American Heritage Artisan Initiative
Craftsmanship is not separate from thinking — it is a way of thinking.
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving and advancing traditional building trades through education, workforce development, and public outreach.
The Intelligent Hand
Through the act of making, individuals develop knowledge, judgment, and a deeper understanding of the world.
Working with materials, solving real-world problems, and striving to do things as well as they can be done — this connection between hand and mind is central not only to craftsmanship, but to how people learn, think, and find meaning in their work.
Every decision we make is a value judgment — from what we build, to what we consume, to the environments we choose to live in. When craftsmanship is valued, standards rise. When it is overlooked, quality, durability, and meaning diminish.
“Learning how to think and how to do good work creates value, purpose, and long-term contribution to society.”
Gilding — EverGreene Architectural Arts
What We Do
Four Pillars of Impact
Apprenticeship & Workforce
Building pathways into the trades through structured apprenticeship programs, mentorship, and hands-on workforce development that connects emerging craftspeople with masters of the trade.
Education & Curriculum
Developing educational content, workshops, and lectures that demonstrate the intellectual depth of craft — and that learning by making is one of the most powerful forms of learning there is.
Industry Collaboration
Forging partnerships across trade and design disciplines — connecting architects, engineers, conservators, and artisans to strengthen the ecosystem that sustains quality craftsmanship.
Public Outreach
Reshaping how society perceives work done with one’s hands — elevating awareness and challenging the assumption that the only path to success is abstract and academic.
The Work That Inspires Us
Craftsmanship at the Highest Level
From sacred spaces to state capitols, the work of EverGreene Architectural Arts demonstrates what becomes possible when craft is valued, preserved, and practiced with rigor.
Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain.
C.G. Jung
An Interdisciplinary Approach
Beyond the Trades
AHAI operates within a broad ecosystem — demonstrating that craftsmanship is not narrow or specialized, but deeply connected to how people think, create, and live.
Founding Leadership
Rooted in six decades of architectural craft and conservation at the highest level
AHAI is founded by the principal of EverGreene Architectural Arts — one of America’s foremost studios in architectural conservation, historic preservation, and decorative arts. For over 45 years, EverGreene has brought craft, artistry, and technical mastery to some of the nation’s most significant cultural landmarks.
This initiative extends that legacy — from the practice of craft to the broader cause of ensuring these traditions endure, grow, and are recognized for the intellectual and cultural force they represent.
Board of Directors
Guided by leaders in craft, conservation, and preservation
Jeff Greene
President
Founder and Chairman of EverGreene Architectural Arts, which he grew from a small mural studio in 1978 into one of the foremost architectural conservation and decorative arts firms in the United States. A recipient of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art’s Arthur Ross Award for Artisanship, he is recognized nationally for his mastery of mural, ornamental plaster, and decorative finishes.
Lisa Lempel-Sander
Vice President
A New York State–licensed psychoanalyst certified by the National Psychoanalytic Association for Psychoanalysis, and a senior faculty member and clinical supervisor at the Suffolk Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. Her writing and clinical work center on creativity and how people make meaning — a lifelong interest that resonates deeply with AHAI’s belief that making is a way of thinking.
Mark Rabinowitz
Secretary
Senior Consulting Conservator at EverGreene and a Fellow of both the American Institute for Conservation and the American Academy in Rome. A RISD-trained sculptor, he has led the conservation of landmark works including the U.S. Capitol, the Smithsonian Institution, and memorials on the National Mall.
Restoring meaning and dignity to work
AHAI is positioned to play a meaningful role in rebuilding the pipeline of skilled tradespeople — and in shifting how society understands the value of work, the role of craftsmanship, and the impact of the choices we make every day.
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