Architects Roundtable: Building Equitable and Inclusive Cities

A Conversation Led by Sarah Nelson-Woynicz, with Malik Brown, Jon Gould, and Councilman Matt Westmoreland

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Discover the tools to build inclusive cities and transform your firm or business into a hub of diversity and equity. Join us at Architects Roundtable for a riveting panel discussion that will challenge your perspectives and inspire groundbreaking change around LGBTQIA+ resources and planning.

In an ever-evolving world, where identity, communities, and cities are constantly reshaping, it’s crucial that architectural practice and culture embrace the transformative power of equity and inclusivity. With an astounding 20 percent of new job-seeking graduates identifying as LGBTQIA+, attendees will unlock the secrets to fostering a culture that celebrates individuality, while empowering your firm to thrive.

Through a compelling presentation, followed by a roundtable discussion, the speakers will unveil best practices, untapped resources, and proven strategies to embed lasting change in your business models, design practices, and company culture.

Be part of the conversation this Pride Month and harness the knowledge you need to drive forward. Secure your spot at Architects Roundtable today and prepare to engage in an informative dialogue that will shape the future, from your workplace to the world.

A hot breakfast will be served.

Learning objectives

  • Learn best practices and policy that can be implemented to increase equity and inclusion of LGBTQIA+ employees
  • Identify ways the City of Atlanta is adapting to changing demographics to create a more inclusive city
  • Apply strategies being implemented across sectors to create equitable practices and inclusive programming in your workplace and designs
  • Describe how the power of inclusion can help strengthen the business case of recruitment and retention in workplace practice and culture

Date and time

Wednesday, June 14, 2023
8:00 am - 9:30 am
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Location

Ansley Golf Club – Midtown
196 Montgomery Ferry Drive
Atlanta, Georgia 30309

Credits

1 LU

Provider

AIA Atlanta

Speakers

Moderator

Sarah​​​​ Nelson-Woynicz, AIA
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Founder, Pride by Design

Dedicated to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and visibility of LGBTQIA+ architects, architecture adjacent, and design professionals, Sarah Nelson-Woynicz, AIA, is the Founder of Pride by Design. As a Project Architect with HKS, Inc in Atlanta, Georgia, Sarah’s professional practice focuses on commercial, mixed-use, and multi-family markets, while also amplifying and engaging in HKS’ justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion work. Sarah has served on the AIA Atlanta Board of Directors and currently serves at the AIA Young Architect’s Forum Advisory Committee, Community Director.

Panelist

Malik Brown
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Director, Mayor’s Division of LGBTQ Affairs

Malik Brown is an award-winning global LGBTQ advocate, political strategist, and first-generation American. He has been a keynote speaker for global brands like Meta, Home Depot, and Mercedes-Benz.

Appointed as the City of Atlanta’s Director of LGBTQ Affairs by former Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Brown is the first full-time official in the Southeastern United States to focus on better connecting the LGBTQ community with municipal government. In this role, he drives systemic change and advances equity by advising the Mayor on policies, programs, and initiatives affecting the LGBTQ community.

During the 2020 Presidential Race, Malik was appointed to the Biden campaign’s Out for Biden LGBTQ+ Leadership Council and served as the Special Advisor on LGBTQ Engagement to the campaign of Reverend Raphael Warnock.

Panelist

Jon Gould, AIA
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Assistant Professor, Kennesaw State University

As an architect and educator, Jon has a passion for advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion in our built environments. As a part-time professor of architecture at Kennesaw State University, Jon encourages students to incorporate diverse thinking into every project to make sure the next generation of architects thoughtfully engages with EDI issues. As a way to encourage minority high school students to pursue architecture education, Jon has successfully led the AIA Atlanta High School Design Competition for over 10 years, growing the program to reach more than 200 students annually, and awarding over $75,000 in scholarships. Jon worked with Sarah Nelson-Woynicz to found AIA GA’s LGBTQIA+ Alliance in 2022. He lives in Smyrna, GA with his husband, Aaron.

Panelist

Matt Westmoreland
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Councilmember, Atlanta City Council

Matt Westmoreland holds the Post 2 At-Large seat on the Atlanta City Council. First elected in 2017, Matt authored or helped craft legislation to: Pass a $100 million housing bond to build and preserve 3,500 units of affordable housing citywide and launch an affordable housing trust fund with an annually recurring funding stream; adopt Atlanta’s first economic mobility plan, including a first-of-its kind Middle Wage Jobs Fund; create a funding stream to complete construction of the Atlanta BeltLine’s full 22-mile trail loop by 2030; and spearhead development of a $750 million project list for improvements to transportation infrastructure, public safety facilities, and parks, trails, and greenspace.

Prior to his City Council election, Matt was the District 3 Representative on the Atlanta Board of Education. An Atlanta native and proud graduate of its public schools system, Matt received his bachelor’s degree in history from Princeton University, where he served as editor-in-chief of The Daily Princetonian. After graduation, Matt returned to Atlanta as a Teach for America Corps Member and taught history at Carver Early College High School in southeast Atlanta. A lifelong and active member of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, Matt lives in Midtown.

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