewel Theater preserves the cinematic legacy of Black audiences and creators. Its restoration protects a cultural anchor where storytelling and community once thrived.

6. Sylvester Manor Educational Farm

At Sylvester Manor, history and land stewardship come together. The farm preserves centuries-old stories of Black, Indigenous, and immigrant labor while teaching future generations how justice, food, and heritage are deeply rooted in the soil.

7. Berry College African American Cemeteries

These historic cemeteries honor Black families whose stories were long overlooked. Through careful preservation, they ensure that every name, legacy, and contribution is remembered with dignity.

8. Lewis H. Latimer House Museum

The former home of inventor Lewis H. Latimer celebrates one of America’s greatest yet under-recognized Black innovators. His brilliance shaped modern electricity — and his museum continues to illuminate the power of Black genius.