How can the gap in diversity be bridged? What's available to support architects of color in need?
Photo by Chris Barbalis on Unsplash
If you've reached this page, by now you've heard me mention STEM a couple of times now. But what is STEM and what resources are available to educate and/or encourage BIPOC to pursue these career paths? STEM which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, are responsible for creating some of the world's strongest critical thinkers by advancing in science literacy and other forms of technical/mechanical innovation. People in these paths are generally praised by society and statistically earn more money than those who pursue careers in humanities and arts based careers—although humanities and art professions are just as valuable in furthering society—and it's a lot easier (although not easy itself) to pursue if you've been in an environment that provided access to necessary courses and programs to help you transition into one of those fields.
But if you're like me, who grew up primarily around minorities in an urban town/city, then you'll probably agree that there weren't as many opportunities. Thankfully there are people in the country seeking to change that fact. Through education support programs like 400 Forward, an organization created by Black female architect Tiffany Brown, which seeks to "uplift girls by giving them the tools they need to address social issues created by the unjust built environments of our inner-city communities"; by offering scholarships, mentorship, and community outreach events, girls can learn how to think like a designer. Broadly speaking, this article lists different programs, organizations and scholarship opportunities that provide help to architects of color as a way to make architecture a more diverse field.