As part of an effort to address the glaring lack of diversity within its ranks, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has announced a new initiative titled Next2Lead that aims to elevate "ethnically diverse women into leadership positions within the AIA."

According to an announcement, Next2Lead will select 16 AIA members with a minimum of five years' experience in the architecture field to receive focused "leadership and experiential education" as well as exposure to specialized individual and group projects, conferences, and other forms of mentorship. 

As part of the initiative, AIA has issued a Request for Proposal , due October 15th, seeking a consultant who will "provide curriculum design, development, instruction, facilitation, communications, assessment and evaluation" to aid the program.

Among the objectives of this curriculum will be to provide preparation for potential future AIA leaders by formalizing the organization's leadership preparation models, help strengthen leadership pipelines in collaboration with state and local chapters, and assist in broadening the pool of people entering the field of architecture more generally. 

The Next2Lead initiative arises from AIA's Resolution 18-3, an amendment to the organization's Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct meant to "ensure that the AIA is developing education, systems and processes that are inclusive for the short and long term."

“We are fully committed to addressing racial inequality within our profession and recognize that it must begin within our own organization,” explains AIA 2020 President Jane Frederick, FAIA. “By increasing the participation of ethnically diverse women architects in local and national positions of leadership within the AIA, we are creating aspirational role models for others to follow. These leaders are essential to facilitating the critical change the profession needs.”