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We believe that professional development with a focus on equitable community outcomes is development for responsible practice. The skills and knowledge learned in this program apply to all aspects of the design practice.
Industry leaders and subject matter experts will lead two weekends of workshops with focused affinity group support and field work with local community partners. Over the course of five months we will build a knowledge collectively, engage in experiential learning, and gain experience necessary to ground ourselves in a creative and socially just pathway at any level and stage of your practice.
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Our Goals
By participating in this program, designers will learn best practices for community engagement and equitable design practice and put those lessons into direct action with the support of a local experienced guide. To achieve our objectives we aim to:
Fulfill a more equitable and impactful design practice
Amplify the voices of community leaders
Create a welcoming, brave and inspiring space to grow personally and professionally.
Establish a cohort of design professionals prepared to support community initiatives with an equity lens.
Support professionals to advocate for social justice within their firms
Why We Do This Work
We recognize that our built environment is inherently inequitable and has unfairly impacted under-resourced communities. We acknowledge our role in the systems that have contributed to this imbalance and hold ourselves accountable. We pledge to reduce the harm of oppressive systems by learning our historical context, and leveraging our skills, power and privilege.