While We Are Still Here

Preservation often feels like a race against time. While We Are Still Here takes that urgency seriously, focusing on the stories and spaces that shape Harlem’s cultural legacy. The organization operates from 555 Edgecombe Ave, a building with its own layers of history in a neighborhood where every block holds echoes of the past.

This non-profit works to document and protect the legacies of Black artists, activists, and residents who’ve called Upper Manhattan home. Their efforts extend beyond archival work—community engagement and advocacy play a key role in ensuring these narratives aren’t lost to gentrification or neglect. The work they do resonates in a city where displacement and development constantly rewrite the landscape.

Identifying as both Black-owned and women-owned, While We Are Still Here centers voices that have historically been marginalized in preservation conversations. The projects they undertake often highlight the intersections of race, gender, and place, offering a more nuanced view of what it means to safeguard a neighborhood’s identity. Directions to their space can be found on the map.

If you’re curious about their initiatives or want to learn how to get involved, reach out at (929) 266-3952. Sometimes the most important work happens quietly—before the last witness is gone.