Latinos in Heritage Conservation will host the three-day national gathering August 19–21 at the Palmer House in Chicago, bringing Latinx leaders together around heritage, place, and preservation 

Chicago, IL — Jan. 20, 2026 —Latinos in Heritage Conservation (LHC) announced today that ticket sales are now open for Congreso: Latinx Heritage Leadership Summit 2026, a national gathering of Latinx leaders, preservation practitioners, community organizers, scholars, artists, and advocates. Taking place August 19–21, 2026, at the historic Palmer House Hilton in downtown Chicago, the summit will center Preservation as Power, Leadership in Practice, and Justice in Place. 

Congreso 2026 is organized around the theme “Estamos Aquí (We Are Here)”, a statement that affirms the presence of Latinx communities in the United States and their ongoing role in shaping neighborhoods, cultural landscapes, and public memory. Over three days, participants from across the country will gather to examine how heritage, place, and leadership intersect in the work of protecting Latinx sites, stories, and community spaces. 

“Congreso exists to bring people into conversations they have historically been excluded from,” said Sehila Mota Casper, Executive Director of Latinos in Heritage Conservation. “Preservation has often been shaped without the voices of the communities most connected to place. Estamos Aquí — we are here — names our presence and our responsibility to shape how Latinx heritage is understood, protected, and passed on.” 

Programming at Congreso: Latinx Heritage Leadership Summit 2026 will include: 

• Sessions on historic preservation, displacement, and cultural continuity 

• Leadership and skills-based workshops for community-centered preservation work 

• Panels on advocacy, place, and memory between national practitioners and Chicago-based leaders 

Chicago was selected as the host city for its global architectural legacy and its long history of migration, labor organizing, and Latinx neighborhood leadership. While the city is celebrated as an architectural epicenter, Latinx contributions to its built environment remain under-researched, making Chicago a powerful setting for conversations about preservation. 

Endangered Latinx Landmarks 

During Congreso 2026, Latinos in Heritage Conservation will announce the 2nd national list of Endangered Latinx Landmarks, highlighting historic places at risk of demolition, displacement, or erasure. The program’s 1^st list included Chicago’s Our Lady of Guadalupe Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Mural, a 1970 South Side mural honoring Mexican American Vietnam veterans that community members have mobilized to protect.  

A historic site of public life in Chicago 

The Palmer House Hilton was selected as the venue for Congreso 2026 for its long role as a site of civic gathering in Chicago. Opened in 1871, the hotel is historically linked to Bertha Honoré Palmer, whose leadership during the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition placed debates about women’s suffrage, labor conditions, and public reform into national view. 

Additional details about programming, speakers, and registration options will be shared in the coming months. Tickets for Congreso 2026 are available beginning January 20 at latinoheritage.us/congresoregistration 

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 | Director of Communications | Latinos in Heritage Conservation    📞 +1 352-630-0640 | ✉️ raffaela@latinoheritage.us