Behind the Vision: Advocacy in Action

Welcome back to Behind the Vision, a 2025 communication series to provide our AIA Seattle community with information about activities that steward our mission, vision, and values forward. This edition: Advocacy in Action.

AIA Seattle engages in advocacy in support of our vision for equitable, resilient, thriving communities. With member input, we develop informed, clear and consistent positions in line with our mission, vision, values, and strategic imperatives.

AIA Seattle encourages individual members to get involved in advocacy opportunities based on their experience and knowledge in practice. Members should engage robustly in advocacy and always be clear the views they share are their own. Only AIA Seattle staff, or the Board President with support and direction from staff, can speak on behalf of AIA Seattle. By speaking with a unified voice, AIA Seattle member impact is amplified across our ten counties.

Who Speaks for AIA Seattle graphic

Visibility

AIA Seattle convenes regularly with municipal staff and elected officials to bring forward knowledge and information for policies that shape our built environment and support our vision for equitable, resilient, thriving communities. Our civic presence is not only as a membership organization, but also in coalition and collaboration with other organizations whose values align with our policy priorities.

How AIA Seattle Develops Advocacy Positions

Member engagement is key to informing the policies, people, and systems that shape our built environment. The Public Policy Board (PPB) is the steering committee that reviews potential advocacy positions and makes recommendations to the AIA Seattle Board of Directors.

Chairs of steering and member committees (with their committee’s recommendation), PPB members, AIA Seattle members of any category (at least four), staff, and external partners can propose topics for PPB to consider.

How does AIA Seattle decide whether to engage on a potential advocacy position?

AIA Seattle staff consider the following criteria:

Strategic Alignment: How does the issue align with AIA Seattle’s mission, values, and past positions?
Organization Influence: Is AIA Seattle well-positioned to successfully act on or influence this issue? Why? Does the position align with the AIA Seattle’s ability to lead and advocate for positive change in the built environment?
Timeline/Urgency: Is the matter time-sensitive? Staff will consider possible next steps based on the timing

If the initial threshold for engagement is confirmed by AIA Seattle staff, PPB considers a summary of the position and how it meets these criteria:

How the proposal aligns with AIA Seattle’s mission and past positions
How impacted communities have been consulted
Whether AIA Seattle members and partner organizations support the position
Advocacy steps required (ex. signing a letter, lobbying, public messaging)
The risks of taking or not taking a position

Roles in Advocacy in AIA Seattle:

Work Groups & Committees: Research and develop proposals
Staff: Coordinate advocacy, engage stakeholders, bring forward topics to PPB, communicate with members, and speak on behalf of the organization
PPB: Reviews proposals, makes recommendations to the Board
AIA Seattle Board: Approves major advocacy positions
AIA Seattle President: Speaks on behalf of AIA Seattle when a position is adopted, with support from staff
Members: Join AIA Seattle advocacy spaces like Housing Taskforce and Comp Plan Work Group, bring forward potential advocacy topics to staff, engage in advocacy efforts of the organization with support from staff