2024-05-13T16:19:34-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150410848/greg-switzer-is-inaugurated-as-the-aiany-s-first-black-president Josh Niland 2024-01-03T16:30:00-05:00 >2024-03-15T01:45:58-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/e0/e059d93cd9b675fe2f3a041eae6a27ba.jpeg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>The American Institute of Architects' New York Chapter (<a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/355197/aia-new-york" target="_blank">AIANY</a>) recently welcomed its new leadership team for the year 2024 via a special ceremony that also saw the inauguration of architect Greg Switzer as the first-ever Black president in the organization&rsquo;s 167-year history.</p> <p>Switzer will be actively engaging with the organizational theme Belonging and Beyond, which encourages the development of a human-centric approach to designing for better social cohesion and physical health in the built environment.</p> <p>The AIA shares: &ldquo;The 2024 AIANY presidential theme, 'Belonging and Beyond,' centers on a crucial aspect of human well-being that improves physical and social-emotional health and resilience for individuals and communities. 'Belonging' refers to a deep connection with social groups, physical places, and individual and collective experiences. This year&rsquo;s theme calls for us to be intentional about inclusion by listening and workshopping ideas worth advocating for and amplifying. 'Belon...</p>