#EQxD2020 SERIES – Practice, Process and Paradigms for the J.E.D.I.
Session 4: J.E.D.I. + Practice

Architecture as a Professional Practice is a largely white, male, straight, cis-gendered profession, with roots that stem from the policies and practices within the educational pipeline and professional workplace. As such it is difficult to claim that the field is able to truly serve end-users who represent the intersection of identities and demographics of our country - especially those who have been historically marginalized. Recently, as we have witnessed a seeming awakening of much of white America to a truer history and narrative of the experience of black identities and BIPOC communities, it has become abundantly clear that privilege blinds one to the lived experience of those with less of it.

Architecture is a political act. Without a true representation of the populations we serve, the profession cannot fulfill its mission to design and advocate for the health, safety, and welfare of our society’s intersectional demographic.

• How do we create a truly just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive (JEDI) profession that attracts, welcomes, and supports talented designers of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexualities?

• How can we identify and promote pathways for education and learning about the profession, much earlier? How do we improve the pipeline to bring more young people of color to architecture, and how do we mentor and champion them once they have arrived?

• How do we ensure equal pay for women in architecture, implement leadership advancement, and create inclusive workplaces that allow all professionals, regardless of their sexuality or gender expression, to feel valued?

This session will provide an introduction to these questions and explore strategies and solutions for creating a JEDI workplace.