At the 2009 AIA Convention in San Francisco , the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) gave a reception at the Frank Lloyd Wright Tea House, hosted by Allison Williams, FAIA, of Perkins and Will, and Michael Willis , FAIA, of Michael Willis Architects. Before the evening closed, NOMA President Steve Lewis, AIA, spoke to the group about the new diversity initiative that the AIA was introducing and how he wanted NOMA to be involved. I took the floor at the close of his address and and took exception to his remarks.
I stated that the AIA’s diversity initiative would ...