Historic Preservation in a Changing City

Philadelphia’s rich history is woven into its architecture, cultural landmarks, and community driven cultural sites, but as the city undergoes massive development, how can we ensure that this heritage is preserved for future generations?

Join CultureWorks for an evening of meaningful conversation on the importance of historic preservation in a rapidly changing city. Featuring a panel of leading experts, this event will explore the challenges and opportunities of preserving Philadelphia’s history while embracing the city’s future.

Moderator:

Patricia Wilson Aden, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance

Patricia Wilson Aden is President & CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, which leads, strengthens and amplifies the voices of 400+ member organizations that make up the region’s cultural community. Aden is an unwavering advocate for the arts and culture sector with more than 40 years of experience leading non-profit and cultural institutions, most recently as President of The Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee and as President & CEO of the African American Museum in Philadelphia.

Panelists:

Oscar Beisert, The Keeping Society of Philadelphia*

While serving as the director of The Keeping Society of Philadelphia, Oscar Beisert works full time for FEMA as its Unified Federal Review Coordinator for Environmental and Historic Preservation compliance, while also working on his old livery stable, where he lives, in Germantown.

Jill Pirtle, Marian Anderson House

Jillian Patricia Pirtle is an American soprano, historian, and nonprofit executive serving as the CEO of the Marian Anderson Museum and Historical Society in Philadelphia. Under her leadership, the museum has preserved the legacy of the legendary contralto Marian Anderson, overcoming significant challenges, including extensive flood damage in 2020. Pirtle secured critical funding from private donors and organizations like the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia and the Daughters of the American Revolution to restore the historic site. She also organizes impactful events and programs, fostering community engagement and celebrating the enduring cultural contributions of Marian Anderson.

Tayyib Smith, Partner at the The Growth Collective & Smith Roller

Tayyib Smith is serial entrepreneur ; founding partner and chief strategist at The Growth Collective³’ a partnership with the vision is to provide access to resources and capital that will elevate communities of color and generate wealth for neighborhoods victimized by systemic racism.

A principal at Smith & Roller Holdings, a real estate company that engages and invites diverse stakeholders of neighborhoods to become part of a growing, multicultural and multi-socioeconomic tapestry. Tayyib has long been a successful conduit of professional and cultural ecosystems. He is a Board member at The Guild of Future Architects, the Kensington Corridor Trust, The Prizm Art Fair in Miami, and Black Star Film Festival.

Tayyib is dedicated to cultural competency and the ability to engage multicultural audiences. He co-founded Pipeline Philly to serve as an inviting and dynamic co-working space filled with professionals from various backgrounds and industries, creating one of the most diverse workspaces in the city.

Peter Woodall, Hidden Cities*

Peter Woodall is a former newspaper reporter and producer for public radio. He co-founded the website Hidden City Daily and is the director of its parent organization, Hidden City Philadelphia. He’s the co-author of Philadelphia: Finding the Hidden City.

*Fiscally sponsored member at CultureWorks