Bears Ears National Monument and Alabama Civil Rights Sites, U.S.

This video was released on Thursday, July 29, 2021

The issue of underrepresented heritage in the United States has been at the center of recent public debates. From the battle to protect the sacred sites of Indigenous tribes within the Bears Ears National Monument to efforts to integrate the conservation of homes, churches, and community centers into a larger strategy to preserve pivotal locations in the civil rights movement, navigate the complex built history of the U.S. and learn about WMF’s work to amplify voices that have traditionally gone unheard.

Go behind the scenes of WMF’s work at Bears Ears and the development of the Voices of Alabama initiative with WMF Regional Director for North America, Frank Sanchis.

WMF’s work at Bears Ears National Monument was made possible with support from the Butler Conservation Fund and the Manitou Fund; and at Alabama Civil Rights Sites with support from Jack Shear, the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, and the Friends of Heritage Preservation.

We are also grateful to our partners for these projects, Friends of Cedar Mesa and the Alabama African-American Civil Rights Heritage Sites Consortium (AAACRHSC).

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Frank Sanchis, WMF Regional Director for North America

Frank Sanchis joined WMF in 2010 as Regional Director for North America. He has significant experience in architecture, preservation, and planning and holds a B.A. in architecture from Pratt Institute and an M.S. in historic preservation from Columbia University. He previously served as Executive Director of the Municipal Art Society, Vice President for Stewardship of Historic Sites for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Executive Director of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. He is the author of American Architecture: Westchester County, New York, illustrated largely with his own photographs.

About Heritage from Home

Heritage from Home brings viewers behind the scenes to some of World Monuments Fund’s most iconic sites around the globe guided by the WMF experts who safeguard them for the future. 

Subscribers to this series will receive a new video in their inbox once a month. WMF members have the added opportunity of attending a live virtual presentation and post-video discussion with WMF staff for select events.