Our colleague Austin recently traveled to Baltimore to attend the annual National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) National Conference. Austin was there in his role as fundraising chair of NOMA NW, to participate in the community building, networking, and roster of workshops and events! The following is the conference experience from his perspective.
Founded in 1971, NOMA’s mission, rooted in a rich legacy of activism, is to empower our local chapters and membership to foster justice and equity in communities of color through outreach, community advocacy, professional development and design excellence. A record 1500+ people attended this year’s conference, which focused on an overarching theme of exchange. Highlights included the connections and re-connections made with other NOMA members at the events, the inspirational speeches of the Keynote speakers and NOMA National Leadership, and the educational seminars and workshops. Another personal highlight included the chance to meet and play cards with Mrs. June Campbell a pioneer of NOMA and the wife of the late Wendell Carter and listen to her experiences around helping the organization get started.
This year’s Barbara G. Laurie Student Design Competition featured a record number of schools participating with 42. The brief focused on a “Highway to Healing”, a transformation of the West Baltimore I-40 Corridor which damaged the urban fabric of Baltimore which has been dubbed the “Highway to Nowhere”. The projects were prompted with a master plan and architectural design for a new multi-modal transit center, including a Transit Hub, Community Engagement Space, Open Space, Multi-family Residential, and Parking, with 4 boards, a video, and a model to be presented. Tulane took first place with their project “Restoring Common Ground”. Other events for students and emerging professionals included the Gensler Design Hackathon, Grad Fair/Expo, the Students vs. Professionals Basketball Game, and other workshops and seminars catering to students and emerging professionals.
The first keynote address “The Cross-Continental Exchange: Bridging Continents and Cultures Through Innovative Design” was given by Nigerian architects Farida Abu-Bakare and Tosin Oshinowo who spoke with moderator Nmadili Okwumabua (Director of CDPI Africa) about insights on the shared experiences of designers from the global majority, the future of African Design, and the potential for cross-continental connections. The closing-night keynote “What’s Left Behind” was given by Derrick Adams, an artist and modern griot, who spoke on his approach to art, which he uses to craft narratives on culture and diverse perspectives. He also highlighted a non-profit that he founded, Charm City Cultural Cultivation, and their efforts for cultural growth in Baltimore’s Inner City - the organization was established in 2022, and the Last Resort Artist Retreat which he established in 2020.
The annual NOMA Conference is a special opportunity to build community among minority architects and architectural professionals, as well as professionals in adjacent fields. People of color and women are historically underrepresented in AEC industries, so opportunities to build community and learn from each other are both rare and extremely valuable. Even non-educational highlights such as the basketball game and crab feast were great opportunities to get to know people within NOMA. I left the conference feeling inspired, with a renewed sense of motivation towards achieving my goals in the architecture profession, as well as volunteering my time towards NOMA NW and NOMA to improve social equity in the profession and through the profession. The conference was also a chance to travel to a new city I had not previously experienced. I look forward to next year’s conference in Kansas City!
If you are interested in getting involved with NOMA in Seattle, NOMA NW still has board positions open and will continue to host exciting events throughout the year, with information accessible at www.nomanw.org. Membership can be obtained at www.noma.net.
Comments