Date: Thursday, December 17, 2020, 5:00 – 6:30 PM
Location: Video Conference
Holiday Gathering Theme: “This Is Something You Don’t Know About Me….” 

Breaking News!
Design for Aging will host a virtual panel on Thursday, January 14, 2021, 6:00-7:30 PM, titled Racial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Senior Housing. As part of the AIA’s Call to Action on Anti-Racism, this panel will offer insights into what role race has in senior housing in NYC (and beyond).  Is not-for-profit or qualified-income senior housing more (or less) racially integrated than other housing in a given neighborhood/area? Are there any architectural design factors in senior housing where unconscious racial bias might come into play? What have architects for senior housing learned from the prospective tenants about their unique needs? Is there a “sweet spot” for number of residents that creates a rich, diverse community in senior housing?

There will be two panelists and a moderator.  

  • Panelist Latisha Millard-Bethea, Director of Human Services, NYC Housing Initiative for SAGE. Ms. Millard-Bethea will speak on SAGE’s success in building housing for a racially diverse population of seniors that includes the LGBTQ community that is her organization’s focus.   
  • Panelist Jorge Chang, AIA, Partner at Urban Architectural Initiatives, (UAI). Mr. Chang and his firm have worked closely with non-profit organizations that work to provide housing and supportive resources to seniors in need. He will share his experience around designing housing and community facilities for seniors, and the various forces UAI sees shaping those spaces.
  • Moderator Roberta Washington, FAIA, is the founding principal of Roberta Washington Architects, one of the only architecture firms in the United States led by an African-American woman. Among her many projects, Ms. Washington has designed supportive housing in New York City. On a personal note relative to this panel, Ms. Washington’s mother lives in an assisted living facility in North Carolina.

Save the Date
2021 DFA Dates: January 28, February 25, March 25, April 22, May 27