Excellence Award Spotlight: Claudette Brady

Claudette Brady at a community meeting circa 2015 holding a sign that says “Landmark Historic Bedford-Stuyvesant”

Claudette Brady has been a staunch advocate for her Brooklyn community for decades. Spearheading the campaign for historic district designation of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Claudette rallied her neighbors and made historic preservation meaningful for the people of the neighborhood. In the years since that successful campaign, Claudette has continued advocating for historic preservation, uplifting the history of traditionally underrepresented people, and centering them in the conversation about what we preserve and for whom. She has recently become the Executive Director of Save Harlem Now!, a nonprofit preservation advocacy organization in Harlem, NY.

In reflecting on what preservation means to her, Claudette Brady said, “Preservation for me is about community and people’s relationship to the built environment. In Bedford-Stuyvesant and Harlem, people take pride in their neighborhood. While working to designate the districts in Bedford-Stuyvesant, I met people who I now consider family.”

How did you first get started in historic preservation?

I started in preservation when a block association member suggested we landmark our block at a monthly meeting. He was somewhat knowledgeable about the process. Before this meeting, I believed that designation was a unilateral process done by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

What role do you see preservation playing in building stronger communities?

Preservation is a collective community effort in which we build strong interpersonal relationships and community engagement that extends beyond preservation. Individuals and the community at large take pride in their accomplishments and work to safeguard their achievements.

What do you hope your legacy will be?

My legacy will be that I have preserved not just buildings but history and culture, and the legacy is of those on whose shoulders I stand. I want to inspire the next generation to be stewards of their community and to continue the work.