Policy Pulse: Announcing 2017 Civic Leadership Program Class

AIA New York and the AIANY Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA) are pleased to announce the 2017 class of the Civic Leadership Program (CLP). The ten talented and socially committed young professionals will participate in a year-long training program to help them develop the skills to become civic leaders:

• Michael Caton, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Architect, Ennead Architects
• Jack Dinning, Assoc. AIA, Research Fellow, Healthy Materials Lab, Parsons – The New School
• Christina Hernandez, Assoc. AIA, Architectural Designer, SLCE Architects
• Daniel M. Horn, Assoc. AIA, Co-founder, ORLI+; Designer, Perez Architecture
• A.L. Hu, Assoc. AIA, Teaching Assistant, Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation
• Michaela Metcalfe, AIA, CCM, LEED AP, Director, Design and Construction Excellence, NYC Department of Design and Construction
• Jessica Morris, Assoc. AIA, Architectural Designer, Daniel Park Architects
• Shilpa Patel, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Associate/Design Manager, Laguarda Low Architects
• Jenna Leigh Wandishin, Assoc. AIA, Architectural Designer, Matiz Architecture and Design
• Ayodele Yusuf, Assoc. AIA, Associate, Perkins Eastman

The CLP was inspired by the groundswell of energy and interest in our civic realm following the 2016 election. Members, particularly young practitioners, were eager to get more involved with their government and use their unique set of skills to enact change. CLP is founded on the idea that architects, through their education and professional experience, are distinctly qualified to creatively solve civic problems, as well as to build consensus around these solutions. CLP seeks to foster these skills and apply them to the challenges the leaders identify throughout the program.

Through the program, leaders will learn how to advocate for issues that impact their profession, community, and themselves. The program’s vision is to fuel the next generation of AIA leadership by improving the organization’s culture of advocacy and supporting young voices with new resources and guidance. Engaged young leaders are better equipped to challenge and support policies for the future of the profession.

The CLP will give participants the opportunity to bolster skills to become leaders in our city, state, and nation. The ten selected leaders will run monthly development sessions to facilitate policy discussion, proposal development, and meetings with public leaders, officials, and government representatives. The CLP will culminate with two public events hosted at the Center for Architecture in Fall 2017.

Pulse Points:

• On 07.24.17, the New York Building Congress is hosting their Young Professionals Committee Launch at the Center for Architecture. The industry-wide event for young professionals will include a panel Q&A with leaders, followed by a cocktail reception. Interested guest may resister here.
• Registration is open for the “Hyper-Efficient Building Workshops,” AIANY and Urban Green Council’s in-depth training on the design of hyper-efficient buildings and compliance with Local Law 31/32. The two-day workshops are limited to 25 participants and open to all architects, designers, engineers, and construction trade professionals. The next workshops are being held on  08.29.17-08.30.17 and on 11.07.17-11.08.17 at the Center for Architecture. To learn more and register, continue here.
• Videos from FitCity 2017 are now available for view. Hosted by AIA New York and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the FitCity conference champions the role of Active Design in building strong and sustainable communities. Full videos from the 06.06.17 conference are available here.
• Registration is still open for SpeakUp 2017, AIA’s premier advocacy training event in Denver, CO. Running from 07.19-21.17, SpeakUp will unite you with other engaged AIA members to develop the skills you need to advocate for your profession and your community. Use your passion to advance positive change for the profession! Register for SpeakUp 2017 today.

• On 07.05.17, Mayor de Blasio announced the publication of “Inclusive Design Guidelines, New York City, Second Edition” to increase accessibility for New Yorkers with disabilities. The publication consolidates design guidelines from multiple sources and expands on the minimal requirements to produce multisensory enhanced environments that accommodate a wide range of individuals with physical and cognitive abilities of all ages.

• On 07.05.17, the US Department of Transportation withdrew from the group leading the $24 billion Gateway Program, which aims to double rail capacity between Newark and New York City. Meanwhile, the estimated cost of the planned Hudson River passenger rail tunnel that’s part of the ambitious program, now projected at $13 billion, continues to rise.
• On 07.06.17, the Center for Active Design announced the release of original research findings from the Assembly Civic Engagement Survey, the first study to examine specific community design features that influence civic life, showing that urban design and parks promote trust in local government. To read the full findings, continue here.
• On 07.11.17, Blankspace hosted their “Pitch the City” event as part of the Driverless Future Challenge at the NYU Skirball Center, where four finalist teams pitched their proposals to a panel of prominent New York City official and live audience. The Public Square proposal by FXFOWLE Architects with Sam Schwartz Engineering was proclaimed the winner.