Of, By, and For The People: Grassroots Movements and Policy Transformations

AIANY’s Civic Leadership Program was founded with the mission of cultivating deeper civic engagement and responsibility among emerging architectural professionals. Through mentorship and programming, the core mission is to cultivate a culture of advocacy with the intent of sowing lasting benefits for our profession, communities and nation.

Of The People, By The People, For The People will highlight the remarkable efforts of a small group of leaders whose work operates, in a diverse range of means, at the forefront of civic action. Through presentations and a panel discussion, participants will catalyze a robust debate about strategies and tactics for both practicing and fostering engaged citizenship.

Inherent to the problem-solving nature of the discipline of architecture is the ability of an architect to synthesize disparate needs and constraints and develop design solutions that aim to foster an increasingly ideal built environment. Today, as we recognize the opportunities to address chronic and nascent issues in our society’s development, the assertion of architects into what has been considered nontraditional roles of the practice through civic leadership, has proved to be vital in advocating positive change.

With an intense focus on the forefront of civic action in America today, Of The People, By The People, For The People will feature practitioners from across the country whose work broadens our collective understanding of what it means to be a Citizen Architect.

Speakers: 
Esther Yang, Design Director, City of Detroit 
Feniosky Peña-Mora, Professor, Columbia University
Ron Shiffman, Professor, Pratt Institute
Suzanne Nienaber, Partnerships Director, Center for Active Design
Jack Matthews, AIA, Principal, John Matthews Architects

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