August 19, 2026

Association of African American Museums Conference 2026

The Association of African American Museums (AAAM) 48th Annual Conference takes place in Philadelphia, PA, from August 19–21, 2026, where Lord Cultural Resources team members Joy Bailey-Bryant, Valerie Guevara, and Tiffany Lyons will attend and speak.

Women in the Vanguard of AAAM: Rowena Stewart, Joan Maynard, and the Impact of Black Women's Leadership in Museums

Thursday, August 20, 2026 from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

When AAAM was incorporated in February 1978, women were front and center, literally and symbolically. They were among the visionaries and leaders of this new organization and champions of the movement for Black cultural preservation. Two women in particular, Rowena Stewart and Joan Maynard, helped set the direction and tone for AAAM during its earliest years. As an accomplished museum founder and director, Stewart was elected the first woman president of the AAAM board of directors in 1980, bringing a bold, future-oriented perspective. Maynard, a pioneering preservationist and community historian, provided steady guidance and strategic clarity during AAAM s most challenging moments. Both women shaped the trajectory of public historical practice nationwide. This session highlights their lives, leadership, and enduring influence. It will explore the lessons their careers offer today s museum practitioners and will address the persistent challenges faced by women leaders in the field. Panelists include distinguished museum executives who knew Stewart and Maynard personally and who have forged their own transformative leadership paths. A short video in tribute to the Stewart-Maynard legacy will premiere. This conversation continues the five years of programming leading up to the 2028 golden 50th anniversary of AAAM.

Speakers: Joy Bailey-Bryant, Jessica Moore, Amina Dickerson, Christy Coleman, Joy Ford-Austin, Kinshasha Holman Conwill, LaNesha McCoy DeBardelaben, Stephanie Wright Griggs

Building What Lasts: Leadership Lessons for Sustainable Museums

Thursday, August 20, 2026 from 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM

What does it take for African American museums to move from surviving to sustaining? This dynamic panel brings together emerging and established leaders to explore the leadership shifts, fundraising strategies, governance evolution, and organizational investments that build lasting institutions. Through candid lessons and real-world experience, panelists will discuss how museums transition from founder-driven passion to resilient, future-focused organizations prepared to thrive beyond a single generation of leadership.

Speakers: Arthur Afleck, Damika Baker-Wilson, Jarred Howard, Joy Bailey-Bryant, Noelle Trent, Robert Bull, Terrie Rouse-Rosario

Resiliency Blueprint

Friday, August 21, 2026 from 9:00 AM - 10:15 AM

In an era of heightened fear and cultural erasure, strategic planning isn't just an exercise; it s an act of institutional resilience. When boards are anxious and staff are pushing for agency, a strategic plan acts as a 'North Star' that provides psychological safety and operational clarity. Organizations rarely undergo strategic planning just because it s time. There is usually a catalyst. We ll dive into the 'why' behind the process identifying the specific pressures and opportunities that force an organization to evolve. By walking through real-life case studies, we ll see exactly how these strategies play out in the face of modern challenges. We will then empower attendees to evaluate their own institutional resilience, pinpointing the exact pressures internal or external that make a strategic plan a vital tool for survival and growth. Connection to Conference Theme: If this land holds our stories, then our organizations must be the vessels strong enough to carry them. For an institution to tackle the weight of our most difficult histories, it must provide its team with a firm strategic ground to stand on. A strategic plan provides the 'armor' staff and board need to take risks and push for agency in their storytelling.

Speakers: Valerie Guevara, Tiffany Lyons