Young Friends of the Preservation Alliance

Home
United States
Philadelphia, PA
Young Friends of the Preservation Alliance

Engaging young residents of the greater Philadelphia area with local preservation issues.

05/06/2026

Join YFPA and Urban Sketchers for an outing at Bartram’s Garden! Come to sketch and stay for a picnic.

We will start sketching at 10:00 am. If you would like to start early, the site opens at sunrise and cars are admitted at 9:00 am. The Welcome Center and facilities open at 9:30 am.

Whenever and wherever you start, you don’t need to check in with anyone. Just find a suitable spot and start sketching. Please say hello and introduce yourself to other sketchers you see!

We will meet at noon at the open grassy area between the parking circle and the Welcome Center. We’ll share sketches in a throw-down, then take a group photo. After, join us for a picnic lunch.

Bring your own lunch and a stool or folding chair. There is water available but no other food or drink. There is not much seating at the site or picnic tables, so your own seating will be useful for sketching and picnicking.

The site is accessible via the #36/T5 SEPTA trolley.

Bring your own lunch and a stool or folding chair. There is water available but no other food or drink.

When: Saturday, May 9, 2026, 10:00 am
Where: Bartram’s Garden, 5400 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19143

We hope you can join us!

03/17/2026

Volunteer Day at Lynnewood Hall

Join YFPA on Saturday, March 28, for a volunteer cleaning day at Lynnewood Hall in Elkins Park.

Under the direction of Tyler Schumacher, Site Manager at Lynnewood Hall Preservation Foundation and YFPA Steering Committee member, volunteers will assist in cleaning the interior by sweeping, dusting, and mopping after the site has been dormant in the winter. No experience is necessary, just enthusiasm!

When: Saturday, March 28, 10 AM - 4 PM
Where: Lynnewood Hall, Elkins Park
Cost: Free

Head to the link below to register! Space is limited to 30 volunteers.

https://preservationalliance.givecloud.co/product/03282026/yfpa-spring-volunteer-day-at-lynnewood-hall

03/12/2026

Join the YFPA Steering Committee!

Do you love cool events in old buildings? Does sharing your passion for preservation excite you? We need your ideas, organizational ability, and enthusiasm to shape the future of the Young Friends of the Preservation Alliance!

YFPA engages, connects, and emboldens the residents of Greater Philadelphia around historic preservation. Our work advocates for projects that positively impact cultural heritage and celebrates a vast community dedicated to protecting the built environment throughout the region.

YFPA is led by a volunteer Steering Committee of self-driven young professionals who are committed to advancing PAGP’s mission through public programming, tours, advocacy projects, and social events. The Steering Committee meets monthly, and members contribute to one or several subcommittees.

The only prerequisites for serving on the Steering Committee are a passion for preservation and the ability to collaborate well!

Applications close on Monday, April 6 at 5 PM. Head to the link below to submit an application!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGMSCbaV67Xo5Y4KjPmuIJJmK_SFMXj0Ax-M1BT7ncpd2cow/viewform?usp=header

03/02/2026

Join us on March 12 at Partners for Sacred Places for YFPA’s annual general membership meeting!

YFPA is hosting its annual General Membership Meeting on Thursday, March 12, from 6:30 - 8 PM at Partners for Sacred Places, 1700 Sansom St.

As YFPA kicks off its steering committee recruitment season, learn more about the group, share your ideas, and find out how to get involved!

Light snacks and refreshments will be served. Registration is required for building security!

When: Thursday, March 12 from 6:30-8:00 PM
Where: 1700 Samson Street

RSVP at the link in our below! Can’t wait to see you there!

https://preservationalliance.givecloud.co/product/03122026/yfpa-general-membership-meeting

02/20/2026

Join us for a tour of Mother Bethel AME Church and the Richard Allen Museum. Founded by Bishop Richard Allen, Mother Bethel sits on the oldest parcel of land continuously owned by African Americans in the United States and serves as the mother church of the AME denomination. The tour will explore the church’s history, architecture, and the museum’s powerful collections documenting African American leadership and legacy.

When: February 26, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Where: Mother Bethel AME Church, 419 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia
Cost: $10 admission: 100% of fee will be given to Mother Bethel AME

Head to the link below to buy your ticket!

https://preservationalliance.givecloud.co/product/02262026/mother-bethel-ame-tour

02/13/2026

Today on Galentine’s Day, learn more about our 2026 Heart-Showring Site, the Germantown YWCA!

Built in 1915, the building at 5820 Germantown Avenue was the home of the Young Women’s Christian Association of Germantown until 1999. The YWCA was established in Philadelphia in 1870, and hosted events, classes, clubs, and summer camps for young girls, as well as providing vacation and rest homes for young working women.

Many branches opened in Philadelphia, including 2 segregated branches in Germantown. Founded in 1917, the Colored Branch was located at 6128 Germantown Avenue. The two branches integrated at the 5820 Germantown location in the 1940’s, making it the first social service agency in Philadelphia to do so and shaping the building’s historical significance as a cornerstone of culture and community.

Events included weekly Germantown high school dances, musical performances, film festivals, fashion shows, as well as swimming lessons, ceramics classes, painting lessons, and gymnastics lessons to name a few!

The Germantown YWCA was not just a service organization, but a social movement that led the empowerment of women and girls, workplace organizations, race relations, and civil rights.

