At NOMA’s annual conference equity issues in the profession remain top of mind

Aia Panel B. Lee P. Sablan E. Grandstaff Rice Aia Panel At Noma 2024

At the 2024 NOMA conference current NOMA president Pascale Sablan handed over the title to incoming president Bryan C. Lee, Jr. (VSDavis Photography)

By Kelly Beamon 

The annual conference for the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), or “the eXchange,” took place from October 23–27 in Baltimore this year. The proceedings featured a heightened political energy partly because of equity issues churned up by national shifts in U.S. policy and culture, but also by the organizations’ nine elections this year.

In addition to the handoff of NOMA’s presidency from Pascale Sablan to Bryan C. Lee, Jr., members elected a national treasurer, three regional vice presidents, four university liaisons, and a student representative. With more offices than usual open this year, and membership growing more diverse, the stumpers for the regional vice presidential seats created a lively atmosphere as they gladhanded the record 1,500 attendees, including 40 newly licensed BIPOC architects who were pinned to standing ovations in a rousing ceremony. The exchange of ideas continued through keynote addresses by groundbreaking West African female practitioners Farida Abu-Bakare, Tosin Oshinowo, and Nmadili Okwumabua, who are redefining architecture across borders, and Derrick Adams, Baltimore-based nonprofit Charm City Cultural Cultivation founder.