-
June 14, 2018A Call to Act(ivism): Echoing Whitney Young, 50 Years Later
Civil rights activist Whitney M. Young, Jr’s critical keynote address at the 1968 AIA Convention in Portland, Oregon challenged architects to address issues of diversity and social responsibility in the profession. Young called out architects for their “thunderous silence” in the face of entrenched inequalities across American cities. 50 years following the speech, the profession still has a long way to go. This exhibition, open from July 10 – September 15 and organized by the AIANY Diversity and Inclusion Committee, will assess the current state of our profession against the historic backdrop of Young’s speech, exploring current data and presenting calls to activism by industry leaders.
Diversity and Inclusion
AIA New York’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee seeks to provoke a dialogue about diversity issues and give agency to issues of inclusion and representation. The profession is undergoing changes and faces enormous challenges with regards to climate change, energy consumption, and health needs. The practice's shifting cultural landscape requires all of us to diversify. In 2008, the AIA National Board recognized that a key strategic initiative required the enlistment of “new talents and new insights to address the critical issues of our time and future generations. The outcome will be a strengthened, more highly valued, and esteemed profession capable of reaching into constituencies previously underserved.” The local committee’s role works to match that of the Diversity & Inclusion Council at the National level. At the local level, we need to turn toward action items and ideas that articulate and promote diversity.