Anti-Racist Hot Dog: Creating Inclusive Workspaces

As architects, we must push ourselves to create socially-responsible and ethical designs. However, before we can achieve this, we must first address the biases and patterns of discrimination that exist within our own workplaces.

Join us for an enlightening event where our esteemed speaker, Wandile Mthiyane, an architect and Obama Foundation scholar with experience in the US and South Africa, will introduce architects to practical tools and strategies for promoting inclusion in decision-making, design, and hiring processes. One such powerful tool are the Anti-Racist Hot Dog Cards, a unique initiative that revolutionizes how we approach equity and inclusion in the workplace through humor, food, and meaningful conversations. During this event, Mthiyane will share insights from Ubuntu Design Group and the Anti-Racist Hot Dog initiative, two platforms dedicated to tackling racism in design and fostering equitable workplaces through open dialogue. Whether you’re an architect, designer, or simply passionate about diversity and inclusion, join us to learn from and network with like-minded professionals who are committed to making the architectural community more inclusive and equitable. The event will feature house music, open discussions, and, of course, hot dogs. Together, let’s construct an anti-racist culture within architecture!

Watch a video of the inaugural event in Chicago.

Speakers:
Stephen Erich, Spiritual Life Advisor, Columbia; Spiritual Life Advisor, NYU
Wandile Mthiyane, CEO, Ubuntu Design Group; CEO, Anti-Racist Hot Dog; CEO, Ubuntu Architecture Summer Abroad Design Justice School

About the Speakers:
Stephen Erich is a chaplain and DEI consultant based in New York City. In his role as a chaplain, he serves as a religious life advisor at Columbia University and NYU. At NYU, he has co-chaired and continues to serve on a committee for antiracism as a spiritual practice. In 2021, he co-founded the DEI consultancy Anti-Racist Hot Dog alongside Obama Leader Wandile Mthiyane. Anti-Racist Hot Dog approaches DEI by transforming organizational culture and facilitating meaningful dialogue on race. Erich graduated from Yale Divinity School, where he hosted an interfaith conference on mass incarceration and edited the Yale Journal of International Affairs. Prior to Yale, Erich taught economics and accounting as an adjunct instructor at Andrews University. He holds a Master of Arts in Religion from Yale and a Master of Business Administration from Andrews University.

Wandile Mthiyane is a dynamic speaker, political analyst, adjunct professor, and architect with a master’s degree from Andrews University in Michigan. He has gained recognition as an Obama Leader, One Young World Ambassador, Resolution Fellow, and TEDx Fellow for his significant contributions to social change. With a deep understanding of global contexts and first-hand experience of inequality growing up during apartheid in South Africa, Mthiyane brings an international perspective to workplace inclusion. His educational journey through Zimbabwe and the United States, along with extensive work experience in both countries, has shaped his unique insights. As the CEO of three organizations, Mthiyane is dedicated to fostering inclusive environments and dismantling barriers through design justice. Leading the Ubuntu Design Group, the Anti-Racist Hot Dog initiative, and the Ubuntu Architecture Summer Abroad Design Justice School, he combines his multifaceted expertise to drive positive impact. Mthiyane’s passion for creating equitable spaces and his commitment to advocating for workplace inclusion and equity in architecture and beyond make him a compelling figure in the field.

COVID-19 vaccinations and face masks are strongly encouraged for all visitors. Read our full Health and Safety Protocol here.