Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) recently announced the recipients of the 2025 Community Initiative Awards, celebrating three extraordinary grassroots projects that breathe new life into local history. From restoring architectural community treasures to reclaiming sacred grounds, this year’s honorees showcase how historic preservation serves as a powerful catalyst for community revitalization and civic pride.
These outstanding organizations and congregations are actively shaping the future of their neighborhoods through historic preservation. Their efforts demonstrate that our shared heritage is not only about saving structures and landscapes but also about honoring diverse community stories and highlighting them to spark sustainable economic and social growth across the Commonwealth.
To commemorate these achievements, each recipient will be presented with a framed certificate and a time capsule to preserve the legacy of their project for future generations. Because preservation happens at the local level, PA SHPO expects to visit the winning communities to celebrate alongside the people who made these outcomes a reality. Additionally, each group’s preservation story will be featured across PA SHPO’s blog and newsletters, and PHMC’s social media channels through May in honor of National and Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Month.
This year’s recipients are:
The Lansdowne Theater Rehabilitation Project
Borough of Lansdowne
Delaware County
The Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation (HLTC) is recognized for its community engagement to support the rehabilitation and reopening of the historic Lansdowne Theater for more than two decades.
Built in 1927, the Spanish Revival–style movie theater was designed by architect William Harold Lee for the Stanley Company of America and operated for 60 years before closing in 1987.
HLTC, formed in 2006, guided the theater’s rehabilitation and restoration and secured funding using Keystone grants, historic tax credits, private financing, and donations from community members to support the extensive project. A key part of the project’s success was the sustained and creative community engagement through social media campaigns that reinforced the theater’s connection to its community.
First Cambria African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Zion Church National Register Recognition
City of Johnstown
Cambria County
The First Cambria A.M.E. Zion Church congregation is recognized for its initiatives to understand and share the church’s history with the Johnstown and Cambria County communities, as well as its role in broader efforts to recognize and interpret the area's Black history.
First Cambria A.M.E. Zion Church, founded in 1873 by formerly enslaved individuals and veterans of the United States Colored Troops, is significant for its association with the Black community in Johnstown and its leadership in addressing issues of race, education, employment, and social unrest.
In 2025, First Cambria was listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and the congregation celebrated and promoted the achievement in a public ceremony as part of their Juneteenth activities. This success is part of the congregation’s larger effort to preserve not only their history but also the church.
Stewardship of Lincoln Cemetery
Borough of Penbrook
Dauphin County
Saving Our Ancestors Legacy (SOAL) is recognized for its work restoring Lincoln Cemetery’s grounds through hands-on conservation work, public education efforts, partnership with community organizations and educational institutions, and exhaustive historical research.
SOAL, a descendant-led grassroots organization, is dedicated to revitalizing the historic Lincoln Cemetery, which was founded in 1877 by and for the burial of free African Americans in Harrisburg. Foundational to SOAL’s mission is reclaiming the rich history represented by the site and building a stronger connection between the cemetery, descendants of the people laid to rest on its grounds, and the Harrisburg area community.
For more information about this year’s winners, visit PA SHPO’s Pennsylvania Historic Preservation blog. To learn more about the award and see the list of past award winners, visit the Community Initiative Awards webpage.
About the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office
PA SHPO coordinates state and federal historic preservation programs including the National Register of Historic Places, state and federal tax credits, and review of state and federal projects for their impact on historic resources.
The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission is the official history agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Learn more by visiting PHMC online or following us on Facebook, X, Instagram or LinkedIn.