WALLEN+daub curates educational events that are tailored to your organization’s needs. We offer an array of learning formats, including workshop, lectures and tours. We believe that the best way to propel forward is through learning. Using these tools, we encourage you to EDUCATE yourself .
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Representing three continents, Tosin Oshinowo, Atianna J. Cordova + Danei Cesario will be presenting our #GlobalGrassroots work through CMDesign Atelier , WATER BLOCK + WALLEN + daub at the NOMA National Conference. Join us on Friday 10/16 at 11am EST as we discuss #GlobalGrassroots: a collective #international movement through education, empowerment, + engagement that transcends more established organizations to invest new energy into the people who actively contribute to them. We are excited to present with these powerful architects!
At the National Organization of Minority Architects 48th Annual Conference and Expo, SPATIAL SHIFTS: Reclaiming Our Cities, we will explore ways in which we can break down barriers to creating meaningful projects, remix the role of the designer, and unpack new approaches to the design processes of our built environment.
Join the AIA New York and the AIA Long Island Women in Architecture Committees On August 20th @ 630pm. In light of the Black Lives Matter movement, and in support of the ongoing effort to improve our profession to achieve Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in our workplace and our industry, WIA is hosting a panel with four extraordinary women who are leading and championing change through their various meaningful and impactful organizations. Featuring Danei Cesario, AIA RIBA NCARB NOMA Pascale Sablan AIA,NOMA,LEED Bolanle Williams-Olley Julia Gamolina, Assoc. AIA
Excited to lead the Architecture Workshop of Tools + Tiaras Virtual Summer Camp, discussing how to create great spaces with respect to scale + functionality.
The 2019 AIA Conference live podcast panel reunites! Join AIA Nevada for a discussion on Equity, Diversity + Inclusion within our profession on July 15 at 1pm PST/ 4pm EST. Register here!
MadaMind is a half-day ‘mastermind’ focused on development for a diverse group of women. The time + format would makes the event more accessible to many women who usually cannot invest the time, funds or travel associated with many other conferences, but still want to benefit from professional + personal development.
Based on nine nodes for optimal harmony, experienced + dynamic speakers will cover each of the topic areas, ranging from wealth to relationships. MadaMind will culminate in a final hour and a half of celebration in honour of Women's History Month.
Curated Menu, Meaningful Conversation
Not another networking event. TableTALKS is a series of intimate gatherings occurring every other month. We get together over dinner + discuss a topic pertaining to professional + personal growth with our special guest ; your meal is included.
Location, Topic , Special Guest + Menu are shared with attendees prior to TableTALKS.
Join the New York Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (nycoba | NOMA) and the AIANY Diversity & Inclusion Committee for the 2019 J. Max Bond Jr. Lecture. Established in 2010 as a joint collaboration, this is an annual design talk in memory of J. Max Bond, Jr., FAIA, NOMA, an architect, advocate, teacher, and trailblazer of his time. The Bond Lecture addresses issues that were important to Max Bond: equity, inclusive design, communities, and global cultures, in particular Africa (Ghana).
This year, our honored speaker is Zena Howard, FAIA, a Principal and Managing Director of Perkins and Will North Carolina Practice. A graduate of the University of Virginia, she was mentored by Phil Freelon. Howard is a design leader, strategist, educator, and mentor in the profession who was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows last year. She is well known for her role on the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. She is also creating a legacy as a leader in the transformation of neighborhoods through community-engaged urban design practices. Her unique approach includes the conception of what she terms “Remembrance Projects,” which apply community engagement principles to infuse historical context into built work. Howard’s work on urban futures aims to repair and renew communities of color damaged by ill-conceived urban renewal projects of recent decades. In our time of continued challenges to communities, including gentrification, disparities of resources, and imposed historical amnesia, we must look to Zena’s work for inspiration and guidance to build and heal.
This year, we are grateful for our additional partnership with the J. Max Bond Center for Urban Futures and space support from Parsons School of Design.
Moderator:
Mabel O. Wilson, Professor, Columbia University (GSAPP); Co-Director, Global Africa Lab
Our mission at WALLEN + daub: “If we are all working towards the same ultimate goals, it behooves us to share intel, resources + results. Cross-pollination is key, as there will be fewer advancements through siloed successes.” .
