In this episode of The Vision Lab: Youth Voices for Change, Lead Incubator Mentee Chelsea speaks with Seri Warden, Senior Director of Preservation Programs at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, about the power of preserving heritage, protecting community spaces, and honoring the stories that shape our collective identity.
Chelsea shares the inspiration behind The Empathy Collective, a digital archive dedicated to cultural exchange, oral histories, and youth storytelling. Together, she and Sari explore how historic preservation extends beyond landmarks to include local restaurants, gathering places, cultural institutions, and the everyday spaces that foster connection, resilience, and belonging.
From community-driven preservation efforts to climate resilience and the role of storytelling in safeguarding history, this conversation highlights how individuals of all ages can help protect the places and stories that matter most.
The Vision Lab: Youth Voices for Change is a production by Girls Write Now.
Host: Lead Incubator Mentee Chelsea Zhu
Guest: Seri Worden, Senior Director of Preservation Programs, National Trust for Historic Preservation
Producer: Jessica Jagtiani
Editor: Jessica Jagtiani
Intro/Outro: Christine Obiamalu
