INTERVIEW
THE (CIVIC) TALES OF TWO CITIES FEMALE LEADERSHIP
KATIE KANGAS, AIA AND MARIE MCCAULEY, AIA
Alissa D.Luepke Pier, AIA
Wendy Scatterday, AIA
Alissa is an award-winning architect who is the Vice President and senior-most member of the Minneapolis City Planning Commission. She is the Principal Architect for her own small firm based out of Minneapolis and lives on the city’s northside, where she is a dedicated and vocal advocate for equity both in the architecture realm and beyond. She currently serves on two boards, as well as volunteers for other worthy causes such as fostering animals, funding celiac research, educational advocacy, and supporting homeless youth. In her free time, she co-sponsors a women’s social activism group and is always working on the restoration of her historic home.
Wendy doesn’t spend time tiptoeing around her agenda. “Every architect should be serving their community in some way. Maybe not everyone has the time to afford to hold an elected position, but there are so many opportunities in our communities for folks to be giving their time in a public service form.”
Q1: What is your role in civic service?
Q1: What is your role in civic service?
Alissa D.Luepke Pier, AIA:
Wendy Scatterday, AIA
Vice President, Minneapolis Planning Commission
Wheeling City Council, Ward 4
Minneapolis, MN
Wheeling, W.Va.
Started: Over 10 years ago
Started: July 1, 2016
I have been a part of the Minneapolis Planning Commission (MPC) for over 10 years. We meet four times a month, including two hearings that last anywhere from 10 minutes to four hours. We typically review around eight submissions each month. The MPC is also responsible for the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Before being appointed to the MPC, I was on the Board of Adjustments for the City of Minneapolis and co-Chaired the Urban Design Committee for AIA-Minneapolis..
Q2: What attracted you to this position?
Q2: What attracted you to this position? ALP: Dumb luck. It all started at a Neighborhood Night Out when someone found out I was “in architecture.” I wasn’t licensed yet, but they asked if I would join the Housing Committee. I didn’t have kids yet, so I said sure. They were looking at infilling a lot behind an apartment building. I came to the Housing Committee and asked, “Why don’t we do a charette for it?” I called some friends
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She believes that our architectural college education uniquely prepares us to be problem solvers, group leaders, and solution oriented. And who doesn’t want those qualities in their public service official?
CONNECTION
WS: I was already doing a lot of community service and helping nonprofits in Wheeling. A friend called me up one day and suggested I run for City Council. This wasn’t a goal of mine. I don’t like politics, but I do believe in democracy and that people should vote. City Council is a nonpartisan position, which helped, and I could see it as an opportunity to help my community with my unique set of skills. I wanted to serve so Wheeling can be the best place that it can be. I decided to put myself out there, and I ran as an “architect.” I went door to door to every house in my ward and conducted meet-and-greets. I left them with Post-it notes and had them write down or mail me their ideas and concerns. Like similar Rust Belt towns, such as Pittsburgh and Buffalo, the city of Wheeling was experiencing a lot of transition and redevelopment. We had experienced decades of scarcity due to lack of industries, but it’s a great place to live and raise a family, has an excellent
THE ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN JOURNAL OF THE YOUNG ARCHITECTS FORUM