AIA National Convention - Minority Engagement - Advisory Group

AIA National Convention - Minority Engagement - Advisory Group				Jay Lee AIA
To Black Architects Forum members and others, I am writing you to ask for your assistance in developing the planning for the AIA National Convention that will be held in Boston in May of 2008. It may seem like a long way from now but the planning of tours, seminars and special events is moving at a quick pace. This brings me to the reason I am emailing you today. I am looking to form an advisory committee whose mission will be to develop a strategy for increasing minority engagement during the AIA National Convention in 2008. As The National AIA President is Marshall Purnell FAIA, a black architect. This is the first time the AIA has had a black president. And given our own Massachusetts first, Governor Deval Patrick, it is special opportunity to show off how the city has changed in the last 10 to 15 years. The BSA, Boston Society of Architects, is organizing much of the efforts leading up to the Convention. The goal of the advisory group is to ensure that the perspective of minority groups is prominent in the planning process. I am writing today to ask for your participation in this planning process. Therefore I ask you to review my draft memo (see below) that lays out the mission vision goals and agenda for an Advisory Group meeting. And finally ask for your participation in the group. I hope you will consider joining me for the two meetings I will be planning. Due to the fact that deadlines for AIA proposals for seminars and the BSA's tours have closed or are about to close, the first meeting is planned for this Friday from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Therefore, if you are able to attend this Friday please let me know (eelaj@aol.com ). Thank you Jay Lee AIA, NOMA Black Architects Forum Chair BSA Board Member AIA NATIONAL CONVENTION 2008 IN BOSOTN ADVISORY GROUP – Minority Engagement Draft Memo Overview The American Institute of Architects National Convention will be held in Boston in May of 2008. The National AIA President is Marshall Purnell, a black architect. This is the first time the AIA has had a black president. And given our own Massachusetts first, Governor Deval Patrick, it is special opportunity to show off how the city has changed in the last 10 to 15 years. The BSA, Boston Society of Architects, is organizing much of the efforts leading up to the Convention; however, I have been concerned that the perspective of minority groups might be overlooked in the planning without putting particular efforts toward this goal. Because the event is only 9 months away, the tour, events and seminar schedule is rapidly closing. More about Marshall Purnell http://www.aia.org/press2_template.cfm?pagename=release_061506_purnell_president Convention Theme “We the people” Visit www.architects.org/2008 for more information on "We the People" AIA's 2008 convention in Boston next year. Mission Develop strategy for increasing minority engagement during the AIA National Convention in 2008 Vision 10-15 years there have been great strives forward in the city. It is more diverse than ever before. And areas of the city that were devastated by urban renewal and disinvestment have begun to prosper as new housing and new commercial establishment begin to fill the empty lots of the city. The AIA Convention presents an opportunity to showcase the “new” minority majority city Boston has become today. Looking back at the era of busing, the city is vastly different. Over the last 10 to 15 years there have been great strives forward that pose a different view of Boston to many that will come to the convention for those who have been here in the past and first time visitors alike. These successes and transformations have been very gradual to us as residents of the city but the Convention gives us a moment to step back and savor the accomplishments we have made. And look forward to what might be next on the horizon in the future. The substance of architecture is in the conditions that create it. The policies, social issues, needs and demands of the public are what set the stage for the brick and mortar building to designed and built. These conditions posed as questioning seminars would be a way to engage minority professional engaged in the pre-conditions for architect to enter into the brick and mortar discussion of the AIA Convention. Roles The Advisory Group’s role is to be translators. And coordinate the language of these conditions discussions with the brick and mortar discussion at the AIA Goals Identify people who can engage others in our targeted areas in external and internal programming for the AIA Convention. Tap into obvious ethnic, professional and business networks for participation. Define a message for these people we identify to engage others. Is the message marketing opportunity based? Presenting a new face of Boston to outsiders coming in? The message should motivate those not typically thinking about architecture to present proposals for workshops and seminars. Create Action plan (3 steps) Meeting Agenda 5 mins. Introductions - brief Present facilitator - lead discussion 10 mins. State purpose and goals for the meeting 20 mins. Open discussion and questions about goals. 40 mins. Discuss what the message could be? 10 mins. Identify key individuals to connect within our networks 10 mins. Define tasks and date for one follow up meeting. End Meeting Desired Outcomes - Ask interested groups or individuals for a placeholder for panel discussions and tours by September 1st. Describe Boston's current environment. How would you describe Boston's current environment? And how does it relate to what it has been like in the past? Are there new directions we should be thinking about? What direction do we see for Boston as a community? Does this set the stage for new establishments, businesses, etc. that do not currently exist. The architecture that results from engaging these questions will be the food for though later. But what is important is to set the conditions and spell out the ideal conditions we as a minority now Majority community wish to shape. The Advisory Group is meant to discuss these questions and suggest seminars for the Convention around several of the topics discussed during two meetings. The task of the Group will not be to do the work of the seminars but to identify the people who should be involved in the discussion and get them engaged in making a presentation as a part of a panel discussion, next year. Right now we only need an outline (a paragraph and a list of the people who potentially will be on the panel) Tentative date July 27, 2007 5:30 to 7:30pm Location TBD Food and beverages will be provided during the meeting..