To Advance the AIA’s Core Value of Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity,
AIA|LA Releases: EDI: Equity; Diversity; Inclusivity Best Practices Guide 2018
Roadmap to inclusivity provides the Chapter and Los Angeles-based firms with actionable steps that support design practitioners and better serve Greater Los Angeles.

August 2, 2018, Los Angeles—To advance the American Institute of Architects’ Core Value of Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI), the American Institute of Architects Los Angeles Chapter (AIA|LA) has published an EDI Best Practices Guide. The 2018 guide articulates four strategies to increase opportunities for underrepresented populations in the architectural profession.

“The actualization of equity, inclusiveness and diversity is fundamental to human dignity, leading to opportunity, fully realized careers, and thriving practices,” notes AIA|LA President Tania Van Herle, AIA. “EDI also looks outward—it directly influences our capabilities to serve communities.”

In the Los Angeles region, a full forty-nine percent of the region’s population are defined as Hispanic by the 2016 census, twenty-nine percent are white, eleven percent are of Asian descent and nine percent of residents are black. Meaning, for the latter two groups—close to one in ten residents of the area, while people of Hispanic descent comprise nearly half our population.

Part-roadmap, part-toolkit, the “EDI: Equity; Diversity: Inclusivity Best Practices Guide 2018” is composed of:

     + Institutional goals.
     + Chapter commitments that further diversity.
     + Hiring Practices and steps that facilitate EDI.
     + Insight into and mitigation measures for Unintentional Bias.

(To read and download EDI: Equity; Diversity; Inclusivity Best Practices Guide 2018, click here.)

Like the language used by the American Institute of Architects National to delineate EDI as a core value, the document outlines clear and simple tactics that advance change for the profession of architecture. It is published as a single page, tri-panel document that individuals and firm leaders may easily reference.

“Though this is a complex issue, our goals were to deliver actionable items that achieve EDI and to encourage implementation by making them easily accessible to individuals and firm leaders,” noted AIA|LA Executive Director Carlo Caccavale, Hon. AIA|LA.

To produce the Best Practices 2018 Guide, Caccavale worked under the direction of both the 2017 and 2018 AIA|LA Board of Directors. Leaders of Los Angeles firms already advancing EDI initiatives were consulted. Methods cited in existing research and manuals also provided foundational ideas. They include:

+ The American Institute of Architects EDI Commission Executive Summary
(January 25, 2017)
+ University of Washington – Best Practices for Faculty Searches
+ California Community Colleges’ Equal Employment Opportunity Handbook
+ IIDA Design & Diversity Handbook
+ Research and documents of other AIA Chapters and those of AIA|LA firms

To access the EDI: Equity; Diversity; Inclusivity Best Practices Guide 2018, visit: https://tinyurl.com/EDI-Handbook-2018.

The chapter will also provide printed copies at AIA|LA conferences, award program ceremonies and events.