Transcending the Woke Wave: Creating Long-Term Change at Architectural Firms

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

Following the protests across the country and the world ignited by the murder of George Floyd and countless other Black lives at the hands of the police, as well as a global pandemic that continues to disproportionately impact Black and brown communities, came the “woke wave.” Eyes opened to the ongoing devastation caused by white supremacy, systemic racism, and other forms of oppression, none of it new, all of it centuries old and baked into the very foundation of this country.

Companies that had previously remained silent issued somber and earnest statements declaring that Black Lives Matter and pledging their commitment to antiracism. Even firms that had long been doing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and antiracism work looked at how they could accelerate their efforts.

Now what?

How can architecture firms transcend the “woke wave” and co-create real and lasting change for staff, collaborators, clients, communities, and the profession? Join speakers of Co-Creating Inclusion for an interactive discussion to guide and support DEI and antiracist advocates who are committed to creating meaningful and substantive change in their firms.

There are no easy answers, and we don’t have the inside track on the right way to do things—we don’t believe any of us do. But what we can do is share best practices and recommendations based on personal and professional lived experiences as women of color, and through Co-Creating Inclusion’s ongoing DEI work with companies and organizations.

This session is for you if:

• You are interested in learning more about DEI as a critical tool and lens to integrate into the practice of architecture
• You are committed to change at your firm but aren’t sure where to start or what to do next
• You have been able to drive some progress at your firm, but are exhausted from what often feels like screaming into the wind
• You want to know how to turn your good intentions into tangible actions and results

This talk is an introduction to a two-part workshop series, “Transcending the Woke Wave: Firm Change Workshop” (February 25, 2021 and March 11, 2021). Members of the profession in any role, at any level, and in any size or type of architecture firm are welcome.

Speakers:
Alethea Cheng Fitzpatrick, AIA, Principal and Founder, Co-Creating Inclusion
Pierette Imbriano, Director of Client Services, Co-Creating Inclusion

About the Speakers:
Alethea Cheng Fitzpatrick, AIA, is Principal and Founder of Co-Creating Inclusion, a diversity, equity, and inclusion firm with a focus on shifting culture and driving equity through strategic consulting, leadership and team development, workshop facilitation, and business integration. Her mission is to help people, teams, and organizations create cultural transformation through inclusion and belonging in order to co-create the conditions where all can thrive and do their best and most fulfilling work. Fitzpatrick is in her element when she has the opportunity to impact all aspects of an organization through an integrated approach that leverages her ability to deal with ambiguity while driving the work forward. She holds a Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University and is an MBTI Certified Practitioner and certified leadership coach. Fitzpatrick started her career as an architect with a B. Arch from Pratt Institute. She spent almost 20 years managing workplace strategy and corporate headquarters projects for major global brands for firms such as STUDIOS Architecture, Skonick Architecture, and Gensler. Born and brought up in the UK, Alethea lives in Brooklyn with her husband and her 9- and 11-year-old boys.

Pierette Imbriano, Director of Client Partnerships, works in close collaboration with clients from the first inquiry submitted through to the last report provided by CC to support the development and actualization of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion understanding and practices in alignment with an organizations’s mission, vision, and strategic plan. Imbriano’s focus is on helping organizations realize their full potential while working together to design, deliver, and implement realistic and tangible tools to enhance DEI competencies at all levels to ensure success and sustainability. She works with organizations to create strong teams and facilitates workshops to boost morale and productivity. Having produced broadcast news programs, worked in executive analytical positions for socially responsible institutional investing, and served as the director of marketing departments and strategic development for large human service nonprofits, Imbriano has a deep understanding of the critical role DEI plays in the accomplishments of every industry. She studied Conflict Management and African Studies at Bryn Mawr College, Anthropology at Spelman College, and Public Administration and Organizational Planning at Villanova University and has an Ethnobotany Fellowship, which is the study of environment and cultures, from the University of Alaska.

See full bios here.