FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LHC Awards $600,000 Through Nuestra Herencia Grants to 14 Latinx Cultural Projects

The organization invests in communities safeguarding local stories across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, amid widespread cuts to public cultural funding

[May 6, 2025 | Austin, TX] — At a critical moment when public investment in the arts and cultural heritage is being slashed across the country, Latinos in Heritage Conservation (LHC) is investing in the communities that need it most. Today, LHC proudly announces the recipients of its inaugural Nuestra Herencia Grant Program—14 projects receiving a combined $600,000to preserve, protect, and amplify Latinx heritage across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Selected from a highly competitive pool of over 100 applicants representing 21 states and Puerto Rico, these grantees reflect the diversity, resilience, and vision of Latinx communities. Funded projects include capital improvements, project planning, consultant services, and programming, each rooted in the preservation and celebration of Latinx historic and cultural sites. Collectively, the applicants requested more than $3.4 million in funding, highlighting the widespread need for support in preserving these essential stories and spaces.

"These projects fill critical gaps in our national preservation story," said Sehila Mota Casper, Executive Director of Latinos in Heritage Conservation. "This grant cycle supports the knowledge and leadership that communities have sustained for generations, often without formal recognition. It ensures these histories are protected and remain part of our collective history for generations to come."

A Snapshot of Grantee Impact

The 14 grantees selected this year span more than a dozen cities along the Borderlands to Loíza, Puerto Rico. Projects range from the preservation of historic murals and sacred churches to the development of community oral histories and interpretive cultural trails. They represent a wide geographic scope across the border—from Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico to California, Colorado, and Puerto Rico—and a rich variety of initiatives, including Indigenous memory work, Afro-Caribbean heritage, and Mexican American civil rights history.

According to a study by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, every $1 million invested in rehabilitation projects creates approximately 36 jobs—exceeding those created by new construction—and stimulates significant local economic activity. Heritage-based investments often drive tourism, promote small business growth, and catalyze neighborhood revitalization, making these grants not only cultural investments but economic engines in underserved communities. It reflects not only the urgent need to fund these stories but also the groundswell of communities ready to tell them.

A media pitch deck is available and includes full project descriptions, photos, grant amounts, and contact information for each organization.

About LHC

Latinos in Heritage Conservation (LHC) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting historic preservation in Latinx communities. Through advocacy, education, and grantmaking, LHC empowers communities to protect places that matter.

Media Contact:
Raffaela Hartman | Communications Manager | Latinos in Heritage Conservation
📞 +1 352-630-0640 | ✉️ raffaela@latinoheritage.us