Our Commitment

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[["strong"],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.aia-mn.org\/broken\/","target","_blank"]],["em"],["a",["href","https:\/\/noma.net\/nomas-public-statement-regarding-racial-injustice-2020-may-31\/","target","_blank"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.aia.org\/pages\/6301167-aia-board-statement-on-systemic-racial-inj","target","_blank"]]],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\n"],[0,[0],1,"Our Commitment"],[0,[],0,"\n"]]],[1,"p",[]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\nSometimes\n a crisis acts as an aperture to focus society. The events of the last \nweek have, for the time being, narrowed our nation\u2019s collective vision. \nAn important moment in time where we all must reflect on how all are \nrepresented and treated and what opportunities are afforded for every \ncitizen.\n"]]],[1,"p",[]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\n\n"],[0,[0],1,"The\n senseless killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and \nthe many other black citizens throughout the years must be condemned by \nall Americans."],[0,[],0,"\n It must mobilize everyone to confront the systemic racism and \ninequalities that exist in American society. Every American must gaze \ninward and ask themselves the hard questions. To wit, we must as a \ndesign community take a critical look at our organizational, firm, and \nindividual commitments to inclusion, equity, outreach, and diversity. "]]],[1,"p",[]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\n\n \n\nThis\n year finds AIA North Carolina at a triennial weigh stop, a rewriting of\n the chapter\u2019s strategic plan. Like most AIA components our previous \nplans have given lip service to the platitudes we hear about equity and \ndiversity, but at a time like now can we honestly say we have given our \nfull measure of effort toward achieving those goals? "],[0,[0],1,"We commit to asking these questions and focusing our energies and ACTION toward these goals."],[0,[],0,"\n"]]],[1,"p",[]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\n \n\nIt\u2019s\n not simply about immediate action. In fact our colleagues at the center\n of this conflagration in Minnesota probably said it best in their "],[0,[1],1,"statement this week"],[0,[],0,", \n\n\n"]]],[1,"p",[]],[1,"p",[[0,[2],1,"\u201cInstead\n of architects assuming we know what is right and jumping in to assert \nour experience, expertise and good intentions, we need to step back, \nlisten and be ready to learn, unlearn, and adapt.\u201d"],[0,[],0,"\n"]]],[1,"p",[]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\n"],[0,[0],1,"In\n this spirit, the leaders of AIA North Carolina will be outlining a \npledge for the coming year. One in which we invite a broad spectrum of \nour members, future members and design community partners to take part \nin so that we put ourselves and our Chapter on a clear path to \nmeasurable results."],[0,[],0,"\n"]]],[1,"p",[]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\nKimberly\n Dowdell, AIA, NOMA, 2020 President of the National Organization of \nMinority Architects, beautifully summed up the challenge in front of us \nin her "],[0,[3],1,"recently released statement"],[0,[],0,", "]]],[1,"p",[]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\n\n\n"],[0,[2],1,"\u201cWe\n must all leverage our positions of privilege to help our most \nvulnerable citizens, neighbors and colleagues strive for life, liberty \nand the pursuit of happiness. I urge you to consider what\u2019s happening \nright now as an American problem that we must all face together.\u201d"],[0,[],0,"\n"]]],[1,"p",[]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\n\n"],[0,[0],1,"Our strategic planning process must embrace this challenge and include those in minority and oppressed communities"],[0,[],0," who can design a more inclusive and equitable destiny for our profession in North Carolina.\n"]]],[1,"p",[]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\n \nThe honorable North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley wrote, \n\n"]]],[1,"p",[]],[1,"p",[[0,[2],1,"\u201cThe\n recent deaths have once again shed light on the truth that injustice \nand discrimination still exist. And the protests that have followed have\n shown us just as brightly that we can come together in expressions of \nsolidarity and grief. My hopeful prayer is that we continue to learn and\n grow together and that we have the courage to make change where change \nis so desperately needed.\u201d "]]],[1,"p",[]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\n\nWe concur with Justice Beasley and challenge our design community to do the same. \n \n\nJustice Beasley went on to conclude her remarks by saying,"],[0,[0],1," "]]],[1,"p",[]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\n\n\n"],[0,[2,0],2,"\u201cThe work of improving justice is never truly done. Justice is not an achievement. It is a practice.\u201d "]]],[1,"p",[]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\n\n"],[0,[0],1,"As it is in our courts, so too is it in architecture."],[0,[],0,"\n"]]],[1,"p",[]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\nAs\n we challenge and commit ourselves as a Chapter to clarify our plan to \ntake ACTION regarding our commitment to inclusion, equity, outreach and \ndiversity we are also called to challenge and make a change in our \norganizations, our firms, and as individuals. Now is the time."]]],[1,"p",[]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\n"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\nFrom AIA North Carolina Officers:\n"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\nRod Lindsey, AIA, President\n"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Laura Miller, AIA, President-Elect\n"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Matt Hart, AIA, Treasurer\n"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"John Paquin, AIA, Secretary\n"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Jim Williams, AIA, Immediate Past President\n"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"David Crawford, Hon. AIA, Executive Vice President\n"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\n\nAlso, see the AIA Board\u0027s "],[0,[4],1,"statement on systemic racial injustice here"],[0,[],0,".\n\n"]]]]}