DECATUR — The Decatur Historic Preservation Commission received a Commission Excellence Award for Best Practices in Public Outreach and Advocacy. The award was presented by the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions at the NAPC Forum last month in Cincinnati.
The organization was honored for creating an educational booklet that highlights the city’s architectural history in celebration of its bicentennial.
With support from a certified local government grant, the project focused on Decatur’s cultural landscape.
It also included little-known local stories, including the work of an early African American architect, a Jewish shop owner, the transformation of an 1887 livery stable into an art deco movie theatre, and the vintage 1950s era neon sign for Bob Gibson’s BBQ.
More than 140 elementary students entered a citywide coloring contest using the booklet, and submissions were displayed throughout downtown.
The forum brought together preservation professionals and commission members from across the country for a week of training, education and networking. Forum is the only national conference dedicated to the concerns and educational needs of preservation commissions, their staff, and surrounding communities.
The interactive conference blended traditional educational sessions with roundtable discussions, mobile workshops, and tours.
Founded in 1983, the alliance’s mission is to help build strong local preservation programs and leaders through education, training and advocacy.
Decatur’s innovative outreach effort, which had to overcome unprecedented obstacles presented by the pandemic, was creative and will help cultivate future preservationists.
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