UAMEZ Church Named a 2026 National Grantee by the National Trust for Historic Preservation

University AME Zion Church (UAMEZ) in Palo Alto, California — the oldest continuously operating historically Black church in Silicon Valley — has been named a 2026 national grantee of the Preserving Black Churches program, administered by the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

This award is part of a national $13.5 million investment in 2026 supporting the preservation, stewardship, and long-term sustainability of historically Black churches across the United States — one of the most significant commitments in the program's history.

What This Grant Means for UAMEZ Church

Founded in 1918 by African American families seeking spiritual refuge during the Great Migration, University AME Zion Church has served Palo Alto and the Bay Area for over 107 years. The church is part of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion denomination — known as 'The Freedom Church' — with roots dating to 1796 in New York City. Historic members of the AME Zion denomination include Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and Sojourner Truth.

This grant recognizes our church's vital and irreplaceable role in American history. For more than a century, UAMEZ has been a house of worship, a civil rights anchor, and a community hub in the heart of Silicon Valley. The Preserving Black Churches grant will support the physical restoration and long-term preservation of our historic sanctuary at 3549 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306.

About the Preserving Black Churches Program

The Preserving Black Churches program is a $60 million initiative of the Lilly Endowment Inc., administered through the National Trust for Historic Preservation's African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. Since its first cohort in 2023, the program has supported over 170 historically Black churches across the United States with a total of nearly $34 million in preservation funding and technical expertise.

In 2026, grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 were awarded to 33 historically Black churches nationwide. UAMEZ is one of only two California churches named in this cohort, and the only one in Silicon Valley.

A Message from Pastor Kaloma Smith

"We are deeply humbled and honored by this recognition. University AME Zion Church was built by Black families who refused to be erased — who gathered in homes, pooled their resources, and built something that has now stood for over a century. This grant is not just an investment in bricks and mortar. It is a declaration that this history matters, that this community matters, and that the next generation deserves to worship in a space that honors who we are and where we came from."

— Rev. Kaloma Smith, Senior Pastor, University AME Zion Church

107 Years of History in Silicon Valley

University AME Zion Church was established in 1918 — making it the oldest continuously operating historically Black church in California's Silicon Valley. From its earliest gatherings in homes, to the building of its own sanctuary, to marching for civil rights, to serving families across the Bay Area for generations, UAMEZ has remained committed to love, justice, and belonging.

In 2025, under the leadership of Rev. Kaloma Smith, the church completed a full relaunch — expanding its ministries, engaging a new generation of Silicon Valley families, and committing to a future that is as bold as its past. Today, UAMEZ serves a diverse, multicultural congregation of young families, professionals, students, and long-time residents across Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Mountain View, and the greater Bay Area.

How You Can Support the Preservation of UAMEZ Church

The National Trust grant is a tremendous catalyst — and we are now raising additional funds to fully restore and preserve our historic sanctuary for the next 100 years. Every gift, regardless of size, is an act of faith that says: this place matters, this history matters, and the next generation deserves to worship here.

To support our preservation campaign, visit uamez.com/give or contact us at info@uamez.com. Join us Sundays at 10:00 AM at 3549 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94306.

About University AME Zion Church (UAMEZ)

University AME Zion Church is an inclusive Christian congregation in Palo Alto, California, founded in 1918. We are part of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church — known as 'The Freedom Church' — a denomination established in 1796 with a long legacy of abolition, civil rights, and spiritual empowerment. UAMEZ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Sunday worship services are held at 10:00 AM at 3549 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94306. For more information, visit uamez.com.