Pratt Institute Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment Workshop - February 2022

The Institution as Revolution - How Higher Ed Can Lead Side B’s of Historic Preservation - Recording (coming soon), Presentation here, Values exercise here

This workshop for Pratt’s Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment is an understanding of how preservation pedagogy plays a role in promoting Side A’s of history only, exploring the underpinnings of racist teachings and practices in the field. Preservationists are responsible for practicing preservation equitably and equally, hiring for diversity and perspective, maintaining inclusive workplaces, and collaborating with communities justly and sustainably. At the root of these responsibilities is a basic understanding of the inequality that lies at the heart of our field and the desire to actively work towards equality. Working against these responsibilities is the educational system, which focuses on telling only one side of history, reinforcing the racist and biased narrative we currently live in. This session showed how and why Higher Education institutions can evolve their own work and practices to contribute to the broader preservation evolution. Eduardo Ruas & Taylor Kabeary from Preservation Side B lead this presentation and Q&A.

Cleveland Urban Design Collective Lecture -February 2022

Hybrid Preservation for a Changing World - Recording here- Presentation here

This interactive panel & presentation was part of the Spring Series for the Cleveland Urban Design Collective around the theme of Hybridity.

As the world changes, our practices of preservation, planning, and placemaking must adapt to the need for equality, equity, and inclusion. Our fields must undergo a change from traditional practices of exclusion and narrowness (Side As) to embracing more modern practices of inclusion and expansiveness (Side Bs). How can we form a hybrid between Sides As and Side Bs to form strong practices that protect, include, and serve many communities? How can we form Side Cs? This workshop will provide a guide on how to view Side As and Side Bs of preservation and adjacent fields, and theorize on what Side Cs look and feel like.

Landmark society of western new york - December 2021

Evolving Preservation: Practitioners and Practices for a Just Field - Recording here

This panel discussion took place in December 2021 as part of the Landmark Society of Western New York’s 2021 NY STATEWIDE PRESERVATION CONFERENCE . This presentation and Q&A session touched on the evolution of preservation for practitioners. Long-time practitioners in the preservation field have a responsibility to practice preservation equitably and equally, hire for diversity and perspective, maintain inclusive workplaces, and collaborate with communities justly and sustainably. At the root of these responsibilities is a basic understanding of the inequality that lies at the heart of our field, and the desire to actively work towards equality. For practitioners and practices to truly call themselves equitable, we must understand, identify, and dismantle the aspects that contribute to inequity and inequality. This session will show how and why practitioners can evolve their own work and practices to contribute to the broader preservation evolution.

Hindsight Conference - November 2021

The Healing Power of Historic Preservation. - Presentation here.

Due to the sensitive conversations had during our panel, we have decided not to publicly share the recording from this presentation / panel. Please email us if you would like to know more.

We live in the epoch of the counter-narrative. A turbulent period where monuments and history are being reevaluated and reinterpreted. A moment where the entire human existence and relationship with the built environment has changed. How will monuments emerge from this period? How can we create a community of care from the chaos? This session explored the meaning/importance of monuments in the healing process of our society.

dismantle preservation - July 2021

The Preservation Revolution for Early Preservationists - Recording here

This panel discussion took place in July 2021 as part of Sarah Marsom’s Dismantle Preservation Unconference. The panel centered on the Preservation Revolution for Early Preservationists - a critical look at preservation from the angle of recent historic preservation master’s graduates (and adjacent fields) early in their careers. The panel with the co-founders of Side B, Jose Aviles and Lacey Wilson looked at the core issues of preservation from an academic and professional standpoint, outlined what’s necessary for a Revolution in Preservation and how newer preservationists/adjacent fields make their place in it.

Panelists:

Eduardo Ruas, Co-founder Side B - Website & Instagram & Linkedin

Richard Aviles, Artist, Urban Planner, and Social Worker - Youtube & Instagram & Linkedin

Taylor Kabeary, Co-founder Side B - Website & Instagram & Linkedin

Lacey Wilson, Public Historian - Twitter

pratt Panel - march 2021

Reckoning with Racism - Recording here

This panel was in collaboration with other black preservationists to discuss historic preservations role in reckoning with racism in the field, celebrating strides in preservation anti-racism work, and a discussion of ways to move forward.