In 2001, David McShane completed the “Women of Germantown” Mural of Maggie Kuhn, Louisa May Alcott, Sadie Tanner Alexander, Sarah Ward McLean, Claire Gamble Herbert, and Dinah. The motto of the YWCA was “empowering women, eliminating racism.”

In recent years, the building has suffered multiple fires, structural damage and vandalism. In 2015 it faced the threat of demolition. The Friends for the Restoration of the Germantown YWCA was formed, and revived again in 2021.

There have been multiple proposals of redevelopment over the years, including a petition for Act 135 conservatorship which was rejected. The building is currently owned by the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Friends for the Restoration of the Germantown YWCA continue to advocate for protecting and restoring the building. It is because of Germantown women past and present that the building remains!

Join us tomorrow at 11:00 am for heart-showring to celebrate their legacy and bring attention to the urgent need for the preservation of this historic building.

Below are links to
Germantown YWCA: A Social History of a Building
https://digbmc.github.io/germantown-y/

Temple Digital Collections: YWCA in Philadelphia
https://digital.library.temple.edu/digital/custom/ywcaphiladelphia

Shower Germantown’s Historic Y with Love this Valentine’s Day
by Ann Marie Doley
https://resolvephilly.org/gih/heart-planning-gtown-ywca/

Philly judge rejects developer’s bid to become conservator of Germantown YWCA
by Aaron Moselle
https://whyy.org/articles/germantown-ywca-philly-judge-rejects-bid/

Mural Arts: Women of Germantown
https://muralarts.org/artworks/women-of-germantown/

02/05/2026

We were blown away by how many of you came out to Architectural Quizzo last month! Teams faced off in five rounds of trivia and head-to-head questions until a winner was crowned! Congrats to our winners and thanks to all of you for making it a great night.

Special thanks to our friends being such great hosts! We can’t wait to do this again soon.

1st Place: William Penn Fan Club
2nd Place: Situationally Aware
3rd Place: The 5 Original Squares

Best Name: Frank Lloyd Wrong

01/29/2026

Each year, YFPA chooses a site that deserves public attention and decorates it with paper hearts, known as heart-showering. This year we will be heart-showering the Germantown YWCA!

The 100-year old Building is a monument to the black and white women of Germantown who, in 1946, made the YWCA a beacon and safe place for racial integration, and civic and social engagement. The building is owned by the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. For many years, the PRA has not prevented the deterioration of the Building; the Building is currently open to the elements and unauthorized entry and has numerous open, broken and missing windows.

There are two opportunities to get involved:

Heart Crafting
When: February 12 at 7:00 PM
Where: Penn’s Center for Architectural Conservation, 4201 Spruce Street
What: Crafting and snacks! Registration is encouraged for planning purposes. RSVP at the QR code or link in our bio!

Heart Showering
When: Saturday February 14 at 11:00 AM
Where: the Germantown YWCA, 5820 Germantown Avenue
What: Decorating the building with our paper hearts!

All are welcome to participate! Email [email protected] with any questions.

01/27/2026

Even though we are one month into 2026, we’re looking back at an awesome 2025 with YFPA! Thank you to everyone who volunteered, attended, and supported YFPA events throughout the year. We met so many new Friends and we can’t wait to see what 2026 brings!

01/11/2026

We’re so excited to team up with our friends at Triple Bottom Brewing to bring you architectural quizzo! Put your Philly architecture and preservation knowledge to the test! Join the Young Friends of the Preservation Alliance for a fun quizzo trivia night - featuring rounds of questions about architecture, historic and local lore. Come with a team or individually and join a team at the event. There will be prizes for the winning teams!

Come ready for a great night of trivia, drinks, and preservation community.

The event is free to attend and pay-as-you go, but we kindly ask that you RSVP.

01/05/2026

Nominations are open for the Young Friends of the Preservation Alliance Award which will be presented at the 2026 Preservation Achievement Awards.

Each year at the Preservation Alliance’s Preservation Achievement Awards, the Young Friends of the Preservation Alliance Present an award in recognition of the latest generation of preservation achievement.

This award is voted on by the leadership committee of the Young Friends of the Preservation Alliance. It is presented to a young project or professional to recognize the latest generation of preservation achievement in Greater Philadelphia.

A list of past award winners is provided below:

2025: Building Ghosts
2024: The Philadelphia 1838 Black Metropolis
2023: Chris Rodgers (Tanner House and Paul Robeson Museum)
2022: Tacony CDC
2021: Dox Thrash House Project
2020: Riverwards L + I Coalition
2019: Oat Foundry
2018: Kaitlin Pomerantz and Marisa Williamson (artists)
2017: Community Futures Lab
2016: Scout Ltd. (Bok Building)

Is there a project or professional you’d like to see recognized? Nominate them today by heading to the link below!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfhw3Tz5vRYJ6mCfa9sMs24Vh-b6SSgpEfr4pQSIK2BSYQLWw/viewform

Address

1608 Walnut Street, Ste 1702
Philadelphia, PA
19103

Telephone

+12155461146

Website

https://preservationalliance.com/about-us/young-friends-of-the-preservation-alliance/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Young Friends of the Preservation Alliance posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Young Friends of the Preservation Alliance:

Shortcuts

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Philadelphia?