About FAAHPN

The Florida African American Heritage Preservation Network (FAAHPN) is a professional association organized in 2001 by the John Gilmore Riley Center Museum.

FAAHPN serves as an informational and technical assistance resource in response to a growing interest in preserving Florida’s African American culture, that of the African Diaspora and that of other related ethnically diverse historic resources globally.

Rhe Florida African American Heritage Preservation Network has established the Florida Cultural Keepers Podcast highlighting the programs, projects, and history of FAAHPN museums and Affliates. Funded by the Florida Department of State and Institute of Museums and Libraries, the podcast engaged university students under the direction of Denise Powell, owner and Producer of G.I.F.T. TV Global Independent Network, as the Host Team to visit and record episodes of the significant historical and cultural preservation work of FAAHPN museums. The mission of the Podcast is to  “Keep the Legacy Alive: Reflections, Lessons and the Road Ahead”, a behind the lens look at the people and places that bring Florida’s African American History to life. View, engage, enjoy and Subscribe.

The Florida Black Heritage Trail Guide is a publication produced by FAAHPN that details a microcosm of African American landmarks and legacies that exist in various locations throughout the state of Florida. Though much of Florida’s African American History has been lost, this publication demonstrates a growing interest in documenting and preserving all that remains.

In addition to producing high-quality statewide publications that promote tourism and economic development, the FAAHPN provides:

  • Technical Assistance to Museum & Historic Preservation Professionals!
  • Content Development & Management!
  • Enhancement of Organizational Resource Allocation!
  • Professional Development for Staff, Board Members & Volunteers!
  • Information Technology Upgrades through Hardware & Software Integration!
  • VIVA Florida Partner commemorate role of the African Diaspora in Florida’s history!
  • Grant, Fundraising & Private-Funding Development Training!
  • Archival Research & Digitization!
  • Consultation for Obtaining Historic Designation!
  • Creation of Living History Exhibits and Educational Products!

Curators of the Florida Black Heritage Trail Publication

Outstanding Achievements in Tourism & Economic Development

Florida Black Heritage Trail magazine

  • The Florida African American Heritage Preservation Network (“FAAHPN”) is a professional association organized in 2001 under the auspices and leadership of its Founding Director, Althemese Barnes. FAAPHN serves as an informational and technical assistance resource in response to a growing interest in preserving African American culture as well as related ethnically diverse historic properties in Florida.
  • Provided research and content development for the Florida Black Heritage Trail Guide in 2005 and 2007. The guide details a microcosm of African American landmarks and legacies that exist and encourages heritage tourism in various locations throughout the state of Florida.
  • Through partnerships with the Smithsonian Institute, VISIT FLORIDA®, the Florida Department of State, Black Meetings & Tourism Magazine, and others, FAAHPN has become a national leader in developing and delivering high-quality conferences, history exhibitions, publications and public education programs.
  • Significant impact on businesses through contracts awarded to print companies, graphic design companies, travel agencies, communications, retail merchants, hotel/motel meeting sites, etc.
  • Most recently, Althemese Barnes successfully mobilized local public and private agencies, including: Visit Tallahassee, Downtown Improvement Authority, the Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation, Florida A&M University, and the Florida Department of State, to prepare the winning bid in response to a request for proposal (“RFP”). This resulted in the FAAHPN being selected to coordinate and host a prestigious national conference in Florida’s capital city, a considerably smaller and less populated city, in comparison to prior conference sites such as Chicago, Pittsburg, Baltimore and others.

» CLICK HERE to read the Florida Black Heritage Trail Magazine