Firms and architecture institutions continue to join forces as they build more robust pipelines for Black designers and designers of color. With organizational giants like NOMA and design equity leaders continuously expanding on this initiative to elevate and mentor students and future designers, firms like Perkins&Will and institutions like Harvard GSD have developed a pilot program of their own.
On February 18, 2021, an announcement was made launching the "Black in Design Mentorship Program." The idea for this pilot program was initially developed during the 2019 Black in Design Conference alongside Perkins&Will professionals. According to the firm, "the mentorship program will fill a critical educational and career gap in the design profession by fostering meaningful and lasting relationships starting as early as high school."
To learn more about the program, Harvard GSD grad and Perkins&Will principle Brooke Trivas shares in a statement, "Design firms have a responsibility to be champions of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the profession. Our vision for this program is to empower both high school and graduate students to understand what is possible, pursue their interests, and develop their strengths."
Below is an excerpt of the program's outline:
"The program forms three-person teams composed of one Perkins&Will professional, one Harvard GSD student, and one high school student. This arrangement enables Harvard GSD students to learn from Perkins&Will professionals and, simultaneously, hone their mentorship skills with their matched high school student. All participants will complete a 10-week curriculum with discussion topics ranging from design thinking to networking to Black design legacy.
Seven individuals from each group—21 participants in total—will complete the program over the course of the year. To form the inaugural cohort of high school mentees, program organizers extended invitations to select Boston-area schools. Student volunteers from the Harvard GSD African American Student Union (AASU) and AfricaGSD comprise the graduate school leg of the program, and volunteers from Perkins&Will’s Boston studio make up the third leg. Once the pilot concludes, organizers will integrate feedback from all participants, refine the program structure and content as needed, and expand outreach through a broadened application process. Participation will be offered on an annual basis in the future."
Whytne Stevens, GSD student and organizing member of the mentorship program, shares, "I really believe in the importance of exposing Black youth to the planning and design fields, so they know these fields exist, that planning and designer carers are accessible to them, and that they have the power to shape the built environment of their communities."
This isn't the first collaboration between the GSD and Perkins&Will. In addition to the newly launched pilot program, on-going programs and initiatives include the Phil Freelon Fellowship and the Nagle-Johnson Family Fellowship.
6 Comments
A start...
Autodesk claimed a commitment in november during AU. Today, It's mostly marketing during the february "festivus".
Is this the same?
Let's glaze over the fact that the median starting salary for a recent graduate is $53,000.
Is that the median for GSD graduates or entry level positions at Perkins & Will?
Even less for both.
From the people I know, that's about right.... glassdoor agrees.
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