Kevin C. Murphy is the speechwriter at the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For nearly two decades, he has worked behind the scenes as a speechwriter, ghostwriter, researcher, editor, and advisor. He holds a PhD in history from Columbia University, and lives in Washington DC.
At its most basic, historic preservation is about keeping old places alive, in active use, and relevant to the needs of communities today. As cities across America experience a remarkable renaissance, and more and more young, diverse families choose to live, work, and play in historic neighborhoods, the promise and potential of using our older and historic buildings to revitalize our cities is stronger than ever.
This urban resurgence is a national phenomenon, boosting cities from Cleveland to Buffalo and Portland to Pittsburgh.