Happy to contribute to @seaonyc panel, ‘What’s Next?: A Discussion on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in the Built Environment’, with representatives from @burohappoldengineering @arupgroup @aianydiv + @cast_connex .
Professionals in the built environment like my fellow panelists + organizers spend their careers designing inclusive spaces for people of all backgrounds + cultures while working to promote equitable practices + policy, through educational events like this.
With Big Idea Lab + She Connects, we had an inspirational night of genuine connection with other women that gives a new definition to a networking event. Through sharing our personal and professional stories, we inspire each other to breathe life into our dream projects and to continue our journeys with the new energy. The event goal is to create a space in which each participant, panelist or attendee, has the opportunity to give a success their own unique interpretation.
Architect & design advocate Danei Cesario
Sexual violence campaigner, Ilse Knecht
Singer, writer, financial industry expert & Alcohol-Free lifestyle promoter, Janice McCune
Financial adviser, commentator, and promoter of women's financial independence, Michelle McKinnon
Author, speaker & public speaking coach, Olive Persimmon.
Moderated by Marina Romashko
Sponsored by Asentiv New York, SheConnects, Big idea lab and WeWork.
“As architects we are always trying to perfect the design of our lives + the communities we exist within.”
GlobalGrassroots at @nomanational conference turned out better than we could have dreamed. Thank you ladies—you made this mad dream from 2018 a reality.
#architecture #believethehype #NOMA #nomaconference2019 #noma2019 #brooklyn #archtober #nycobaNOMA #ALLinforNOMA #blueprintforbetter
Join us at the Brooklyn Marriott on Saturday October 19th 2019 11:00AM for Global Grassroots - The International efforts for the NEXT GENeration of ARCHitecture (Course Number NOMA201908)
In a dynamic and engaging discussion, representatives from four global grass-root efforts piloted to increase visibility, representation and diversity will share their work in addressing issues in a profession that historically lacked these tenets for immigrants, women and minorities.
With a focus on current initiatives by Danei Cesario’s WALLEN+daub in New York and England, Black Female Architects’s (BFA) expansive work in the United Kingdom, Dahmahlee Lawrence’s collaboration with Wattle and Red Earth (WARE) in Jamaica and Sarah Akigbogun’s storytelling through the medium of film for Female Architects of Color, we will discuss how these members of established organizations like RIBA, AIA, and NOMA liaise with larger audiences to effectively shepherd Diversity, Inclusion and Equity.
We will also discuss retention of immigrant, women and minority architects and successful methods to reduce dropout rates of architecture students within those demographics. Participants will gain valuable insight on architectural practices and policies through an international lens and find commonalities with their respective points of origin.
Learning Units 1.5
We are in September and you know what that means, it’s time for our next edition of The Quarterly Conversations!
Join us for an evening of connections, cocktails & conversations on September 26, 2019 with
Danei Cesario, AIA NCARB NOMA
Dena Prastos, AIA
Irina Schneid, AIA
Moderated by Bolanle Williams-Olley
Our topic: “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: What’s Value got to do with it.”
𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 + 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴/𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦-𝘢𝘥𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥.
As Las Vegas prepares to host A’19, AIA National’s annual Conference on Architecture in June, excitement is building for one particular program during the three-day event.
Planning the Future : Principles, Practice + Purpose will be a spirited yet informal live podcast with diverse and innovative change-makers, advocates and architects. The Q&A session will foster conversation about the next generation of architects, representation and lessons learned within academia, practice and advocacy. The event will be held during A’19 at the Convention Center in collaboration with AIA Las Vegas chapter and local radio affiliates.
Speakers:
Cynthia Phifer Kracauer, AIA is an architect and currently serves as the Executive Director for the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation (BWAF). She joined the foundation following 10 years as the Managing Director of the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter, Center for Architecture. Both an architect and a creative institutional administrator, Cynthia was responsible for the creation of Archtober, the New York City month-long festival of architecture and design.
