Cultivating Tomorrow’s Workforce in a Historic Setting: Green-Wood Teams Up With World Monuments Fund and Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow to Train the Next Generation of Preservationists.

(Brooklyn, N.Y. April 10, 2023)—The Green-Wood Cemetery, World Monuments Fund (WMF), and Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT) are creating opportunities for young New Yorkers to break into the dynamic field of historic preservation. Now in its fifth year, Bridge to Crafts Careers (B2CC) is an annual program that takes place throughout the spring, wherein, through practical application, students attain essential skills to help them launch careers in masonry restoration and preservation. It is presented in partnership with WMF, an international organization dedicated to preservation around the world and creator of the program, and OBT, a social services and workforce development organization in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

Over the course of 10 weeks, the students are introduced to theory, methodology, and practical approaches to historic trades while learning the basics of material conservation and preservation, including stone cleaning, repair, and re-pointing. The students work to restore every inch of a mausoleum, learning to navigate on swing and supportive scaffolding along the way. The restoration of the mausoleum offers experience working on an entire preservation project from start to finish on a small scale.

Twelve New Yorkers, ages 18 to 27, are trained under the skilled supervision and demonstration of Neela Wickremsinghe, Green-Wood’s Director of Restoration and Preservation, and her Green-Wood restoration team. The course kicks off with a 30-hour training course for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certification to ensure that the students know the basics of workplace safety. Upon completion of the program, students receive the certifications—including OSHA certification and certification in supported scaffolding and suspended scaffolding—needed to work entry-level construction jobs.

The 2023 cadre will complete their hands-on training through restoring the historic Delafield vault, which has stood overlooking Green-Wood’s largest glacial pond since 1853. The vault has a predominantly marble facade in loose iteration of the Egyptian revival style. The structure poses specific challenges that participants will learn to address, including surface soiling from atmospheric deposits and biological growth, improper past repairs, failing mortar joints, and stone cracking.

“In addition to necessary certification and training, this program offers the opportunity for students to make personal connections that many in the business today may take for granted,” said Neela Wickremsinghe. “Allowing students to get one-on-one time with experienced preservationists and masons fosters professional relationships that prove valuable in this field. And, it’s incredibly satisfying for my team that students stay connected with us once they complete the program. We are always happy to serve as references for jobs and write recommendations for those furthering their education.”

World Monuments Fund, whose mission is to work with local communities around the world to safeguard irreplaceable heritage, is responsible for the operational management of the program. Bridge to Craft Careers chooses training sites that are publicly accessible cultural resources, such as cemeteries, parks, monuments, memorials, and public art.

By participating in the program at a historical site like Green-Wood, participants not only gain a practical understanding of historic trades—those that require the unique skills needed to work with historic structures—but also ensure the next generation’s workforce for maintaining, preserving, and restoring historic resources across the country and around the world.

“The thing I love most about Bridge to Crafts is the unseen work it does. The connections built between masters of historic arts and trades to younger preservationists do more than preserve historic structures and their landscapes. Passing this knowledge from one generation to the next is how we sustain communities and build the future together, ” said Ann Cuss, Regional Director, North America of World Monuments Fund.

In addition to the experiential learning and hands-on training the students receive at Green-Wood, Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow facilitates presentations on historic preservation from potential employers as well as training about personal finances, college applications, resume writing, job interview skills, basic project management, and time management. The organization also provides essential team-building opportunities.

“I am proud to be a part of an initiative that not only preserves our heritage but also creates job opportunities and paves the way for future professionals in the field of historic preservation. I commend the program for its commitment to helping young adults launch their careers while providing essential team-building opportunities and training. I am excited to see the positive impact they will make in their communities and beyond.” said Dr. Darlene Williams, President and CEO of Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow.

Participants receive stipends for their labor and learning and will celebrate with a graduation ceremony on the morning of Wednesday, May 24th. As the spring and summer seasons are the busiest time of year for this industry, it is not unusual for participants to secure jobs before graduation.

Graduates of the program will continue to receive a year of follow-up services from OBT and can apply for apprenticeships with many NYC unions, as well as jobs and higher education, to pursue opportunities as project managers, architects, estimators, and other related professions.

The 2023 Bridge to Crafts Careers program at The Green-Wood Cemetery is made possible by a generous grant from The Pinkerton Foundation along with support from program partners World Monuments Fund and Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow.

About The Green-Wood Cemetery: Established in 1838, The Green-Wood Cemetery, a National Historic Landmark, is recognized as one of the world’s most beautiful cemeteries. As the permanent residence of over 570,000 individuals, Green-Wood’s magnificent grounds, grand architecture, and world-class statuary have made it a destination for half a million visitors annually, including national and international tourists, New Yorkers, and Brooklynites. At the same time, Green-Wood is also an outdoor museum, an arboretum, and a repository of history. Throughout the year, it offers innovative programs in arts and culture, nature and the environment, education, workforce development, restoration, and research. For more information, please visit www.green-wood.com.

About Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow: Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT) is one of NYC's leading youth workforce training organizations. Founded in 1983, OBT's mission is to break the cycle of poverty and inequity through education, job training, and employment. With programming ranging from high school equivalency to teaching English to speakers of other languages and to providing industry-certified trainings in technology, healthcare, and construction, OBT has always focused on building skills to carve a path to economic opportunity. OBT serves over 1,500 people per year across New York City.

About World Monuments Fund: World Monuments Fund (WMF) is the leading independent organization devoted to safeguarding the world’s most treasured places to enrich people’s lives and build mutual understanding across cultures and communities. The organization is headquartered in New York City with offices and affiliates in Cambodia, India, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the UK. Since 1965, their global team of experts has preserved the world's diverse cultural heritage using the highest international standards at more than 700 sites in 112 countries. Partnering with local communities, funders, and governments, WMF draws on heritage to address some of today’s most pressing challenges: climate change, underrepresentation, imbalanced tourism, and post-crisis recovery. With a commitment to the people who bring places to life, WMF embraces the potential of the past to create a more resilient and inclusive society.

CONTACT:

Joanna Gallai, joanna@anatgerstein.com (Green-Wood)

Judith Walker, jwalker@wmf.org (WMF)

Stephanie Alegado, SAlegado@obtjobs.org (OBT)