Artists, Advocates, and Architects of Community: Honoring Women in Preservation at the Village Awards

Each year, Village Preservation celebrates the individuals, organizations, and businesses that have made a significant positive impact on Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo with our Village Awards.

Since 1980, Village Preservation has worked tirelessly to protect and promote the architectural and cultural heritage of our historic communities. The Village Awards, an annual tradition, highlight those who have gone above and beyond in safeguarding and contributing to the character and vitality of our neighborhoods. From longtime local business owners to dedicated activists, the awardees represent the diverse fabric of our community. And more than a few of these have been women. Here are a sample:

Verna Small (1916-2008) was one the earliest winners of a Village Award back in 1995. She was recognized for her work at the forefront of preservation and for playing a critical role in the campaign to create the Greenwich Village Historic District in the 1960s. Verna continued to fight for preservation,  advocating for the historic preservation of SoHo and recognizing the importance of the Village’s historic waterfront. You can learn more about Verna Small by listening to her fascinating 1996 Oral History with Village Preservation.

Barbara Shaum (1929-2015) was a long-time Village sandal maker and was recognized with a Village Award shortly before her passing in 2015. An entrepreneur and artist, Shaum opened her first sandal shop in 1962 on East 7th Street next to McSorley’s after apprenticing with a NYC sandal-maker in the ’50s. She was the first woman admitted to McSorley’s when a 1970 ruling legally forced them to end their men-only policy. McSorley’s old motto had been Good Ale, Raw Onions, and No Ladies. Barbara Shaum contributed her creativity, grit, and innovative spirit to raise the quality of life in and preserve the independent heart of the Village.

Teresa Concepción (1962-2024) was the Executive Director the Red Door Place. The Red Door Place and Teresa were recognized with a Village Award in 2023. Led by Teresa from 2016 until her tragic passing in 2024, the Red Door Place provides resources to the unhoused and the food insecure community in the West Village and greater New York City area that includes meals, pantry supplementation, and support with government benefits, legal, and other services through the “Bridging the Gap” program. As a leader, Teresa combined deep empathy with determination and toughness in her commitment to serve others. During the Covid-19 pandemic, nearly 40% of the food pantries in the city closed, unable to keep up with demand or due to lack of funding. Under Teresa, the Red Door not only remained open but was able to double the number of people served each week. Bags containing three days’ worth of food, such as frozen chicken, fresh fruit and vegetables, milk, and bread, were provided to those in need. On Saturdays, hot meals are offered. A team of 40 dedicated volunteers continues to honor Teresa’s legacy by inspecting and organizing the food to make sure those most in need in our community are not forgotten.

Penny Arcade is an East Village icon known as “Queen of the Underground” and was recognized with a Village Award in 2024. She is a performance artist, but at her core, she is “fundamentally a poet.” Her work, which she began in 1968, uses comedic wit, forthright delivery, and stage presence to highlight and dive deep into topics such as gentrification, humanity, womanhood, LGBTQ+ culture, and the life of the outsider. Performing in legendary venues such as LaMama ETC., Playhouse of the Ridiculous, University of the Streets, the Poetry Project at St. Mark’s in the Bowery, Kenny’s Castaways, Theater for the New City, The Bitter End, Barrow Street Theater, and The Actors Playhouse, Penny has become an iconic presence in our community. Penny has also been a long-time supporter of Village Preservation’s work, and has emceed several Village Award ceremonies. Listen to Penny Arcade speak about her extraordinary life in her 2018 oral history, which covers her time in New York City since leaving home as a teenage runaway and her association with Andy Warhol, the AIDS epidemic, and her work giving voice to female and transgressive sexuality through her art. You can also watch her speak about her life in this 2020 Village Preservation program, “Penny Arcade Herself, Celebrating Her Village Preservation Oral History.”

Women have always played an essential role in shaping and protecting Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. Their work in preservation, advocacy, and community-building has ensured that these neighborhoods remain places where history, culture, and progress intertwine.

We honor the women who have received the Village Awards and all the women who continue to contribute to our community every day of the year. Their legacies and impact remind us that preservation is not just about buildings—it’s about people, stories, and the communities that make our neighborhoods truly special.

You can learn more about all past Village Award winners and upcoming Village Awards here. Listen to all of the oral histories collected by Village Preservation here. Watch the recordings of past programs, including of the Annual Meeting and Village Award ceremonies, here.