AIA LA JEDI Committee Announcement and “Get out the Vote!”
August 11, 2020–AIALA and SoCal NOMA are happy to announce the newly formed joint Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee.
The JEDI Committee is committed to dismantling the systemic racism and inequality in our profession and our society. With so many injustices to confront it can be hard to know where to start.
A simple way is to work against the forces of voter disenfranchisement. Since [the Shelby v. Holder decision in] 2013, the simple act of voting has been hindered and blocked in several states, as governments enact new voting requirements, purge voter rolls, close voting locations, and spread misinformation, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Here in Los Angeles we are fortunate to have political leaders that support our right to vote and care about keeping us safe while doing so. Others around the country are not so lucky.
The links below are organizations, both national and local, that are working to get people registered to vote. Please join us in our efforts to “Get Out the Vote!” “The vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democracy.” John Lewis, 2019
+ Rock The Vote
+ Black Voters Matter
+ The New Georgia Project
+ Lift Every Vote
+ The Mothering Justice Action Fund
+ Every Last Vote
The JEDI Committee is looking for volunteers to help us promote this voting effort along with the many actions we have identified thus far that will advance the committee’s mission.
If you are interested in getting involved with the committee, please continue reading below to learn more about our purpose, mission, and function and please email Will Wright at will@aialosangeles.org to get connected with the team. The only pre-requisite to joining the committee is current membership in AIALA and/or SoCal NOMA.
What is JEDI?
A joint AIA|LA and SoCal NOMA committee with the purpose of advancing issues of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion within the architecture profession where:
+ JUSTICE is acknowledging and denouncing racism, removing barriers, and promoting equitable opportunities in the profession for all individuals;
+ EQUITY is allocating resources to ensure every practitioner has access to the same opportunities and outcomes;
+ DIVERSITY is encompassing an array of practitioners who represent varied experiences and perspectives;
+ INCLUSION is fostering a sense of belonging for all voices and perspectives to feel welcomed, respected, supported and valued to fully participate.
JEDI Committee’s mission/function:
We seek to advance issues of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion within the architecture profession. The committee can find itself most productive as a body to listen and understand the deeper issues, to facilitate and inspire commitment and action, to develop programs and initiatives that influence mission-congruent decisions, and to demonstrate progress through findings of measuring, reporting and accountability tools.