Dwayne Eshenbaugh, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C.,a U.S. Air Force Veteran, founded NOVUS Architecture in 2009. NOVUS is an award-winning, full-service design firm offering architecture, interiors, planning, and sustainability services to a diverse group of like-minded clients. Dwayne’s vision, passion for elevated design, and his leadership abilities were all drivers as he ventured out and founded NOVUS Architecture. He is a hands-on Design Principal who touches every project that comes through the office. Eshenbaugh is the current President of AIA Las Vegas and an Advisory Board member of the Good Deed Project, a 501 (c)(3) focused on assisting not-for-profit organizations and individuals with limited resources.
Danei Cesario, AIA, NCARB, NOMA is the 333rd black female licensed architect in American history. She is currently a Senior Associate at Array Architects, leading dynamic healthcare and wellness projects. Beyond the office, Danei’s passion for architecture and advocacy has also led her to be a role model for emerging design professionals. She is Chair of AIA New York’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and a contributor to national and international organizations such as the United Nations, the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation, Parlour, Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust and nycobaNOMA Executive Board. Danei is dedicated to fostering Mentorship, Sponsorship and Leadership. She launched WALLEN + daub to provide informational and infrastructural support to people navigating careers within creative and STEM industries.
Eric Strain is an architect and educator based in Las Vegas. He is the founding principal of assemblageSTUDIO and an Associate Professor of Architecture at UNLV. His work and research is based in “Craft, Place and Community.” His work has received 60 Design Excellent Awards and been published Internationally. assemblageSTUDIO received the WMR AIA and AIA Nevada Firm Awards and Eric received the AIA Nevada Silver Medal. Eric has also taught at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and the University of Utah.
Maria Del C. Vera is faculty of Urban Design and Urban Culture, teaching Issues of Contemporary Urbanism, Urban Design Studios and Architecture Place, and Identity. Her research hinges on urbanity's geological context publishing, exhibiting, lecturing and presenting work in EU, USA, ME, and SA. She has served on the advisory board of Las Vegas Modern Museum and currently collaborates with The City of Las Vegas in exploring the re-fabrication of Downtown Vegas.
Melvin D. Green, AIA, NCARB, NOMA, APEC is an architect designing projects for more than 30 years in the greater Las Vegas area, including residential, multi-family, commercial, religious, educational, and healthcare projects. He helped established KME Architecture in Las Vegas in 2009. He believes in the concept of “Listening Architecture,” which encompasses a two-way communication format for gathering pertinent information that embraces all aspects of the creative design programming. Relevant projects and clients include: Las Vegas Convention Center expansion and renovation and the Eclipse Movie Theater in downtown Las Vegas. In 2018, KME was published in the Winter 2017 edition of The National Preservation Magazine for the design of the Historic Westside School and won the 2018 National APWA Project of the Year award for the Historic Westside School.
T. R. Witcher is a graduate of the University of Missouri and the University of Chicago and has worked as a journalist for more than 20 years. He has written about architecture and urbanism for a variety of publications, including TIME, Civil Engineering, and Desert Companion. He’s won six awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists, and the Western Publishing Association. He’s taught in both the School of Architecture and the Journalism and Media Studies program at UNLV.
Planning the Future is being planned by WALLEN + daub and T. R. Witcher. Admission is free, but your optional donation goes entirely towards the ERNA Memorial Grant : a fund to support career development for the next generation of creative professionals.
Listen to the live podcast !
We are honoured to share + support this beautiful evening with WACO Theater. The funds raised at the Wearable Art Gala will be reinvested in the middle-school students who are part of Tina Lawson ‘s Angels + Richard’s Warriors. They will continue to create spaces + programs where are can occur + inspiration can be fostered. Thank you for all that you do for the next generation of creatives! What a wonderful time. +
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#latergram #wearableartgala #art#design #creative #wacotopridelands#wallendaub #payitforward#instagood #lionking #happytohelp#inspiration #nextgen #swipeleft#empower #educate #explore#expand #alwayslookingup
Delighted to be part of next week’s panel on Conscious Design: Creating Spaces that Enhance the Wellbeing of Your Clients As Well As the Planet by ASPIRE DESIGN AND HOME and TOTO! In today’s changeable times + amidst complex global concerns, the need is greater than ever for safe, calm spaces that have minimal impact on our precious planet. Join us for an essential + dynamic discussion with fellow designers integrating cutting-edge concepts in sustainability + wellness to create beautiful, healing + empowering spaces.
