Join us for an engaging conversation with Dr. Shelley Murphy, professional genealogist and descendant project researcher, and Niya Bates, Ph.D. candidate at Princeton University and historic preservationist with the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. This session will share strategies for building impactful partnerships with colleges and universities to protect and preserve heritage sites significant to African American and other historically underserved communities. Learn practical approaches for collaborating with academic institutions and heritage organizations, leveraging research and resources to achieve preservation goals, centering community voices, and overcoming common challenges. Ideal for descendant communities, preservation advocates, genealogists, and cultural heritage organizations, this discussion offers invaluable guidance from two leaders committed to safeguarding African American history for future generations.