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World Heritage USA / ICOMOS USA Welcome New Staff

Jobs
Two new staff members joined World Heritage USA/ICOMOS USA in August. Please help us welcome: Kelsey Tabela-Baxter, Development Coordinator Kelsey Tabela-Baxter, a Rhode Island native, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Rhode Island College, majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Environmental Science. She has a diverse background in fundraising,…

International Exchange Program 2024 Closing Ceremony

International Exchange Program
Announcing the 2024 International Exchange Program Closing Ceremony Thursday, 5 September from 12:00 – 01:30 PM ET Join us to celebrate the culmination of the 40th year of the International Exchange Program! During this virtual event, discover how our diverse cohort of interns engaged in hands-on preservation activities and contributed…

On the Anniversary of the 2023 Maui Wildfires

Climate Change and Heritage, Symposium
By Douglas C. Comer, Ph.D. President of ICOMOS-USA This August 8, 2024, we sadly observe the one-year anniversary of the wildfire in Maui, the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century. It left many homeless in the former capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Lahaina, and for many residents incinerated a lifetime…

Introducing the U.S./Mexico Binational Nominations Initiative

Uncategorized
U.S. / Mexico Binational Nominations Initiative
The Initiative We’re excited to announce that ICOMOS-USA has established a U.S./Mexico Binational Nominations Initiative to support the creation of four World Heritage Sites along the U.S./Mexico Border. The seeds of the initiative were sewn at our 2023 Symposium–“Affirming Cultural Identity: World Heritage in the 21st Century,” in San Antonio,…

International Exchange Program Orientation 2024

International Exchange Program
This year, we celebrate 40 years of the International Exchange Program (IEP)! Since 1984, our organization has worked with partners around the world to provide hands-on training opportunities for emerging cultural heritage professionals. To date, more than 700 interns from over 100 countries have participated in the program. Prior to…

Learn to Use Your ICOMOS Card

ICOMOS
Going someplace this summer? If so, do not forget to use your ICOMOS card. After an informal poll of our members, I was surprised at how many are not aware of the strong advantages of doing so. Using your card is remarkably simple. No advance reservations are needed for entry…

A Notice About Recent Supreme Court Decisions

Preservation Law
On June 28, the Supreme Court handed down rulings in two cases concerning the “Chevron Deference” doctrine. That doctrine, originating in a 1984 Supreme Court opinion, established that courts would defer to the expertise of federal agencies when interpreting ambiguous statutes through regulations. The Court’s decisions abolished the Chevron Deference.…

Apply Now: Monuments Toolkit Associate Positions

Jobs, Monuments Toolkit, Uncategorized
We’re happy to announce that ICOMOS-USA has received a grant to expand and implement our Monument Relocation, Removal, and Reinterpretation Toolkit (“Monuments Toolkit”). Background During Phase One of the Monuments Toolkit Project, implemented with a 3-year grant from The Mellon Foundation, ICOMOS-USA held conversations with experts on how to best…

ICOMOS-USA Receives $1.5 Million Grant from the Mellon Foundation to Expand and Implement the Monument Relocation, Removal, and Reinterpretation Toolkit

Monuments Toolkit
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 2, 2024 — The United States National Committee of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS-USA) has been awarded a three-year, $1.5 million grant by the Mellon Foundation’s Monuments Project initiative to expand and implement the Monument Relocation, Removal, and Reinterpretation Toolkit (“Monuments Toolkit”). During Phase…

International Exchange Program 2024 Opening Reception

International Exchange Program
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On June 14, 2024, ICOMOS-USA / World Heritage USA held a reception for members, trustees, and staff to meet this year’s class of International Exchange Program interns. It was a lovely evening overlooking the monuments in Washington, DC. Many thanks to SmithGroup‘s Washington, DC, staff and leadership for sharing their…

ICOMOS-USA Advocates for U.S. to Contribute to World Heritage Fund

Advocacy
On May 31, 2024, Thomas Cassidy, ICOMOS-USA Advocacy Chair, submitted testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs regarding Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations to the Department of State. In this testimony, Mr. Cassidy on behalf of ICOMOS-USA encourages payment of our nation’s…

We’re Hiring: ICOMOS-USA Development and Events Coordinator

Jobs
ICOMOS-USA seeks a Development and Events Coordinator to join our administrative team. This role is intended to be full-time (40 hours/week) covering both Development and Events. However, part-time opportunities (20 hours/week) are available for applicants interested in either Development or Events. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing our…

Celebrating 40 Years of the International Exchange Program

International Exchange Program
Since 1984, the United States Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS-USA) International Exchange Program (IEP) has worked with partners around the world to provide hands-on training opportunities for emerging cultural heritage professionals. The IEP sends participants from the United States to internship placements abroad and welcomes…

Two New Trustees Join Board of Directors

Board of Trustees
World Heritage USA / ICOMOS-USA is pleased to announce two new trustees to our Board of Directors: Associate Professor Angela Lombardi, Ph.D., and Ms. Courtney Lyons-Garcia, M.A. Our new trustees were appointed to the Board on May 31, 2024, with each filling current vacancies. The membership will vote on 3-year…

Senate Votes to Confirm Courtney O’Donnell as U.S. Ambassador to UNESCO

Advocacy, UNESCO
We are excited to announce that the U.S. Senate, led by Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, has voted to confirm Courtney O’Donnell as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). ICOMOS-USA advocated for the United States’ return to UNESCO in 2023 after a  five-year absence…

ICOMOS-USA and ICOMOS China Representatives Meet in Washington

Board of Trustees, ICOMOS
On March 6, 2024, the United States National Committee of ICOMOS hosted a group from ICOMOS China at the ICOMOS-USA office in Washington, DC. ICOMOS China requested this meeting to enhance communication between our respective national committees and to begin discussions on areas of joint interest and enhanced communication and…