If you are working to save historic buildings in your neighborhood, we want to help you make the case for historic preservation and get your voice heard by key decision-makers. We’ve collected a selection of helpful resources from our local, statewide, and national partners to help you plan your campaign or improve your advocacy efforts.
Advocacy courtesy the Noun Project.
Image credit: Advocacy courtesy the Noun Project.

Making the case for historic preservation

Historic preservation benefits Baltimore’s economy

The fact that historic preservation can be a tool for economic development is often overlooked. Historic preservation is not just about protecting and preserving historic landmarks. It is a vehicle for change. Whether it is through the Main Street program, the Historic Tax Credit, or Heritage Tourism, historic preservation has proven to be an effective tool for economic development. Read more from Preservation Maryland.

Historic preservation builds more sustainable communities

The conservation and improvement of our existing built resources, including re-use of historic and older buildings, greening the existing building stock, and reinvestment in older and historic communities, is crucial to making our urban places greener, more livable, and healthier. Read more from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Getting your voice heard

Reach out to the media

Advocacy campaign benefits greatly from a well-run media outreach program. A media campaign represents an organization’s single best opportunity to be in touch with its intended audience. Learn more about media communications for advocacy from the National Trust for Historic Preservation (PDF).

Prepare successful lobbying materials

Handouts, leave-behinds, and one-pagers help you paint a picture of the impact federal policy makes at the local level, an impact that is critical to illustrate during advocacy at the state and federal level. Learn more from Preservation Action.

Lobby elected officials

For many, the word lobbying conjures up images of back rooms and cigar smoke, back slaps and bags of money. Those images are far from the truth. Casting your ballot in the voting booth may be the most fundamental of democratic acts, but talking to your elected official—lobbying–is the indispensable next step. Read more from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Getting help when you need it

Need a lawyer? Contact the Community Law Center

Community Law Center is Maryland’s only legal services organization dedicated solely to strengthening neighborhoods and the nonprofit sector. Organizations wishing to apply for legal assistance from Community Law Center should complete and submit an Application for Legal Services along with the nonrefundable application fee and all requested information. See the FAQ for Completing the Application for Legal Services for more information about completing the Application for Legal Services.

Want to talk to an architect? Contact the Neighborhood Design Center

The Neighborhood Design Center provides pro bono conceptual design services to neighborhood associations and non-profits for community-based projects. NDC accepts applications for design assistance on a rolling basis. Download the NDC application for Project Assistance here. Learn more about applying for assistance from the Neighborhood Design Center.