Welcome Aboard, Hannah Chacko
Today, we welcome Hannah Chacko (she/her) aboard as our new Research and Preservation Associate.
In 2025, Hannah completed her undergraduate degree from Hunter College in Design and Visual Communications, where she took the greatest interest in the intersections of user experience design, research, and accessibility. Along the way, she realized that she wanted to develop a deeper understanding of urban planning and the nonprofit world, which led to her acceptance into Hunter College’s Public Service Scholar Program. It was through that program, nearly three years ago, that she was placed to intern with Village Preservation.
Since then, Hannah has worked on a wide variety of projects and tasks, from assisting with mailings and maintaining membership and outreach data, to supporting Village Preservation’s Spring House Tour Benefit. For much of her time at Village Preservation, she worked with our Director of East Village and Special Projects to research and develop Village Preservation’s Jazz Map. Her favorite parts of her internship have been the opportunity to explore our neighborhoods through research and outreach, and even making deliveries and newsletter distributions. It was on those walks through the East Village, Greenwich Village, and NoHo that she came to appreciate the importance of historic preservation and the many stories these neighborhoods have to tell.
Born and raised in Ridgewood, Queens, Hannah has always been interested in the ways neighborhoods evolve over time. Growing up in a community experiencing rapid change sparked her interest in gentrification, the importance of preserving neighborhood history, and the role organizations like Village Preservation play in protecting the character and stories of New York City’s communities.
As Research and Preservation Associate, Hannah looks forward to continuing to learn from and contribute to Village Preservation’s advocacy, research, and educational work while helping preserve the history and character of the neighborhoods we serve. Hannah can be reached at hchacko@villagepreservation.org.