Hero of the Quarter

Preservation Action’s Hero of the Quarter is an outstanding historic preservation advocate who furthers our mission of making historic preservation a national priority by demonstrating exemplary leadership and making significant contributions to the field of historic preservation!


We’re thrilled to share our Q3 2024 Hero of the Quarter: Phillip Howard!

Phillip Howard joined The Conservation Fund in November 2022, where he serves as the program manager of the Civil Rights People and Places program. As program manager, Phillip leads the effort to conserve, interpret, restore, and protect African American heritage sites in Alabama and Mississippi. Prior to joining the Fund, Phillip served in the United States Marine Corps and worked at the United States Department of Justice as a Community Outreach Reentry Coordinator. Phillip graduated from an HBCU, Stillman College, and received his M.B.A. from Troy University.

Phillip’s efforts to uncover and preserve the stories and sites associated with the Civil Rights Movement in Alabama were recently featured in The Washington Post. As memories fade and buildings deteriorate, there is a sense of urgency to this important work. According to Phillip, “I left my previous job in 2022, and I feel like I have not worked a day since. Leading efforts to protect American history, African American history is both humbling and challenging, but it is so worth it! Working to protect sites associated with the Civil Rights Movement and then getting to meet people who were actually there on the front line of the fight for equality – best job ever!”

Phillip is raising awareness of previously untold stories and contributing to our understanding of this pivotal time in American history. Thank you, Phillip, for embodying what it means to be a Preservation Action Hero!


Check out our 2023 Hero of the Year, Joe Quinata, here!


Want to nominate a Preservation Action Hero of the Quarter in your community? Click the button below to complete our nomination form!