Editor’s note

Relationship: A necessity

After a year in a half of a global pandemic, many of us have discovered the value of relationship in both mentorship and engagement. It has become increasingly evident the critical role both play in our individual and societal growth and wellbeing. In this quarter of Connection we take a look at how emerging professionals foster relationships in mentorship, and how they create avenues of community and civic engagement as design professionals. We also take an opportunity to spotlight and celebrate the 2021 Young Architects Award and Associate Award winners.

Mentorship Mentorship is both the stewardship of knowledge and resources coupled with encouragement. Denzel Washington once said, “Show me a successful individual and I’ll show you someone who had real positive influences in his or her life…there was someone cheering you on or showing the way. A mentor.” I believe a successful mentor not only creates an environment for listening, learning, advising, and guidance, but they also develop mentees into becoming strong mentors.

Kate Thuesen speaks about how prioritizing the emerging professional experience can be a key part of workforce development to grow our next generation of leaders. While, Alex Morales reinforces how mentorship can be unexpected, foster diversity of thought, and play a critical role in the design process. Citizen architect and community engagement Young architects reveal how being a citizen architect can be multifaceted. Whether it is a role in local government or working in ether community or civic engagement initiatives, design professionals play diverse roles in advocacy for voices which may not often be the loudest.

Tiara Hughes’s role as a Commissioner showcases how advocacy and research can protect historical landmarks like the childhood home of Emmett Till. Mark Bacon expresses how successful community engagement fosters difficult conversations and builds consensus, and Mark Chambers demonstrates how being a policy leader as senior director for building emissions at the White House Council on Environmental Quality can effect change in local communities.

2021 Young Architect Award and Associate Award winners Each year a new cohort of Young Architect Award and Associate Award winners are celebrated for their accomplishments as emerging professionals within the profession, institute, and/or their community. Through series of spotlights we celebrate and showcase some of the award winners most meaningful accomplishments, personal mission and the value they see in receiving this honor.

Editorial committee call

Q3 2021: Call for submissions on the topic of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Connection’s editorial comittee 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.

2021 Editorial Committee: Call for volunteers, contributing writers, interviewers and design critics. Connection’s editorial comittee 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 cycles (3–4 per year).

If you are interested in building your resume and contributing to Connection please contact the editor in chief at: aia.beresford.pratt@gmail.com