Reaffirming Our Commitment to Justice and Equity through Diversity and Inclusion (JE:DI)
AIA Seattle remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in the architecture community.
We aim to nurture universal inclusion and fairness in the built environment and for the diverse communities our work impacts. This imperative continues to guide and challenge us as we evolve our practices. In recent weeks, executive orders have been issued that impact our profession, clients, and communities. Of note are the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and the discontinuation of federal support for DEI programs. We stay committed to our Racial Justice Commitments set in 2019-2022, and now more than ever, AIA Seattle reaffirms our dedication to putting our JE:DI commitments into practice. In 2025, these include:
To promote a robust pipeline that reflects the diversity of our community we will:
- Develop recommendations and tools for Member Advancement Committee to support an inclusive leadership process
- Refine board call for nominations and relationship-tracking processes and tools, implement strategies to improve
- Deliver listening sessions and/or member survey, to better understand the needs and lived experiences of our Members
- Develop recommendations and tools for Fellows and Honors Committee to support an inclusive individual awards process
To inform the policies, systems, and people that shape our built environment we will:
- Engage in One Seattle Comprehensive Plan Process and share recommendations with city and knowledge with our community
- Finalize the Climate Policy Statement of AIA Seattle for approval by the AIA Seattle Board of Directors
- Steward relationships with members of Seattle City Council and staff, City departments, and other organizations to advocate on behalf of member views for housing, design review reform, and comprehensive plan
- Continue to thread JEDI through all our work, including as a vital lens in learning opportunities like our Major Education Programs
Architects choose this profession out of a desire to improve our communities. Now more than ever, that passion must translate into action. Together, we can ensure that the built environment becomes a stronghold for justice, inclusion, and equity.
