About Us

YPA is a regional provider of value-added preservation services that encourage the participation of young people in historic preservation. YPA provides events, tours, research, training, technical assistance, and special projects that encourage the next generation to take a leadership role in preserving their communities. Incorporated in 2002 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, YPA is the only organization of its kind in the United States.

YPA’s events and publications resonate with young people. More than 1,200 people have participated in our education programs, events, tours, research, and partnerships. YPA is more than 350 members strong from 19 states, working to engage the next generation in historic preservation. YPA operates in the nine-county southwestern Pennsylvania region that includes the following counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Washington, and Westmoreland.

YPA is guided by a 15-member voting Board of Directors and a 28-member non-voting Advisory Committee. The organization’s founder, Dan Holland, is the organization’s CEO. YPA was incorporated with the PA Bureau of Charities in 2002 and received its permanent 501(c)(3) nonprofit status from the IRS in May 2007.

Our Mission

The mission of Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh is the participation of young people in the preservation of historic resources. Everyone who supports the next generation is a Young Preservationist. YPA insists that historic preservation is an effective tool for economic development and regional revitalization.

Our Vision

Our vision is for YPA to be the premiere organization for young people in preservation.

Our Slogan

YPA’s slogan, Give life to history®, is rooted in the belief that historic preservation is more than creating museums. It involves bringing back to life old structures through restoration, adaptive reuse, and creative renovation. It also means injecting new life into an older neighborhood by constructing new structures that complement the existing community fabric and allows for pedestrian interaction.

We encourage people to become involved in a civic dialogue about how to create a better human experience in the Pittsburgh area.

Our Values

YPA’s organizational values emphasize three important concepts that are central to our work: Innovation, quality, and diversity. YPA’s events and culture supports inclusion (by embracing geographic and demographic diversity), responsiveness, and an emphasis on the economics of preservation.

YPA’s Objectives

The YPA will accomplish its mission by pursuing the following objectives:

  1. Raise awareness of historic preservation among young people, and people of all ages.
  2. Educate diverse constituencies about the value of preservation as a key component of economic and community development.
  3. Provide opportunities for participation in preservation activities.