This week I’m joined by Carol Quillen, President & CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Carol became the 10th president in 2024 and brings a fresh perspective from her career in academia, including over a decade as president of Davidson College.

Together we explore how preservation is not about saying “no” to change, but about creating opportunities, building community connections, and shaping a more sustainable future. Carol shares her journey, clears up common misconceptions, and highlights how preservation can spark economic growth, civic engagement, and even climate resilience.

We also talk about the power of adaptive reuse, storytelling, and local partnerships—from rural towns to urban neighborhoods—that make preservation a catalyst for inclusion and resilience.

✨ If you’re curious about how the past can fuel stronger communities and a brighter future, this episode is for you!

Links:

• 11 Most endangered list: America's Most Endangered Historic Places | National Trust for Historic Preservation
• Preserving Black Churches: https://savingplaces.org/black-churches 
• Action Fund: African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund | National Trust for Historic Preservation
• HOPE Crew: HOPE Crew | National Trust for Historic Preservation
• NTHP Main Street program: Main Street America :: Home
• Repurpose Capital: RePurpose Capital
• NTCIC: NTCIC | National Trust Community Investment Corporation
• Woodlawn Mansion: Woodlawn Historic Overview — Woodlawn & Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House
• TED Talk the dangers of a single story : Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The danger of a single story | TED Talk
• NTHP Grants Programs webpage: https://savingplaces.org/grants
• NTHP Action Center: https://savingplaces.org/action-center
• Tangible Remnants on Instagram
• Tangible Remnants Website
• LinkedTr.ee for resources
• Earn CEUs for listening to this podcast
• Signup for Ask Me Anything w/ Nakita Reed
• Gabl Media Network
• Sarah Gilberg's Music

Bio: Carol Quillen is the 10th President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and joined the National Trust in January 2024.

Carol brings to the National Trust a deep appreciation of history, and a distinguished career leading academic institutions. Prior to the National Trust, she served as the 18th president of Davidson College (2011-2022).

Nationally, Carol is a founding member of the American Talent Initiative (ATI), a consortium that aims to graduate annually 50,000 additional low- and moderate-income students from the nation’s top colleges and universities.

Among other roles, she co-chaired, with General Robert Caslen, the NCAA’s Commission to Combat Campus Sexual Violence and she served on President Obama’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans. She has spoken at numerous venues, including the Aspen Ideas Festival, edX Global Forum, and the Milken Global Conference. She has served on the boards of the Kinkaid School (Houston, Texas), American Council on Education (Washington, D.C.), the Levine Museum of the New South (Charlotte, North Carolina), and Credential Engine, a national organization that enables “credential transparency” in the post-secondary educational sector.

 In 2019, Princeton awarded Carol the James Madison medal, given in recognition of an alumnus/a’s distinguished career advancing the cause of graduate education or record of outstanding public service. She has received numerous academic awards, and earned fellowships from the Mellon Foundation, the Whiting Foundation, the Fulbright Foundation and Villa I Tatti, Harvard’s Center for Renaissance Studies in Florence, Italy. Carol is the author of two books and many articles. Her writings have appeared in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The Hill, Huffington Post, The Hechinger Report, The Washington Post and The New York Times.

 Carol earned a B.A. in American history from the University of Chicago, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with special and general honors, and a Ph.D. in European history from Princeton University. She then joined the History Department at Rice University, serving there on the faculty, as the founding director of the Boniuk Center and as a vice provost and vice president before she was named president of Davidson.

**Some of the links above maybe Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.** 

In this conversation, Nakita Reed and Nina Jean-Louis discuss the intricacies of adaptive reuse projects, focusing on the role of structural engineers and the importance of community engagement. The discussion emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and the evolving nature of engineering practices in relation to community needs. In this conversation, Nina Jean-Louis discusses her research on quantifying resilience in cultural landscapes, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and transdisciplinary methods. She highlights the challenges of working with marginalized communities, particularly in the context of the American Beach and the historical significance of the saltwater underground railroad. Nina shares her experiences and insights on the emotional aspects of community work and encourages engineers and architects to embrace this approach.

Links:

• https://coastalheritageatrisk.com/
• https://news.miami.edu/stories/2024/04/shining-a-light-on-untold-stories-from-floridas-past.html
• Association for Preservation Technology's Inclusion Advocacy Committee
• Nina Jean-Louis' website
• Tangible Remnants on Instagram
• Tangible Remnants Website
• LinkedTr.ee for resources
• Earn CEUs for listening to this podcast
• Signup for Ask Me Anything w/ Nakita Reed
• Gabl Media Network
• Sarah Gilberg's Music

Bio: Nina is a structural engineer passionate about bridging engineering, cultural heritage, and climate science to equip communities with the tools to safeguard their heritage and associated landscapes. During her ten-year career in the engineering and cultural resource industries, Nina has supported various communities, private sector partners, non-profits, and municipal agencies in solving some of the most challenging preservation and engineering issues that range from retrofit repair guidance, resiliency & cultural resource education, community engagement and relationship building with industry professionals, academia and community stakeholders. She is finalizing her doctoral degree at the University of Miami, which focuses on developing community driven climate-resilient solutions for protecting cultural landscapes.