Speakers:
A panel discussion on healthcare + wellness architecture and design at the third Annual City of Tomorrow event at 92Y
Whitney Austin Gray, PhD, LEED AP, Senior Vice President, Delos
Christine Vandover, Principal, HOK
Clodagh, Founder, Clodagh Design
Danei Cesario, Senior Associate, Array Architects
Moderated by Anna Fixsen, AD Pro and Features Editor, Architectural Digest
This conversation will encompass the historical spaces created around black people as part of their experience in America and—more specifically—the locale of New York. To that point, Professor Scott Ruff will present “African-American Spatial Mythos in New York City”, a portion of his research on African-American Urban Enclaves and the role of cultural collective spaces as sites of sanctuary, celebration and activism. Architect Roberta Washington’s research will retrace structures and spaces that fostered African-American captivity, activism and eventual emancipation. Both presentations will be followed by an illuminating conversation moderated by Professor and Architect Mark Gardner.
Speakers
Scott Ruff, Visiting Associate Professor of Architecture at Pratt Institute principal of RuffWorks Studio
Roberta Washington, FAIA Principal at Roberta Washington Architects
Mark L. Gardner, AIA, NOMA Principal of Jaklitsch/Gardner Architects & Director of the Graduate Program in Architecture, Parsons the New School
Black Gotham Experience (BGX) is teaming up with E4 Youth to produce a special edition of their Nerdy Thursdays event series for SXSW 2019. The theme for March 7th is Public Pedagogy. This evening is themed on the disparate players in the movement to reimagine and redesign the public square into an open, engaging, and inclusive space with an expansive set of historic narratives.
Join us for this exciting event featuring dynamic conversations, drinks, a live performances, music, and technology that celebrates the presence of the Black Diaspora.
6pm | Panel with Kamau Ware (Founder & Lead Creative, Black Gotham Experience) and Danei Cesario (architect)
7pm | Performance of Sugar.Water.Fire. by Berry (Performer and Storyteller, Black Gotham Experience)
8pm | VR Remix with the Digital Docents of E4 Youth + Music by GoodWill (Experience Curator, Black Gotham Experience)
In honor of Women’s History Month, we are bringing together esteemed women in the design industry to discuss their contributions to the built environment and the profession. The varied experiences of being a designer who also happens to be female in the 21st century with respect to workplace dynamics, career trajectories and personal life will also be discussed.
Speakers
Dr. Sharon E. Sutton, FAIA, Visiting Professor, Parsons School of Design; Adjunct Professor, Columbia University; Professor Emerita, University of Washington; Author, When the Ivory Towers Were Black
Hayes Slade, AIA, IIDA, Principal, Slade Architecture; 2019 President, AIA New York
Isabel Castilla, Principal, James Corner Field Operations
Susan Chin, FAIA, Hon. ASLA, Executive Director, Design Trust for Public Space
Danei Cesario, AIA, NCARB, NOMA, Associate, Array Architects
With commentary from:
James Crispino, AIA, Director of Health and Wellness, Gensler
Brian Kaplan, AIA, IIDA, LEED AP, Associate Director, SOM
Douglas Wyatt Hocking, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Principal, KPF
We facilitated a D+I Firm Roundtable with respected architecture practices around New York City like @fxcollaborative @snohetta @skidmoreowingsmerrill @perkinseastman.design + @zgfarchitects to optimize the impact of their internal diversity + inclusion initiatives. To truly further the conversation, we invited representation from all staff levels —senior leadership, Human Resources + emerging professionals. We discussed a gamut of relevant topics from the “issue of attrition” to the difference between an initiative and a mission. Next steps? ACT!onable items + strategies. Thank you to all who attended; your dedication to progress within the profession is inspiring!
