FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

National Call for Nominations Opens for 2026 Endangered Latinx Landmarks 

Latinos in Heritage Conservation invites communities nationwide to identify and uplift historic places at risk 

NATIONAL — February 19, 2026 — Latinos in Heritage Conservation (LHC) opened today nominations for the 2^nd national cycle of Endangered Latinx Landmarks (ELL), a program that identifies and uplifts historic places meaningful to Latinx communities across the United States and Puerto Rico that are at risk due to neglect, displacement, climate impacts, or development pressures. 

Through this national call, LHC invites individuals, grassroots advocates, and organizations to nominate sites that hold cultural memory, community meaning, and historical significance. Sites do not need formal landmark designation to be considered, and nominations may be submitted in English or Spanish through May 15, 2026. 

As the United States moves toward its 250th year, the second cycle of the Endangered Latinx Landmarks program broadens national attention to the Latinx places and histories that continue to shape the country. The new cycle highlights community-identified sites facing risk and underscores the role of local stewardship in ensuring these cultural landscapes remain visible and valued in the years ahead. 

According to LHC’s recent national Equity Study, although nearly one in five people in the United States identifies as Latinx, only 0.65% of sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places are associated with Latinx heritage — revealing a persistent gap in recognition, investment, and protection. 

“Across the country, there are places that hold the stories of our communities yet remain absent from official preservation priorities,” said Sehila Mota Casper, Executive Director of Latinos in Heritage Conservation. “Endangered Latinx Landmarks begins with a simple but powerful act: inviting communities themselves to name the places that matter. By lifting these sites forward, we are affirming presence, protecting memory, and claiming our rightful belonging in the American story.” 

A Gap in Recognition 

The first cycle of the program, launched in 2025, resulted in the first-ever national list of endangered Latinx heritage sites, with 13 places selected from community nominations and announced during Latinx Heritage Month. Cycle Two builds on that foundation, expanding national visibility and supporting more communities as they work to safeguard the places that tell their stories. 

This year, LHC is expanding guidance and access for nominators by offering Nominator Support Hours — live, drop-in virtual sessions led by preservation staff to help individuals and organizations navigate the nomination process. No prior preservation experience or formal research documentation is required to submit a nomination. 

Nominations are evaluated by a multigenerational and cross-disciplinary review group composed of preservation practitioners, LHC staff, and national field leaders, with attention to historical and cultural significance, urgency of threat, community impact, and the opportunity to advance visibility and advocacy for underrepresented histories. 

The selected Endangered Latinx Landmarks for 2026 will be announced publicly during Congreso 2026, LHC’s national gathering taking place August 19–21, 2026, in Chicago at the Palmer House Hilton. While inclusion on the list does not provide legal protection, national recognition through the program can help communities build awareness, strengthen local advocacy, and mobilize resources to support preservation efforts before irreversible loss occurs. 

Information about eligibility, criteria, and nomination guidelines is available at: www.latinoheritage.us/endangeredlatinxlandmarks 

Media Contact: Raffaela Hartman | Director of Communications, Latinos in Heritage Conservation 

raffaela@latinoheritage.us | 352-630-0640 

About Latinos in Heritage Conservation 

Latinos in Heritage Conservation (LHC) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing historic preservation in Latinx communities through education, advocacy, and leadership. LHC works to ensure that Latinx histories, places, and cultural contributions are recognized, protected, and celebrated as an essential part of the American narrative.