Issuu

March 2021

J.E.D.I. ‘Black in Design’ Mentorship Pilot Program Announced Boston – Perkins&Will and the Harvard Graduate School of Design (Harvard GSD) announced the launch of the Black in Design Mentorship Program pilot, an initiative that aims to promote greater representation of Black talent in the design industry. Originally conceived by students and Perkins&Will professionals at the 2019 Black in Design Conference, the mentorship program will fill a critical educational and career gap in the design profession by fostering meaningful and lasting relationships starting as early as high school. The program forms three-person teams composed of one Perkins&Will professional, one Harvard GSD student, and one high school student. This arrangement enables Harvard GSD students to learn from Perkins&Will professionals and, simultaneously, hone their mentorship skills with their matched high school student. All participants will complete a 10-week curriculum with discussion topics ranging from design thinking to networking to Black design legacy. Seven individuals from each group – 21 participants in total – will complete the program over the course of the year. To form the inaugural cohort of high school mentees, program organizers extended invitations to select Boston-area schools. Student volunteers from the Harvard GSD African American Student Union (AASU) and AfricaGSD comprise the

graduate school leg of the program, and volunteers from Perkins&Will’s Boston studio make up the third leg. Once the pilot concludes, organizers will integrate feedback from all participants, refine the program structure and content as needed, and expand outreach through a broadened application process. Participation will be offered on an annual basis in the future. “We have been intentional in develop-

ULI Appoints Huntley Washington – The Urban Land Institute (ULI) announced that Sonia Huntley has been appointed as the institute’s senior vice president for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Huntley, who was formerly ULI’s vice president for global customer service, will report directly to President Gwyneth Jones Coté. She will be responsible for heightening ULI’s overall focus on DEI, including significantly increasing the representation of under-represented groups within its membership, staff, and leadership, and helping tackle structural systemic racism within the real estate industry. Huntley was a co-leader of ULI’s DEI initiative, and served on its member/staff DEI council. “Sonia is a proven leader, both at ULI and in the DEI space,” said Coté. “The DEI position is incredibly important, not just for the institute but for the real estate sector and communities across the United States.” The calls for racial justice throughout

HP’s new J.E.D.I. section is designed to highlight the people, companies and organizations that are implementing principles to further justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in their workplaces and communities.

ing this program to lay a solid foundation for future relationships to flourish,” says Laura Snowdon, dean of students and assistant dean for enrollment services at Harvard GSD. “We have paid careful attention to the development of the curriculum, and we look forward to incorporating thoughtful feedback from our pilot group to inform the future program.” “Design firms have a responsibility to be champions of justice, equity, diversity,

and inclusion in the profession,” says Brooke Trivas, a Harvard GSD graduate and principal at Perkins&Will. Trivas serves on the firm’s diversity council and has been a part of the mentorship initiative since its inception. “Our vision for this program is to empower both high school and graduate students to understand what is possible, pursue their interests, and develop their strengths.”

The students and professionals responsible for developing the Black in Design Mentorship Program include: EXECUTIVE BOARD: • Brooke Trivas, principal, Perkins&Will • Rania Karamallah, designer, Perkins&Will • Laura Snowdon, dean of students; assistant dean for enrollment services,Harvard GSD • Sebastian Schmidt Dalzon, administrative director, initiatives and academic projects, Harvard GSD • Megan Panzano, program director, undergraduate architecture studies, assistant professor of architecture, Harvard GSD ORGANIZING TEAM: Sonia Huntley

the summer of 2020 accelerated ULI’s resolve to promote DEI as a fundamental force for creating thriving communities worldwide, and the institute has taken a number of steps to increase awareness of and dismantle systemic biases in the real estate industry.

• Kelly Teixeira Wisnaskas, assistant director of student support and services, Harvard GSD • Kim Wong, HR manager, Perkins&Will • Rachael Dumas, research knowledge manager, Perkins&Will • Caleb Negash, student, Harvard GSD (AASU) • Whytne Stevens, student, Harvard GSD (AfricaGSD)