**Some of the links above maybe Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.** 

In May 2025, Nakita was the emcee for a livestream celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's HOPE Crew program. HOPE Crew, which stands for Hands-On Preservation Experience, was one of the first and largest efforts to expand the preservation industry in the country. Since 2014, it has trained more than 802 young people and veterans, engaged over 3,000 volunteers in historic preservation trades, and completed nearly 200 projects in cities, parks, and communities across America.  These projects include sites such as Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana to Nina Simone's Childhood Home in Tryon, N.C., and Estate Little Princess in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. 

The livestream back in May  featured a moderated conversation between Monica Rhodes, founding Director of HOPE Crew and the President & Founder of Rhodes Heritage Group, and Milan Jordan, current Director of HOPE Crew; a reflection discussion with Molly Baker, one of the most senior tenured employees with the program, and ended with three panels - one panel featuring Foundation and Organizational Partners, one panel featuring past participants, and another featuring Trade professionals who've spent time providing the training. 

This episode is a condensed, audio only version of the livestream and features snippets from each panel. The panelists that are included in the podcast episode include:

• Marie Walker, COO of the Corps Network
• Mike Muckle, Exec. Director of NJYC of Phillipsburg
• Shonto Greyeyes Program Director at the Conservation Legacy
• Alicia Spence, Founder of Spence Timber works

Links:

• HOPE Crew | National Trust for Historic Preservation
• Preservation Trades Network - About
• Rhodes Heritage Group
• Tangible Remnants on Instagram
• Tangible Remnants Website
• LinkedTr.ee for resources
• Earn CEUs for listening to this podcast
• Signup for Ask Me Anything w/ Nakita Reed
• Gabl Media Network
• Sarah Gilberg's Music

Bios: Milan Jordan - With a background in architecture and a passion for nonprofit management, Milan’s career is the intersection of mission-driven work for built and cultural environments. Milan is currently the Director of the HOPE Crew at the National Trust for Historic Preservation. HOPE Crew is bringing Hands-On Preservation Experience to the next wave of preservation tradespeople. Under Milan’s leadership, the program has developed partnerships with all seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with colleges of architecture. Expanding from traditional trades training, the program now also engages architecture students on documentation methods and technology that builds on architecture education and supports the preservation movement. Milan looks forward to continuing Katherine Malone-France’s bridge of preservation and architecture on the Architect’s Foundation board of directors.

Prior to joining the National Trust, Milan was Director of Workforce and Emerging Professionals at the American Institute of Architects where she developed programming and resources for early-career professionals as well as women architects. She served on the inaugural advisory committee for the 2023 AIA Women’s Leadership Summit and enjoys other civic leadership including the Traditional Trades Training Task Force and Preservation Priorities Task Force. Milan holds a Master of Architecture degree from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Bachelors of Arts in American Studies from University of Maryland, College Park. In her spare time she is a Pilates instructor and enjoys tending to a large collection of indoor plants and exploring natural wonders.

Monica Rhodes - Monica Rhodes is an international award winning, accomplished cultural preservationist with over 15 years of experience leveraging preservation as a strategic tool for advancing socially and economically inclusive heritage and preservation practices. This year, Rhodes was appointed to the ACHP by President Joseph Biden as an Expert Member of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). The ACHP is an independent federal agency that promotes the educational, economic, and cultural values of historic preservation and advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy. It also influences federal activities, programs and policies that affect historic and cultural properties.

As a 2023 Rome Prize Fellow in Historic Preservation and Conservation at the American Academy in Rome and a 2022 Loeb Fellow at Harvard University, Rhodes is recognized for establishing groundbreaking programs at two of the largest national organizations focused on preservation and national parks. At the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Rhodes developed the first and largest nationwide program centered on diversifying the preservation industry. While at the National Park Foundation, Rhodes led the effort to reestablish legacy programs to fund a more honest and comprehensive story of the country’s history. She currently serves as an advisor to the Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights Sites at the Weitzman School of Design at University of Pennsylvania and is a board member on the International Council on Monuments and Sites.

Over the course of Rhodes’ career, she has spearheaded the development of hundreds of partnerships, engaged thousands of community members and impacted millions of visitors to national parks through preservation efforts at some of our nation’s most iconic sites. Rhodes continues to push communities and practitioners to leverage the past to think 50 years ahead.

