Reclaiming the Narrative: Empowering Architects, Designers, and Planners in Urban Development

On November 3, 2024, the AIANY Civic Leadership Program (CLP) cohort hosted development session 3, titled "Reclaiming the Narrative: Empowering Architects, Designers, and Planners in Urban Development." This engaging panel discussion and workshop explored ways for minorities in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries to secure their roles at decision-making tables through entrepreneurship, legislative influence, and career advancement. The discussion highlighted the critical role diverse voices play in shaping urban development while examining the challenges that arise when financial interests overshadow these perspectives.

The session delivered a powerful panel discussion featuring three esteemed professionals who shared their journeys as firm owners, educators, and mentors. These experts illuminated systemic challenges faced by underrepresented groups in the AEC industry and provided actionable strategies to amplify their voices in leadership and decision-making spaces.

A key highlight was the reflective activity titled "My Brother's Keeper," which encouraged participants to exchange ideas and craft actionable strategies for empowering minorities and enhancing their representation in leadership roles. Drawing from personal mentorship experiences and career milestones, attendees identified impactful approaches to advancing equity and fostering greater minority representation within the AEC industry. This call to action equipped participants with the tools and motivation to drive meaningful and lasting change within their professional realm.

The workshop explored barriers that minorities face within the AEC industry, including limited financial resources for licensure, rising costs of study materials, and inadequate mentorship opportunities. It emphasized the power dynamics that restrict minorities in urban development while showcasing stories of panelists successfully asserting their visions despite competing interests.

The event featured three impactful presentations:

• Stephen M. Wilder, 2025 nycoba|NOMA President, AIA, Architect and Principal at Think Wilder Architecture. Wilder shared insights on "forging a path as an architecture firm owner." Balancing business, creativity, and life as an architect. Wilder exemplifies the spirit of "My Brother's Keeper" through his passion project, Reimagining My Community. This volunteer advocacy initiative connects Wilder and his team with Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) students, actively engaging, educating, and providing essential resources for students.
• Shawn L. Rickenbacker, NOMA, AIA, an architect, educator, and published author and Director of the J. Max Bond Center for Urban Futures at CCNY's Spitzer School of Architecture, presented "pioneering spatial equity and urban futures through architecture and data." Rickenbacker's research examines the socioeconomic impacts of place-based policies through innovative urban data and design methods. Under his leadership, the Bond Center develops scalable solutions addressing challenges such as housing and spatial reparations, equitable-sustainable urban futures, and the Impact of Consumer Trends on Minority-Owned Businesses in Harlem. Rickenbacker serves as a mentor and advisor to NOMAS CCNY, a student-led minority architecture organization, empowering young professionals to carve paths to leadership.
• Joseph J. Aliotta, FAIA, Architect and Principal at Perkins Eastman, emphasized the "importance of mentorship" in shaping the future of the AEC industry. With over 40 years of experience, he is a national leader in government practice areas managing numerous high-profile federal, state, and municipal contracts. Aliotta's commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident through his role as trustee of the ACE Scholarship Foundation of New York and Director Emeritus of the ACE Mentor Program of Greater New York. His advocacy for minority representation in leadership underscores his dedication to fostering the next generation of AEC professionals.

In summary, attendees gained practical advocacy skills and strategies to uplift underrepresented communities, emphasizing how they can secure their place at the decision-making table. Through entrepreneurship, legislative influence, and career advancement, the session highlighted the urgency of nurturing the next generation of AEC professionals to champion inclusivity, innovation, and transformative progress in the built environment.

While emphasizing the AEC industry's power to create resilient, inclusive, and equitable environments by amplifying marginalized voices. Championing diversity elevates minority communities and fosters cities that reflect the aspirations of all.

This movement goes beyond representation-it reclaims and reshapes the narrative of who defines the future of our built environment.

Special Thanks to Our Panelists:

• Stephen Wilder, NYCOBA-NOMA, AIA
• Shawn Rickenbacker, NOMA, AIA
• Joseph J. Aliotta, FAIA

Additional Thanks to:

• Evelyn Serrano, Tiana Howell, Assoc. AIA, NOMA, Ivy Ochieng, and all who ensured the event's success.

Join us in "Reclaiming the Narrative," igniting that fire within our souls, and taking bold, revolutionary steps to shape a brighter, more inclusive future for our cities and future generations!