Reinterpreting Race & Gender in Architecture
In-Fringe is about interrogating and challenging the concepts of race and gender in architecture. This panel aims to shape a dialogue by discussing equity, action towards change, and through sharing advice with the audience. Three powerful leaders in their respective campaigns around race, gender, and their intersections will share their stories, debate important and timely questions, and engage the audience in conversation.
The creation of this panel was built on a student led exploration of the relationship between social justice and design. The booklet of free-form text that resulted, In-Fringe, o ers reflections on the architecture profession’s engagement with inequities around race and gender.
Speakers :
Danei Cesario AIA, NCARB, NOMA
A.L Hu Associate AIA
Renee Kemp-Rotan CEO studiorotan, Urban Designer, Master
“Last weekend, I was honored to serve as a panelist, judge and fellow STEMinist for the United Nations Foundation’s Girl Up #GIRLHERO Solution Lab and #STEM Tour Bootcamp along with powerhouses from GE , Goldman Sachs , #BUILTBYGIRLS , and Instagram . With these brilliant young women, it’s not only clear that #thefutureisfemale ...it is also incredibly bright!”
Inclusive design has been a hot topic since the discrimination of traditional public restrooms made its way onto the political agenda last year. But inclusive design principles can and should be applied well beyond restrooms to everyday building types like offices, museums and libraries. Progressive institutions and companies that want to attract diverse audiences and workers must consider design as a catalyst for these efforts by creating interactive places to engage people of different ages, genders, races, religions and disabilities who have been left out of the equation.
This interactive happy hour and discussion explores the design consequences of this urgent social justice issue, particularly as it pertains to the workplace. See video in our video library.
Speakers
Joel Sanders, AIA, Principal, Joel Sanders Architect (JSA); Stalled!NYC
Seb Choe, Architectural Designer, Stalled!NYC
Lauren Johnson, Co-Founder, QSPACE
Ryan Day, Co-Founder, QSPACE
Danei Cesario, AIA, NCARB, NOMA
The exhibition revisits Whitney M. Young Jr.’s keynote address at the 1968 AIA Conference, which questioned the lack of integration in the profession and led to a half-century crusade towards increased diversity and social responsibility in architecture. Organized by the AIANY Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the exhibition will explore current data about the profession and highlight efforts to expand opportunities. Curated by Danei Cesario, AIA, committee co-chair.
Download exhibition opening remarks by Whitney Young’s daughter, Marcia Y. Cantarella. Ph.D
Through shared dialogue between with poets, educators, artists, architects and activists, this participatory program will explore how identity and cultural forces can influence the process of how we design, both collectively and individually. This event will expose the implicit and explicit relationships between identity and the discipline of making. Using perspectives and experiences from across multiple creative fields, this event will explore the power of interdisciplinary exchange.
This event is inspired by the Close to the Edge: The Birth of Hip Hop Architecture exhibition.
Speakers
Danei Cesario, AIA, NCARB, NOMA, Associate, Array Architects
Abigail Conklin, Program Manager, Creative Connections NYC
Paco Márquez, Poet; Editor, OccuPoetry
Kamau Ware, Artist/Historian; Founder, Kamau Studios
Katie Yamasaki, Artist and Muralist
Moderators
Daniel Aronberg, Assoc. AIA, Co-Chair, AIANY Emerging New York Architects Committee; Designer, 1100 Architects
Fauzia Khanani, Assoc. AIA, Principal and Founder, Studio Fōr
Organized by
AIANY Diversity and Inclusion, Emerging New York Architects, and Social Science and Architecture Committees
In celebration of Black History Month, please join us for a screening of a documentary film chronicling the life story of Robert P. Madison: preeminent architect, maverick, patriot, and patron of the arts and humanities.
This is a story about a man who was instrumental in building Cleveland’s new waterfront and yet previously was denied an opportunity to even apply to one of the city’s schools of architecture. Despite these and many other challenges, Mr. Madison reached the pinnacles of professional and personal success since his career began in 1951. He had designed and built projects in the US and internationally, served as Chairman of the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows Jury, lectured worldwide, and received several honorary doctorates. At the same time, he found time to foster the advancement of the arts, mentor disadvantaged youth, champion multiculturalism, and fight for equality in hiring and promotional practices.