**Some of the links above maybe Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.** 

This episode provides an overview of the Design-Bid-Build design process, emphasizing the importance of following structured phases. Nakita explains the sequential nature of design phases, the significance of working with qualified professionals, and the potential costs associated with changes made during the design process. The discussion also covers the roles of architects and contractors, the bidding process, and the necessity of construction administration to ensure project integrity.

Links:

• Tangible Remnants on Instagram
• Tangible Remnants Website
• Subscribe to the Tangible Remnants Newsletter
• LinkedTr.ee for resources
• Earn CEUs for listening to this podcast
• American Institute of Architect's Defining the architect's basic services
• Gabl Media Network
• Sarah Gilberg's Music

**Some of the links above maybe Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.** 

Mentioned in this episode:

Spaces

In this conversation, Nakita Reed and Christian Joosse discuss the journey of writing and publishing 'Letters to Miss 1000', a book aimed at mentoring and inspiring future Black women architects. Christian shares her personal history with writing, her motivations for the book, and the challenges of including diverse voices in the project. The conversation emphasizes the importance of community, hope, and representation in the field of architecture. In this conversation, Christian Joosse discusses the artistic vision behind his book, which highlights the stories of women in architecture. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship and representation in the field, sharing personal anecdotes that illustrate the impact of these themes. Joosse also delves into her self-publishing journey, explaining the barriers she faced and the significance of physical publications in architecture. The discussion underscores the need for storytelling in architecture and the role of community in supporting diverse voices.

Links:

• Buy the book: HOME | Letters To Ms. 1000
• Letters to Ms. 1000 on IG
• Moody Nolan
• NOMA Project Pipeline
• Sign up for the Tangible Remnants newsletter
• Tangible Remnants on Instagram
• Tangible Remnants Website
• LinkedTr.ee for resources
• Earn CEUs for listening to this podcast
• Signup for Ask Me Anything w/ Nakita Reed
• Gabl Media Network
• Sarah Gilberg's Music

Bio: Christian Joosse is the editor, co-author, and curator behind Letters to Ms. 1000 | Words of Wisdom from African American Women Architects, Vol. 1. She is an architect, academic, aspiring poet, mother, and mentor. Her first published poem at age eight ignited her love for the written word and her family construction business put the first hammer in her hand, both powerful tools to build a lasting foundation. As an architect at Moody Nolan Inc., the largest African American owned and operated firm in the nation, nationally recognized design work requires captivating storytelling to imbue the culture of the communities in which she works. The world of architecture enriches her writing through research papers, national award submissions, articles, and her debut book. As an academic, she has exhibited research internationally, co-curated gallery exhibitions, fabricated pop-up installations, moderated panel discussions focused on under resourced populations and often taken on unconventional projects aiming to redefine the profession. Her work across multiple disciplines demonstrates she is a passionate advocate for creating inclusive environments. Her decade of academic and professional engagement with students and emerging professionals propels her vision for a tangible written mentorship piece that she believes will inspire many generations to come.

**Some of the links above maybe Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.** 

Mentioned in this episode:

Spaces

This week's episode features a delightful conversation with Belinda Stewart and will resonate with you if you have ever wondered if it's possible to do the type of work you want to do in your hometown. Or what it would take to be able to use buildings to tell the often difficult histories of a place. 

In this episode we chat about the importance of adaptive reuse, historic tax credits, and the impact of vernacular architecture. Belinda also highlights her work in memorializing Emmett Till's story and the significance of community involvement in these projects. The conversation emphasizes the need for understanding the history behind buildings and the stories they tell, as well as the importance of funding and grants in making projects a reality.

Links:

• The Citizen Architect | Belinda Stewart Architects
• People | Belinda Stewart Architects
• Tangible Remnants on Instagram
• Tangible Remnants Website
• LinkedTr.ee for resources
• Earn CEUs for listening to this podcast
• Signup for Ask Me Anything w/ Nakita Reed
• Gabl Media Network
• Sarah Gilberg's Music

Bio: Belinda J. Stewart, FAIA, APTRP, is the founding Principal of Belinda Stewart Architects, a woman-owned and led firm in the small town of Eupora, Mississippi. Belinda has always been a Citizen Architect, persistently searching for ways to assist communities and lead her own. She is the seventh-term Mayor of the Village of Walthall. She believes a small town can inspire, family roots can build an ethic that weaves through a profession, and that architecture shows the beauty of history and hope for our future. Over the last 35 years, her firm has provided architectural services for over 650 historic structures, which have received over 120 design and preservation awards. Two years ago she founded The South Way Foundation, a non-profit organization focusing on project incubation, story-telling and preservation construction in the rural South.

