Finding power in unexpected partnerships

There's a lot of news coming out of our national institutions right now, no doubt. But rather than waiting for the next “breaking” headline, it's time to roll up our sleeves and get creative. The work still needs us.

Like teaming up with an unexpected partner to bring an exciting community project to life, stepping outside our usual systems can feel like a reset—with fresh energy and new ideas. Which is why, this month, we’re looking at the power of partnerships. 

First, let’s take a quick look at recent developments. While we don’t need to absorb every piece of news, keeping an eye on what’s happening—what’s working and what isn't—will help us develop strong partnerships and effective action plans.

Under the current administration, we’re seeing continued censorship efforts at the Smithsonian Institution and National Park Service sites across the country, including orders for the removal of interpretive signage and brochures and sunsetting of important programs like the Center for Restorative History. 

As invested bystanders and witnesses, it’s our time to step in and link arms with our communities. With that goal in mind, we want to offer a pragmatic approach to resistance this month. The work is still there. Still important. And we must find ways to get it done.

Note: That’s not to say you can’t take breaks and rest. Those are also necessary for the road ahead.

While the federal systems we often rely on may be temporarily out of order, there are plenty of other ways we can join forces to protect our shared history. 

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE FIELD 

First, the good news: while censorship activities are underway at the federal level, we’re seeing different centers of influence step up to fill the gaps.

These local governments and organizations deserve recognition for their creative work and perseverance:

• The Private Sector – NOMMO Cultural Strategies and Freedom School Online collaborated to produce this incredible resource: Defend The Legacy: A Toolkit for Protecting Black History, Artists And Museums. Funded by The Black Genius Foundation’s Strokes of Genius Program, this toolkit outlines valuable strategies for educators, curators, and students to protect Black cultural institutions from ongoing scrutiny.
• City and State Officials – The City of Philadelphia is actively suing over the removal of the slavery exhibit at the President’s House Site. Citing an agreement dating back to 2006, Mayor Cherelle Parker and city officials are pushing back against the erasure of those enslaved by George and Martha Washington. In place of the removed exhibit, citizens have left flowers and hand-lettered signs, one reading, “slavery was real.”
• The Local Level – In Columbus, Mississippi, the local Convention and Visitors Bureau sponsored two new state historical markers dedicated to Black history. One marker honors Henry Edwin Baker Jr. for his work documenting over 1,200 Black inventors. The other tells the story of Union Academy, the city's very first public school for African Americans.
• Federal, State, and Local Coalitions – The U.S. Civil Rights Trail is a massive collaborative effort requiring the ongoing partnership of the NPS, state tourism departments, private foundations, and local organizations. Together, they recently expanded their network to a total of 140 locations across 14 states and Washington, D.C. Along with the Caroline County Courthouse (the site tied to the historic Loving v. Virginia case), the six new additions include two music museums in Nashville, a railway depot in Louisiana, and an entirely new city-wide trail in Jacksonville, Florida.

WHAT WE CAN DO 

We can’t control everything the federal administration does or demands, but we can take matters into our own hands. We have the power to act in service of a better future, which often starts in our local communities and ripples outward. 

Taking a cue from the examples above, here’s how we can think outside the traditional systems and build our own support networks: 

• Get inspired – If a local visitors bureau in Mississippi can successfully sponsor new historical markers and The U.S. Civil Rights Trail can coordinate across 14 states, your organization can make an impact too. In the wise words of Mr. Fred Rogers, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” 
• Form creative partnerships – When the system is broken, bypass it. Hitch your wagon to individuals, collaborators, and organizations who complement your skills and strengths. Just look at the Defend The Legacy Toolkit: it took a cultural strategy firm, an online education platform, and a private foundation working together to bring it to life. 
• Look outside the federal sphere – Tap into municipal leaders, state tourism departments, and private organizations. For example, when federal action forced the removal of the slavery exhibit in Philadelphia, city officials used a preexisting local agreement to take legal action. 
• Diversify your own ecosystem – The wider your support system, the better you can weather unexpected shifts. The Civil Rights Trail, for example, weaves its safety net across state tourism departments, private foundations, and local organizations. 
• Increase your own network – Don’t discount traditional networking, either. Reach out to a peer organization, invite a local official to coffee, or connect with a private-sector advocate. Always be growing your sphere of influence, so when one path is blocked, you already have another avenue open. 

IN SUMMARY 

Federal censorship continues. But! (And there’s always a “but…”) 

Local communities and private organizations are already stepping up to fill the gaps, protect culture and history, and get the work done. 

Don't waste time waiting for the system to fix itself. 

Look outside the federal sphere to form creative, local partnerships that complement your strengths and support your community. 

Nurture your ecosystem and take care of your network. 

Healthy relationships are the heartbeat of society. When you take care of your support system, you take back your power to keep progress moving forward—regardless of what’s happening in Washington. 

CLOSING REFLECTIONS 

Admittedly, watching our national institutions face this kind of scrutiny is exhausting. But history proves that when one door closes, communities figure out how to build their own doors.

It helps to remember that most of the federal agencies we rely on today didn’t even exist until the 1960s and 70s. Our field has always found creative ways to steward and protect history, and we will continue to do just that. 

Look outside the federal sphere. Build your network. Nurture relationships. The work still needs us, and we’re going to get it done.

For now, we’ll leave you with this quote from William J. Murtagh, the first Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places:

"Preservation engages the past in a conversation with the present over a mutual concern for the future." 

This blog post content was originally included in our community newsletter: The Moment -- where we respond quickly and thoughtfully to impactful events and decisions that challenge or disrupt our profession.