My Nonprofit Reviews

The National Trust is a go-to resource for all of us who work in the field of Preservation, and I have personally benefited from their programs and initiatives. In 2015, the Trust paid for me to visit one of their incredible properties, Kykuit in Tarrytown, New York in order to participate in a multi-day round table discussion regarding the future of Historic Preservation. At this event, I collaborated with supporters of preservation actions across the country to explore the areas in which our field is lacking, and identify areas in which it is strong as we all prepare for drastic changes in historic site interpretation and education moving forward. I found this experience to be incredible valuable for myself and my organization, as I brought much of my experience into my daily practice in running We Are the Next following these interactions.

In addition, in 2015 the National Trust granted a scholarship for me to attend their annual conference in Washington, DC as a Diversity Scholar. Having attended the prior conference in Savannah, I knew this experience would be worthwhile and benefit me both personally and professionally. I had a great time attending as a Diversity Scholar and found the Diversity Scholar programming to be meaningful and educational. I'm looking forward to returning to the conference again this year in Houston.

The Trust's programs are educational, thorough, and assembled by a hard-working and talented staff in Washington, DC. In addition, they have staff ready and present throughout the country in major regions. I am grateful for the experiences they have provided me to date, and look forward to their continued programming in the future.

Katie Rispoli Keaotamai
Executive Director
We Are the Next