The Architect’s Newspaper just featured an op-ed by Ennead’s Director of Operations, Latoya Kamdang AIA, entitled “Designing a more Inclusive Profession”. The piece, written following the recent Supreme Court decision ending Affirmative Action, calls for a coordinated approach across the architectural profession —from education to practice and licensure— to promote pathways for underrepresented groups and offers suggestions on how to support the next generation of architects. She focuses on the importance of mentorship, on recruitment at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and exploring alternative paths to licensure.
She explains, “Our youngest and our most underrepresented practitioners are facing even more challenges in light of these recent rulings. To support our profession, and to better serve the communities in which we build, we must take action now. Intellectually complex conversations on equity and inclusion must happen in the architecture classroom, in architectural practice, and in the licensure process to design a more socially sustainable and inclusive world.”
Read the full piece here.