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Citizen Architect: Giving Back in a Civic Capacity
By: Orlando T. Maione, FAIA, Owner, Maione Associates
Architects are adept at participating and giving back to the profession. But when it comes to giving back to our communities as “Citizen Architects,” our participation seems to wane.
WHAT IS A CITIZEN ARCHITECT?
The term “Citizen Architect” is a title informally bestowed on AIA members, given with great pride and representative of a call to action for Architects to take greater role in the civic advocacy of their communities. As defined in 2008 by the AIA National Board of Directors (https://www.aia.org/ resources/194196-citizen-architect-handbook), the Citizen Architect: • uses his/her insights, talents, training, and experience to contribute meaningfully, beyond self, to the improvement of the community and human condition; • stays informed on local, state, and federal issues, and makes time for service to the community; • advocates for higher living standards, the creation of a sustainable environment, quality of life, and the greater good; and • seeks to advocate for the broader purposes of architecture through civic activism, by gaining appointment to boards and commissions, and through elective office at all levels of government. The program “Citizen Architect: Giving Back in a Civic Capacity” was part of the 2021 Tri-State Conference, held back in early December. The program demonstrated, by example, how volunteering as “Citizen Architects” provides an opportunity to become public educators by default. By serving, Citizen Architects are provided with the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in and understand one’s community. You are offered the opportunity to see “the movers and shakers” as they operate and control the municipality, and because of your direct volunteer appointment, selection or election, you become a part of that team. A well-attended and well received program, I served as the moderator of an interactive question and answer session with four panelists—Brian Kulpa, AIA, Supervisor for the Town of Amherst in New York; Senator Timothy Kearney, State Senator for the State of Pennsylvania; Susan Bristol, AIA, Principal at SPB Architecture LLC; and David J. Pacheco, AIA, Director of Operations, Vice President & Partner at H2M architects + engineers. The program demonstrated how to bring much-needed technical, political perspective to the organizations that lead their communities; how to engage local stakeholders in decision-making by advocating for underrepresented groups; how to participate and influence local politics without being an elected official; and how to utilize every aspect of civic service to educate the public and their individual communities on what “architecture” is all about and what architects do in their professional lives.
The panelists each presented their current and former volunteer services, and the combined group presented a varied and wide distribution of civic service. One would expect the usual service on municipal Planning and Architectural Review Boards, but the most effective services were on those committees, commissions and boards having little to no direct connection with our profession. Within those groups, the panelist was the only architect. Being the only architect on those committees presented a unique opportunity for the participants to utilize the full spectrum of their education and expertise. Conflict of interest laws prevent volunteers from financially benefiting from their service by obtaining contracts and projects for the organization they are serving, but all the panelists confirmed that they or their firms benefited from public exposure that could never be purchased as advertisement and that ultimately resulted in obtaining clients and projects they otherwise would not have had an opportunity to secure.
Susan P. Bristol with Co-Founder of Citizens for Responsible Growth and ‘Community Collage’ arts exhibit donating materials to our local library. Susan P. Bristol is now an Elected Local Official in Rocky Hill, NJ serving as a Councilwoman.
WHAT VALUE DOES THE CITIZEN ARCHITECT BRING TO THE TABLE?
The architects serving their communities brought with them their ability to solve problems; seeking out details and to see the bigger picture. They also brought forward their organizational abilities, and their “thinking out of the box” mentality. All, regardless of age, had experience in running meetings, taking notes, preparing and understanding budgets, and confidence to speak out. Regardless of the organization, their volunteer service offered an opportunity to educate the public on what an architect does and the value they bring to the table. Serving on non-architectural related boards or commissions help to dispel the perceived notion that “architects only work for the wealthy.” As participants and volunteers, architects are in positions to educate and positively affect change. While giving back to your community is the primary benefit of being a Citizen Architect, a secondary benefit is that you become a “mover and shaker.” All the panelists, for assorted reasons, found themselves presenting and speaking to the public, in front of governing community elected officials or in the press as a result of a dedication, accomplishment, or social function.
HOW MUCH TIME DO I NEED TO DEDICATE AS A CITIZEN ARCHITECT?
In response to a program attendee question on “how much time is involved,” the panelists were unified with their response. You, as the volunteer, control the time and commitment for the role. Other than the commitment to attend scheduled meetings, any further time commitment depends on how involved you want to be, how many internal committees you see as needing your help and expertise, and of course how many elected executive positions you are willing to serve. There was a word of caution from panelists who eventually became elected political members of their communities, usually because they saw another need, or the community saw talents that could accomplish more or affect change. The elected officials all agreed the time commitment is greater and if it weren’t for their business or life partners taking over the business workload, their architectural practices would have suffered. As one stated, “there is no such thing as a part-time political elected position.”
HOW DO I FIND OUT ABOUT ORGANIZATIONS THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM A CITIZEN ARCHITECT?
In answer to another question on “how do you find the organizations in your community that need you” the answers were unified. Only you, who lives within a specific community, can know that. You are the one who sees how and where you can help. Some organizations publicize “vacancies” but typically when becoming a member of an organization, you receive newsletters and publications that are great sources of information on where assistance is needed. A follow up answer also pointed out that most citizen architects start in organizations they have an interest in, reflects a hobby of theirs, one they would like to see improve or make changes to, all eventually leading someone to becoming an active member of the group as a Citizen Architect. l
A Past President of AIA New York State in 2008, Orlando has served on numerous state level AIA committees, juries and was elected to offices at the chapter and state levels. He served on the AIA National board from 2001 through 2004. As a Citizen Architect, he currently serves on a Library Board of Trustees, is a member of a Historical Society; and is an appointed member of a Diocese Facilities and Real Estate Committee.
