Continued Connection
A Letter from Executive Director, Melissa K. Neher
A message for our valued AIA Seattle Community,
Summer has finally found us in Seattle, and all around us are signs of increasing community engagement. In our highly hybrid and virtual times, our committees and staff team at AIA Seattle are continuing to explore ways to leverage flexible formats, while eagerly embracing the in-person engagement opportunities we’ve hosted in the past few months. We appreciate the resilience and community care demonstrated by our members who have joined in-person events with respect and support for ever-shifting Covid protocols.
AIA Seattle has delivered Continuing Education and Committee Programs in multiple formats, including:
- Climate Summit: Practicing Equity and Advocacy in Rapid Decarbonization was delivered virtually and is now available online for continuing education credits.
- Housing Forum: Precedents & Possibilities Transforming Residential Practice, was our first return to an in-person forum and was recorded for online education credits as well (coming later this summer).
- Solstice Celebration: Creative Convergence, a collaborative program hosted by AIA Seattle Diversity Roundtable, Seattle Architecture Foundation, and Seattle Design Festival in celebration of the Diversity by Design Exhibit highlighting designers, designers of all genders, LGBTQI + designers, designers with disabilities, immigrant designers and more.
AIA Seattle advocacy activities with a focus on climate and housing persist, with significant engagement with the City of Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan Update.
Engaged members are providing input to the current urban village growth strategy, with a focus on speeding up and reducing barriers to housing production, fostering 15-minute neighborhoods, prioritizing and protecting BIPOC communities, promoting sustainability, and addressing city design.
Looking forward – AIA Seattle is excited to support CONNECTION, the theme of Seattle Design Festival 2022, with an expanded Festival August 20-26 to unleash the design thinker in everyone. The 2022 Festival kicks off with the Lake Union Park Block Party with 40+ Installations & Pop-Up Experiences and also includes Community Spotlights, Virtual Mainstage programming, and a Closing Party.
As we welcome back summer to the Pacific Northwest, we look forward to welcoming you, our valued members and community partners, to future programming and events.
Thank you for your engagement!