Through force of will, keen intellect, and intractable faith, Mr. Madison overcame insurmountable economic and social barriers to achieve the American dream while also making a commitment to extend that dream to others.
Speakers:
Derek Morton, Producer, Deeds Not Words
Robert P. Madison, FAIA, Founder, Robert P. Madison International
INTRODUCTION A professional development panel discussion, organized with student organization GSAPPXX+ and the online publication Madam Architect, on finding the right job after graduation. Panelists will discuss their own career paths and how to balance personal goals with financial need as you start your career.
MODERATOR Julia Gamolina is the Founder and Editor of Madame Architect where she has published to date 50 interviews with women who advance the practice of architecture. She is also currently handling business development at FXCollaborative, focusing on mission-driven institutional projects, is a Co-Chair of the Urban Land Institute's Young Leaders Group, and is a Founding Member of The Wing, a network of community spaces for women. She received her Bachelor of Architecture at Cornell University, graduating with the Charles Goodwin Sands Memorial Medal for exceptional merit in the thesis of architecture for her thesis on headquarters for the Burberry brand. Recent speaking engagements have included presentations at Harvard, Cornell, Yale, and the Pratt Institute.
PANELISTS Danei Cesario, AIA, NCARB, NOMA, is the 333rd black female licensed architect in American history. With over a decade of experience, Danei leverages a depth of construction understanding to deliver projects that balance operational efficiencies, building performance, design team coordination, and fiscal realities. She is currently an Associate at Array Architects and most recently worked on projects for Mount Sinai, NYU Langone Health and New York City Health + Hospitals Corporations. Danei is Chair of AIA New York’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and a contributor to national and international organizations such as the United Nations, the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation, Parlour, Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust and nycobaNOMA Executive Board.
Stella Lee, RA, AIA, CPHC (M.Arch ’05), is a founding principal of Bureau V. She has taught architecture at Columbia University, Syracuse University, and at the University of Kentucky’s College of Design. Stella holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Architecture from Columbia University. Stella is a licensed architect in New York and New Jersey, is a member of the American Institute of Architects, and is a Certified Passive House Consultant.
Sydney Talcott (M.Arch ‘13), is an designer based in Brooklyn, New York. Currently, she works as the Director of 3D Technology & Visualization at CBRE, the world's largest commercial real estate services firm serving owners, investors and occupiers. Prior to CBRE, Sydney was the Director of 3D Art & Production at Floored, Inc., a New York City-based company that creates interactive 3D graphics and technology for the hospitality and commercial, residential, industrial, and retail real estate industries. When CBRE acquired Floored in January 2017, Sydney played a major role in strategizing and facilitating the merging of a small tech startup with a large global company. She is a graduate of Columbia GSAPP's M.Arch Program, where she received the Honor Award for Excellence in Design, Lucille Smyser Lowenfish Memorial Prize, and the William Kinne Fellows Travelling Prize. Previously, Sydney has worked at SHoP Architects, NASA, The Urban Landscape Lab and Cooper Robertson & Partners.
Panelists:
Joseph Provenza, AIA, PE, LEED AP BD+C, Associate - Building Structures, WSP
Jie Zhu, Senior Designer/Architect, HLW International
Danei Cesario AIA, NCARB, NOMA, Associate, Array Architects & AIA New York Diversity & Inclusion Chair
Shay Lam, Studio Design Director, TPG Architecture
We joined forces with Black Gotham to create an experience for a select group on the final day of the A’18 conference, before we all head back to our respective cities.
'Sarah’s Fire' is set in the 18th century of British New York and shares a tale set on the southern tip of the island Manhattan that is home to the wealthy master class, merchants, pirates, sailors, indentures, prostitutes, free and enslaved Black people. This walking tour explains how the enslaved and free people of African descent worked together to subvert the system of slavery and define a culture of rebellion. Central to this story is an enslaved woman named Sarah who risked her life to fight for freedom. The fire that she weaponizes will reflect other rebellions taking place on West Indian sugar plantations and will culminate with the first organized armed Black rebellion New York City in 1712.
