New YAR, John McKenna, AIA

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I am honored to begin my term as the Young Architect Representative (YAR) for AIA Virginia. In this role, I am eager to serve as the liaison between our local Emerging Professional (EP) community and the Young Architects Forum (YAF).

My journey in architecture, from obtaining licensure to founding MC3 Design, has been driven by a desire to understand the full lifecycle of the built environment. As I step into this leadership position, my primary goal is to advocate for the advancement of our EPs by fostering an entrepreneurial mindset within the profession. I believe that by equipping young architects with a stronger grasp of project leadership, strategic management, and the business of architecture, we can empower them to take greater agency in their careers and provide more impactful value to the communities we serve.

As the YAR, I will be working closely with my local AIA Northern Virginia Young Architects Forum as well as chapters across the state to report on EP activities, coordinate outreach, and ensure our voices are heard at the national level. I am particularly committed to identifying and nominating my peers for leadership awards and opportunities, ensuring that the incredible talent within Virginia is recognized and elevated.

The “Young Architect” stage of a career is a critical period of transition. It is when we move from technical mastery to professional leadership. I look forward to working with AIA Virginia’s leadership to ensure our emerging professionals have the resources, mentorship, and platform they need to navigate this transition successfully.

I am eager to engage with all of you over the next two years. Whether you are an EP looking for ways to get more involved or a seasoned architect interested in mentoring the next generation, please reach out. Let’s work together to build a more agile, diverse, and leadership-oriented future for Virginia’s architectural community.–

John McKenna, AIA, NCARB
jmckenna@mc3group.com

YAF Update

Posted on by cguske

Happy new year everyone! Attached is a copy of “Now YA Know” and below is the link to the current Connection issue about DEI.

Connection Q3: https://issuu.com/youngarchitectsforum/docs/2022_q3_diversity_equity_inclusion 

This issue is truly an exceptional one with a diverse array of topics speaking on issues of accessibility, being seen, Just certification, advocating for immigrant professionals, designs that affirm, and so much more.

Connection Q4 is about the YAF Summit, but if you have any content you want to contribute and write please let me know and I’ll connect you with the editor.

Carrie Parker, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
carrieleeparker.aia@gmail.com

Young Architect Forum Update

Posted on by cguske

If you did not have an opportunity to attend the ArchEx East conference, I highly recommend attending in the future. The recent conference was my first time in attendance, and it provided a unique value and community. The intimacy of the conference provided the perfect opportunity to engage with peers in a meaningful way. I also hosted the Emerging Professionals Roundtable and participated in several others that broke the ice for conversation for the remainder of the week. Look for it in Richmond next year. 

I also attended the AIA Women’s Leadership Summit (WLS) and heard from some of the most amazing women in the profession advancing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The keynotes were inspiring and thought-provoking. It is heart-warming to consider that the entirety of AIA national leadership will be led by women in the next few years and you can already feel a marked difference in their approach. As part of CEO Lakisha Wood’s strategic plan, the WLS will now become an annual, rather than a bi-annual event. Look to attending in Boston next year. 

Chapter Spotlight

I wanted to fill you in on some exciting work with AIA Greater Richmond (RVA)’s YAF. They were awarded a 2022 College of Fellows Emerging Professionals component grant this year. Their proposal sought funds to support community engagement efforts this year. From there they established the “COMMUNITY WISH“. This was an experimental installation studying reclaimed materials and modular construction for ease of construction, deconstruction, and reconstruction in new locations. More importantly, it was active research of what kind of spaces and structures we can build in order to engage our community for feedback, interaction, etc. They designed and built the Community Wish pavilion at this year’s Folk Fest which brings an enormous amount of visitors to Richmond’s Brown’s Island. Pictures of the installation are below. Congratulations to everyone involved and keep up the great work!

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Feel free to connect with me, too. What are some ways your firm is working with emerging professionals and young architects? Send me an email or a message on LinkedIn!
As always, I’m here for you.

Carrie Parker, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Associate Vice President at CannonDesign
Young Architect Representative for Virginia to the Young Architect’s Forum, 2022-2024
carrieleeparker.aia@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/carrieleeparker

Emerging Professionals Summit

Posted on by cguske

On Friday, March 6, 2020, AIA Virginia convened YAF and Emerging Professional leaders from around the state to build connections, share resources, and identify service redundancies and gaps in services.

This group of leaders will continue to meet regularly in-person and via conference calls to discuss ways to support our emerging professionals.