Advocacy for Change: Empowerment for All

As we look towards our YAF 2023 Priority areas, Advocate for Change is our focus area for this edition. The first step towards change in this area is for architects to fully understand the issues at hand and devise innovative solutions that benefit our clients, communities, and profession. By drawing on our advanced critical thinking abilities and the ability to identify the larger stories at play, we can become valuable advocates for promoting significant policy and systematic changes. This can come to fruition in diverse ways, including engaging with elected officials, participating in state-appointed commissions and committees, sharing knowledge in legislative settings, or even running for public office – as you’ll hear in this quarter’s edition. Each avenue offers architects the chance to make a difference and actively shape the future of our society.

In this issue, you will be inspired by our 2023 AIA Young Architect Award Recipients, listening to their words of wisdom for our readers and future generations. You’ll read updates on international policy with NCARB and how grassroots leaders are creating new pathways for a more equitable path toward licensure through international advocacy and practice.

As we work towards creating safe, beautiful, and sustainable environments that prioritize the health, safety, and welfare of all members of our built environments, advocacy in action showcases the unique opportunity that we have as architects to engage in meaningful conversations about the policies that impact our work every single day. Advocacy is the tool that allows us to turn our visions into reality. To be a part of this larger narrative, we encourage you to delve deep into our stories and become inspired to act. By doing so, you too can contribute to promote policies that create truly equitable and thriving built environments for all.

Editorial committee call

Q3 2023:

Call for submissions on the topic Educational and Professional Development.

Call for submissions on the topic Educational and Professional Development. Our editorial committee welcomes the submission of articles, projects, photography, and other design content. Submitted content is subject to editorial review and selected for publication in e-magazine format based on relevance to the theme of a particular issue.

2023 Editorial Committee:

Call for volunteers, contributing writers, interviewers and design critics.

Connection’s editorial committee is currently seeking architects interested in building their writing portfolio by working with our editorial team to pursue targeted article topics and interviews that will be shared amongst Connection’s largely circulated e-magazine format. Responsibilities include contributing one or more articles per publication cycle (3–4 per year).

If you are interested in building your resume and contributing to Connection please contact the editor in chief at: gbermea@vlkarchitects.com.

Bermea is an Associate and Design Architect at VLK Architects in Austin, Texas and serves as the 2023 Communications Director of the YAF.