Black Gotham Experience (BGX) is teaming up with E4 Youth to produce a special edition of their Nerdy Thursdays event series for SXSW 2019. The theme for March 7th is Public Pedagogy. This evening is themed on the disparate players in the movement to reimagine and redesign the public square into an open, engaging, and inclusive space with an expansive set of historic narratives.
Join us for this exciting event featuring dynamic conversations, drinks, a live performances, music, and technology that celebrates the presence of the Black Diaspora.
6pm | Panel with Kamau Ware (Founder & Lead Creative, Black Gotham Experience) and Danei Cesario (architect)
7pm | Performance of Sugar.Water.Fire. by Berry (Performer and Storyteller, Black Gotham Experience)
8pm | VR Remix with the Digital Docents of E4 Youth + Music by GoodWill (Experience Curator, Black Gotham Experience)
“On #internationalwomensday , I spoke and was exhibited at the United Nations! It was an honor to be among the distinguished Architects whose work is highlighted in the UN Visitor’s Centre. “Triumphs for Freedom and Equality” aims to showcase the achievements of #architects of diasporic descent and empower people to build a more collaborative society.
The United Nations continues its mission to encourage increasingly sustainable international communities by empowering and educating women and disadvantaged groups. With that mission in mind, the UN Global Communications team approached me to deliver opening remarks at the Exhibit Ceremony to an audience including the NGO community, diplomats and United Nations officials.”
AIA New York’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee seeks to foster dialogues about diversity and give agency to issues of inclusion and representation through engagement, education, and empowerment.
While New York is famed for being a diverse city and has the largest number of AIA members nationwide, thus far there has been no consolidated benchmark data for architectural professionals within the NYC metro community. Therefore, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee began the 2017 AIANY Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Member Survey as part of the Next Gen Arch research initiative funded by an AIANY Committee Excellence Grant. The aim of the survey was to quantify the current representation in the chapter, to capture certain perceptions about equity in the profession, and to build on existing local, state, and national efforts.
Some selected findings from the EDI survey were released in conjunction with the Diversity and Inclusion Committee’s involvement in the A’18 Conference on Architecture and later that summer with A Call to Act(ivism); Echoing Whitney Young, 50 Years Later, a Center for Architecture exhibition curated by committee co-chair Danei Cesario. The exhibition linked survey findings to the historic challenge issued by Whitney Young during his keynote speech at the 1968 AIA Conference. Echoing headlines of half a century ago, current events have illuminated the remaining room for improvement in social, racial and economic equity.
These research results will hopefully serve as a genesis for dialogues around necessary cultural shifts in the profession and as a resource for industry members and leaders to set actionable goals in their respective organizations.
Read more and access the report at https://www.aiany.org/membership/special-projects/project/next-gen-arch-equity-diversity-and-inclusion-initiative/
Part of the AIA Conference on Architecture 2018, Architect Live took place in booth #1739 as a way for conference attendees to hear from industry leaders on a variety of topics, hosted by Ned Cramer, editor-in-chief of ARCHITECT Magazine.
The AIANY Diversity and Inclusion Committee’s past co-chair Venesa Alicea and current co-chair Danei Cesario were selected to present their recent initiatives. Both architects/activists presented “A+ Session: Lessons Learned from Whitney Young” and discussed their past, present and future answers to Whitney M Young Jr’s 1968 call to action. In the spirit of Young, this session urged architects to lead their firms toward taking decisive steps that make diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments non-negotiable. To integrate EDI best practices throughout academia, practice and the professional of Architecture, Alicea and Cesario discussed their individual and joint efforts, including forthcoming Next Gen Arch research, Design Justice Summit, and A Call to ACTivism exhibition.
In the spirit of Whitney M. Young Jr., this session urges architects to lead their firms toward taking decisive steps that make diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments non-negotiable.
Speakers:
Venesa Alicea, AIA, NOMA, associate, Dattner Architects, former co-chair AIANY Diversity & Inclusion Committee
Danei Cesario, AIA, NCARB, NOMA, associate, Array Architects, current co-chair of AIANY Diversity & Inclusion Committee
Organized by AIA and ARCHITECT Magazine