The legacy of Black Midwest resilience is securing powerful national support. Through the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund 2026 initiative, millions in grant funding are safeguarding sacred sites across the region. By funding historic landmarks, this movement ensures our cultural sanctuaries, architectural marvels, and civil rights anchors remain permanently protected.

Undeniably, this funding is vital to our community. Historically, physical landmarks that nurtured Black excellence, industrial triumph, and community organizing face gentrification, disinvestment, or decay. By investing directly into grassroots preservation, the Action Fund 2026 initiative secures our tangible history. It ensures future generations can visit these sacred spaces and draw power from the soil where our ancestors built lasting legacies.

The Midwest Sites in the 2026 Spotlight

This year’s cycle shines a direct national spotlight on four pivotal Midwest locations leading the charge in safeguarding local Black history:

• East Chicago, Indiana: Designed by pioneering Black architect Wendell Campbell, St. Mark AME Zion Church secures funding through the Conserving Black Modernism initiative to preserve its iconic praying-hands architectural design.
• Detroit, Michigan: The Detroit Association of Women’s Clubs receives urgent capital grant funding to repair severe water damage, ensuring this historic 1940s Black women’s organizing hub can safely reopen its doors.
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Central City Plaza—celebrated as the city’s first Black-owned and Black-designed commercial complex—secures investment to maintain its landmark modernist structure.
• Chicago, Illinois: Through active national network support, ongoing preservation efforts continue to safeguard civil rights cornerstones like the historic Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ.

Ultimately, protecting these physical spaces keeps our collective story alive and unbroken. Visit savingplaces.org to discover how you can support preservation efforts right in your backyard!