Connection
So you want to…design for all Moderator: Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA, NOMA, LSSYB, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, is a medical planner and global director of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion at HKS Inc. To say that she has a passion for ensuring equality in architectural practice would be an understatement. Throughout her career, she has sought out areas of the industry where she felt she would belong; if there were none, she created them: She co-founded the Latin American Interior Designers, Engineers, and Architects (LA. IDEA) DC Committee in 2013 and later created the Women Inspiring Emerging Leaders in Design (WIELD) event program in 2017, just two of her many accomplishments. Panelists: In his role at the helm of Moody Nolan as president and CEO, Jonathan Moody, AIA, NCARB, NOMA, LEED AP, FITWEL, is continuing his father’s legacy in architectural practice and finding his own way to inspire those around him. As a leader in the largest African American-owned firm, he has dedicated himself to making a positive impact in the community through mentorship. He hopes the younger generation will see that there is a spot for them at the table. Jennifer Park, AIA, is a principal at Brininstool + Lynch and an educator at the Illinois Institute of Technology. She sits on the Board of Directors of AIA Chicago and is the co-chair of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. As an educator, she is inspired by the enthusiasm and openness of architectural students and creates a learning environment that will nurture a sense of belonging from the very beginning of their education. Christine Williams, AIA, is an architect at Formative Architecture and an educator at the University of New Mexico’s School of Architecture. Her experience in the design and construction of architectural projects explores equity in living, providing important basic human needs in a way that elevates an occupant’s sense of belonging. Additionally, Williams’s altruistic time is dedicated to Women in Design: New Mexico as a board member and PR chair. Build a village There’s hardly a worse feeling than when you don’t belong, believing you are an outsider to a tight-knit group. Teen novels and movies have famously tapped into this feeling because of the visceral reaction it can draw out of consumers. When we discuss justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, it is exactly this feeling that we want to remove from the practice of architecture.
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Above: Designing for Belonging Webinar Panelists Image Courtesy of Trevor Boyle
How do we encourage students with varied backgrounds and identities to take interest in the profession? How do we design buildings that support marginalized groups? How do we reach out to communities that are historically underserved? This topic was discussed on Aug. 13 when the YAF Advocacy Work Group (consisting of Monica Blasko, Kaitlyn Badlato, Jonathan Jackson, Anastasia Markiw, and Trevor Boyle) hosted the second webinar in a tripartite series dedicated to tackling issues of equity in architectural practice. The end product was an entrancing 90-minute journey through tales of successfully executed projects but also of the panelists’ personal and professional experiences. This webinar was an opportunity to hear from diverse panelists who each had unique approaches for fostering belonging. Rivera started by describing her personal experiences and mission as the HKS J.E.D.I. director. Her trek through the profession led her to the realization that if you do not find someplace you belong, you have to take charge and create it. She referred to the process as building a village: a support group or community to learn and grow within. Creating an empathetic space includes asking herself how she shows up to the table as her authentic self: presenting herself authentically so that others will be comfortable to do so.
