Brien Graham, AIA

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"In all that he has accomplished already in his young career, Brien\nGraham, AIA, has distinguished himself as a true citizen architect dedicated to\nshaping a more equitable and diverse profession. Graham\u2019s track record is one\nof positive influence, and he remains devoted to working alongside\nunderrepresented students and communities to increase their access to good\ndesign. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Graham grew up in Newark, New Jersey, surrounded by the ills that\naccompanied the height of the war on drugs. Encouraged by his mother, who\nworked two jobs to provide him with opportunities, he embraced academics. In\nseventh grade, he convinced his school\u2019s administration to allow him to take a\nhigher-level architecture history and drafting class. That experience, coupled\nwith Graham\u2019s enduring affection for LEGO, convinced him to become an architect,\nthough he had never previously encountered one. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Today, Graham is a project manager for LPA Design Studios in the\nfirm\u2019s Fort Worth office, where he is a vital liaison with the community who\nensures all voices are heard during the design process. Based on the knowledge\nand experience he has gained as a member of the AIA Leadership Academy, Graham\nhas advanced equity, diversity, and inclusion within the firm, initiating a new\neducation program focused on helping young professionals grow their understanding\nof leadership and the responsibilities associated with management, design, and\ntechnical roles. He also established the firm\u2019s Interdisciplinary Diversity\nScholarship, which supports historically underrepresented students who are\npursuing careers in the profession. Each year through the program, up to five\nhigh school seniors receive $5,000 renewable scholarships."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Graham has brought his engaging leadership to both AIA Dallas and the\nDallas-Fort Worth chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects\n(NOMA), where he currently serves as president. He is a vital connector between\nthe organizations, helping them establish and achieve goals that respond to\npressing issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion. He was instrumental in\nshaping AIA Dallas\u2019 strategic plan in 2021, which established four new core\nvalues. His NOMA leadership resulted in a 153% membership increase, and the\nchapter\u2019s engaged members have established a mentorship and communications\nnetwork. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"A common theme that runs through Graham\u2019s work is the urgent need to\nsupport young talent and serve as a role model for young architects who do not\nsee themselves reflected in the profession. Last year, Graham expanded his\nnetwork as the chair of the Texas Society of Architects\u2019 Equity, Diversity, and\nInclusion Committee. This year, he began serving as the Texas representative to\nthe AIA Strategic Council, where his experiences and talent will shape AIA\u2019s\noutreach to the next generation of minority architects. "]]]]}