Zumilena Then

Zulmilena Then is a native Brooklynite preservationist believing in historic preservation’s power as a social justice tool. To lift the predominantly Black and Brown East New York community, she established Preserving East New York (PENY) in 2015. Through PENY’s efforts, the community earned its fourth landmark in 2017 after a 36-year designation gap. Zulmilena’s career trajectory began at the firm Michael Ivanhoe McCaw Architects, where she honed her expertise in managing historic preservation projects focused mainly in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedstuy. Her formative experiences there underscored the importance of safeguarding the identity of communities of color, ultimately inspiring her to establish PENY. Later, she served as Weeksville Heritage Center’s Preservation Manager, ensuring the preservation of the Hunterfly Road Houses, the last residential buildings of the 19th-century Weeksville neighborhood. Currently, she is expanding her preservation skills by immersing herself in the world of facade inspections throughout NYC.