AIA Tennessee is currently accepting contributions from individuals, firms and companies working with the architecture profession to support the EP Minority Licensure Scholarships. Contributions will go toward scholarships to assist minority EPs in Tennessee pay for expenses incurred for licensure. Applicants must be pursuing architecture licensure in the state of Tennessee. The scholarship amount will be up to $2,000 and may be used on any licensure expense.
Creation of this program is an outcome of the Collective Declaration to Acknowledge, Listen, Learn, Act. AIA TN’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (JE+DI) committee created this program as one step to decrease the barrier to entry for young, minority members.
A donation of any amount is recommended and appreciated.
Excerpts from ARCHITECT magazine from May 2019 | “Increasing Diversity in Architecture: Barriers to Entry“
Although the demographics have become more diverse in the last decade, says Tania Salgado, FAIA, former chair of the AIA Diversity and Inclusion Council and co-founder and principal of Denver-based Handprint Architecture, “much work remains to be done.”
The underrepresentation of many ethnic groups translates not only to inequities within the profession, but also to missed opportunities in business. Time after time, research has shown us that a diverse workforce increases creativity, productivity, debate, and problem-solving among companies. Furthermore, building owners (clients) are mirroring the general population (end users). “[Clients] want to make sure that the design team they hire can understand the needs and perspectives of the users of the building,” notes Erin McConahey, a Los Angeles–based principal and regional diversity advocate for the 14,000-person international firm Arup.