Mentioned in this episode:

Spaces

In this episode, Nakita addresses the top five questions often posed by building owners interested in adaptive reuse projects. She discusses the criteria for determining if a building is historic, the implications of preservation protections, how to estimate costs, the timeline for projects, and when construction can realistically begin. Reed emphasizes the importance of understanding the process and the various factors that influence each stage of an adaptive reuse project.

Links:

• Medusa, Maryland's Cultural Resource Information System
• State Historic Preservation Offices - National Register of Historic Places (U.S. National Park Service)
• The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation - Historic Preservation Tax Incentives (U.S. National Park Service)
• Funding & Preservation Protection matrix
• Tangible Remnants on Instagram
• Tangible Remnants Website
• LinkedTr.ee for resources
• Earn CEUs for listening to this podcast
• Signup for Ask Me Anything w/ Nakita Reed
• Gabl Media Network
• Sarah Gilberg's Music

**Some of the links above maybe Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.** 

Mentioned in this episode:

Spaces

This episode features a conversation with Melissa Jest from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund at the National Trust for Historic Preservation. We discuss her extensive experience in preservation and advocacy for underrepresented communities.

Links:

• African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund
• National Trust for Historic Preservation
• Tangible Remnants on Instagram
• Tangible Remnants Website
• LinkedTr.ee for resources
• Earn CEUs for listening to this podcast
• Signup for Ask Me Anything w/ Nakita Reed
• Gabl Media Network
• Sarah Gilberg's Music

Melissa Jest is Senior Manager of Preservation Projects for the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (AACHAF). Miss Jest brings more than 20 years of preservation project and education experience, having worked in Savannah, GA, Philadelphia, PA and on staff at the Georgia Historic Preservation office headquartered in Atlanta GA.

In her work, Miss Jest has assisted individuals and communities in identifying and preserving historic tangible and intangible resources significant to our shared heritage. Also, she has served on civic and private foundation boards over her career of advocating for underrepresented communities, and for historic preservation as both a tool and a movements Miss Jest is a native of Savannah, GA and holds a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Florida and a Master’s degree in Urban Studies from Savannah State University.

**Some of the links above maybe Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.** 

Mentioned in this episode:

Spaces

In 2020 the DC Preservation League received a $50,000 grant from the African American Civil Rights Program, as administered by the National Park Service (NPS), Department of the Interior, to fund the creation of a study entitled Black Power in 20th Century Washington, DC: A Context Study. This episode features excerpts from that study.

Links:

• Link to Ep. 34 - Live Show with Sarah Shoenfeld & G. Derek Musgrove
• Chocolate City by Chris Myers Asch & G. Derek Musgrove
• Black Power in 20th Century Washington, DC: A Context Study
• Link to other DC Preservation League nominations and studies
• Tangible Remnants on Instagram
• Tangible Remnants Website
• LinkedTr.ee for resources
• Earn CEUs for listening to this podcast
• Signup for Ask Me Anything w/ Nakita Reed
• Gabl Media Network
• Sarah Gilberg's Music

**Some of the links above maybe Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.** 

Mentioned in this episode:

Spaces

This episode is a crossover, featuring the bonus episode from the limited series Going Green, a Spaces podcast story.  This series was created by fellow Gabl Media podcaster, Dimitrius Lynch, is well researched , and beautifully produced.  I loved listening to the series and was super excited to interview him for the bonus recap episode of the series.

In our conversation we discuss the importance of sustainability and the potential benefits of a sustainable future. We reflect on the impact of climate change, the journey of creating the 'Going Green' series, and the interconnectedness of history, media, and corporate responsibility in shaping public perception about climate issues. Our discussion emphasizes the need for collective action and the role of communication in addressing environmental challenges, while also exploring surprising discoveries made during his research process.

Links:

• Going Green, a SPACES podcast story
• All Access Series - Gābl Media // A Digital Media Network for the AEC Industry
• Tangible Remnants on Instagram
• Tangible Remnants Website
• LinkedTr.ee for resources
• Earn CEUs for listening to this podcast
• Signup for Ask Me Anything w/ Nakita Reed
• Gabl Media Network
• Sarah Gilberg's Music

Bio: Dimitrius Lynch is an architecture graduate of California Poly Paloma. He’s a licensed architect in the State of California with over 12 years of experience in design and project management. HE’s practiced in both domestic and international projects. He is a LEED and WELL accredited professional, WELL AP denoting expertise and commitment to advancing human heath and wellness in buildings and communities.

He's the (co)host of the Spaces podcast, a podcast aiming to elevate the appreciation for and understanding of how our spaces are evolving. The podcast has a diverse panel of hosts and explore the design and construction of various spaces to highlight how their evolution has affected society throughout history and will continue to do so into the future.

**Some of the links above maybe Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.** 

Mentioned in this episode:

Spaces