The following message from AIA|LA President Debra Gerod, FAIA, was sent to AIA|LA members by email 11.21.16.
Last Monday, November 14, we issued a brief statement through the AIA|LA's Facebook page, reiterating our Chapter's nonpartisan commitment to making our profession one which promotes inclusivity, diversity, gender equity and ways to counter climate change. These goals are embedded in our Chapter's core values and our programming and actions demonstrate our dedication to pursue these goals and reinforce these values.
We have heard from members who have expressed concern that AIA National's statements may have compromised these core values. We certainly understand that concern and reiterate that AIA Los Angeles is committed to advancing, through action, ways to make our community one that will keep promoting sustainability, resilience, equity, inclusion, diversity and, most importantly, respect for each other.
Prior to the events of the past few weeks, our profession had been moving in the right direction and we have been positioned to realize profound change in these areas. We must be vigilant to remain focused so that we do not let this momentum slip away, while also continuing a mission that includes empowering the future generation of architects and cultivating prosperous firm cultures.
In the next few weeks, AIA|LA hopes to create forums for channeling the considerable energy generated by the presidential election in positive ways that further emphasize our organization's commitment to continuing this progress. We welcome your input on ways we can accomplish this together. Please share your ideas with Carlo Caccavale and Will Wright of the AIA|LA staff, who are organizing the forums. We look forward to seeing you soon, in person, so that we can continue to advance work on these issues.