Racial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Senior Housing

*This event is occurring as a live webinar. Registrants will be emailed a link to access the program; please continue to register.*

This panel will offer insights into the role race plays 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 or 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 prospective tenants about their unique needs? Is there a “sweet spot” for the number of residents required to create a rich, diverse community in senior housing?

Speakers:
Latisha Millard-Bethea, Director of Human Services, NYC Housing Initiative for SAGE
Jorge Chang, AIA, Partner, Urban Architectural Initiatives (UAI)

Moderator:
Roberta Washington, FAIA, Founding Principal, Roberta Washington Architects

About the speakers:

Latisha Millard-Bethea is the Director of Human Services at NYC Housing Initiative for SAGE. 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.

Jorge Chang is a partner at Urban Architectural Initiatives (UAI). 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.

Roberta Washington 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, Washington has designed supportive housing in New York City. On a personal note relative to this panel, Washington’s mother lives in an assisted living facility in North Carolina.