By Kristin Gisleson Palmer, Janice Brunner & Carol Quillen
As many have said of New Orleans, the city doesn’t just recover. It reinvents. That’s been true after every flood, fire and setback over the centuries. New Orleanians have always found a way to rebuild with imagination and faith in the future, proving that resilience is the city’s oldest tradition.
That same spirit was alive recently at the Preservation Resource Center, where preservationists, civic leaders, insurers and neighbors gathered for the launch of Travelers Across America — a new national initiative from Travelers Insurance and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to restore cherished historic landmarks across the country in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. Together, we’re investing in the idea that the best way to strengthen communities is through partnerships that cross traditional boundaries of background, community and sector.
As part of this effort, the PRC will receive support for its Revival Grants program to fund critical exterior repairs for several historic homes owned by low- to moderate-income residents, including stronger roofs, upgraded drainage, storm-resistant windows and doors. Each improvement helps fortify the fabric of neighborhoods that have weathered generations of storms, playing a small but vital role in keeping families rooted and communities whole.
New Orleans is the ideal place to begin this national journey because it has long embodied this principle — that real progress happens when different skill sets come together. The process begins with the simple act of engaging people whose outlook and areas of expertise differ from your own. When you build those connections, you discover fresh ideas, new approaches to shared problems and ways to turn purpose into tangible progress for your community.
That idea is at the heart of Travelers Across America. We know from history that while levees and sandbags are essential to preparedness, trust, relationships and shared purpose also matter. When these connections exist before disaster strikes —when neighbors know one another, when nonprofits,businesses and public agencies work hand in hand —recovery happens more quickly, effectively and fairly.
New Orleans has shown this to the nation time and again. That same civic muscle is still at work today in the PRC’s restoration programs, in neighborhood associations and in residents who look out for one another before the next storm.
So, what does this sort of unexpected alliance look like in practice? Preservationists and insurers are pooling their expertise, blending deep cultural knowledge with lessons learned about risk and protection. Local leaders and national institutions are aligning around shared goals and complementary strengths, recognizing that preserving a historic facade and securing a family’s future aren’t separate missions, but two sides of the same coin.
As the world’s oldest continuous democracy, the United States may be the best demonstration of what these alliances can achieve. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, we have an opportunity — and a responsibility — to carry forward that tradition.
History demonstrates that resilience depends on unlikely partners coming together across boundaries of all kinds to protect what matters most. That’s the spirit that will keep this city and our country thriving for the next 250 years.
Kristin Gisleson Palmer is executive director of the Preservation Resource CenterJanice Brunner is head of civic engagement at Travelers InsuranceCarol Quillen is president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
