The Women in Architecture (WIA) Committee is proud of yet another successful year of J.E.D.I. IRL (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion In Real Life) programming. In 2020, the WIA and BBB (Beyer Blinder Belle) collaborated on the WIA Lecture Series on Diversity and Inclusion. As a follow up in 2021, these informal, off-the-record discussions explored how firms are tackling J.E.D.I. initiatives and were meant to be an open forum for people to exchange ideas. This year, J.E.D.I. IRL went coast-to-coast as WIA collaborated with AIA Seattle’s JE:DI Council to host a series of quarterly events. 

The fourth and final session of 2023 was held on November 8. Participants called in from Virginia, Washington (DC), Washington (state), Texas, and California to reflect and find fellowship. The session kicked off by checking in with panelists of the September 2022 event “JE:DI Won’t Save You, But Action Will,” a joint conversation with AIA Seattle’s JE:DI Council, AIA Oregon, NOMA PDX and NOMA NW. All participants then broke out into smaller discussion groups to honestly consider the JE:DI work of the last few years for themselves and their firms. The (too short) hour concluded with participants acknowledging the sometimes exhausting nature of this work but committing to continuing the journey. Previous 2023 IRL sessions included discussions centering on Design as Protest’s Anti-Racist Design Justice Index, licensure and leadership, and professional development. 

WIA looks forward to continuing this collaborative series with AIA Seattle next year, hoping to expand the program to include other AIA chapters and components across the country. Please stay tuned! If you are interested in joining us at future IRL planning sessions or our WIA group meetings, please reach out to [email protected]. 

– Caroline VanAcker, AIA