Business
In our first season of Shaping Cities, Ticco is partnering up with professional organizations that serve the people who design, build, and manage the cities and communities we live in. In Episode 3 of this season, we collaborated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For 70 years, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has led the movement to save America’s historic places. In addition to grassroots advocacy, the organization serves as the primary professional association for preservation professionals through online professional development content and their annual PastForward conference. Sehila Mota Casper sat down with us to talk about her work as a preservationist, and how it takes shape through her role as Senior Field Officer in Houston, Texas with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Sehila leads efforts on-the ground in Houston on behalf of the organization, and spends much of her time connecting with local organizations and building support for at-risk sites. Sehila earned her MFA in Historic Preservation from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD.) Through her work, Sehila advocates for a more diverse preservation practice by serving on the Executive Committee of Latin@s in Heritage Conservation, the National Collaborative for Women’s History Sites board, and as a Diversity and Inclusion Liaison for the National Trust. Important Notes: In this episode, host Erik Felix at one point referred to the Department of the Interior Standards as the “National Trust for Historic Preservation guidelines.” Note that this is incorrect - standards and guidelines for the treatment and protection of historic properties are set by the federal government through the Department of the Interior, and not through the National Trust (a non-governmental organization.) In our conversation regarding representation among sites on the National Register of Historic Places, it was said that no more than 10% of sites are associated with diverse histories. The exact number changes each year as more sites are listed on the register, and this number was derived from an article written for CityLab in 2019. Follow TICCO: Join Free | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | FacebookFollow the National Trust: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedInConnect with Sehila Mota Casper: LinkedIn | Instagram