Local Landmarks, Hidden Stories: Paul R. Williams and the Architecture of Belonging a Summer Institute for K-12 Educators

Historic building with art deco design, prominent figure in foreground.

Event Date

Jun 29-30, 2026 @ 9:00am - 4:00pm

Getty Center, Los Angeles

Local Landmarks, Hidden Stories: Paul R. Williams and the Architecture of Belonging a Summer Institute for K-12 Educators

Local Landmarks, Hidden Stories: Paul R. Williams and the Architecture of Belonging is a K–12 teacher summer institute developed in partnership between the UCLA History-Geography Project and the Getty Research Institute. Held at the Getty Center on June 29–30 2026, this institute centers the life and work of architect Paul R. Williams and uses his extraordinary legacy as a lens for examining the history of Los Angeles and broader histories of race, place, and belonging through the built environment.

Teachers selected for this cohort will work directly with primary source materials from the Getty’s collections, including archival documents, architectural drawings, and photographs, to explore how architecture intersects with social and economic forces.

Using Paul R. Williams as a portal to histories that have often gone unsurfaced, the program situates his work within broader narratives of redlining, housing access, and pathways to homeownership, as well as the creation of community spaces rooted in joy, resilience, and collective life. These include Black churches, civic and cultural institutions, and sites connected to historic organizations like the NAACP. Through multiple architectural lenses, participants will examine how the built environment both reflects and shapes power, opportunity, and belonging.

Throughout the institute, selected educators will engage with materials connected to the Getty’s African American Art History Initiative and develop inquiry-driven, classroom-ready lessons for K–12 students. This program will supports participants in bringing these archival resources into their classrooms to illuminate underrepresented histories and deepen students’ understanding of architecture as a framework for studying community, identity, and social change.

Lessons created by teachers for this project will be featured

Application Details:

Teachers selected for the cohort will receive a $750 stipend upon their completion of all program requirements. These lessons will be published via the Getty.edu and UCLA HGP.

Application Deadline: March 1st, 2026 (11:59 PM)
Notification of Selection: March 15th, 2026