National Organization of Minority Architects

The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) is a professional organization for individuals practicing architecture and allied professionals to advance justice and equity in communities of color.

National Organization of Minority Architects
National Organization of Minority Architects
AbbreviationNOMA
Formation1971 (1971)
FounderWilliam M. Brown Jr., Leroy M. Campbell, Wendell Campbell, John S. Chase, James C. Dodd, Kenneth G. Groggs, Nelson Harris, Jeh V. Johnson, E.H. McDowell, Robert J. Nash, Harold Williams, Robert Wilson, Louis Edwin Fry Sr., Pedro Frank Lopez[1]
Founded atDetroit, Michigan
TypeNonprofit
PurposeArchitectural profession
Professional title
NOMA
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Region served
United States
Websitewww.noma.net

History

In 1968, activist and executive director of the National Urban League, Whitney Young was invited to address the American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Convention in Portland, Oregon as the keynote speaker.[2] In his speech, he addressed the institute's silent stance on the turmoil in the country and urged them to stand up and endorse the efforts of John F. Kennedy & Martin Luther King Jr. in their actions.[3] This speech encouraged the profession to work towards the advancement of minority architects,[4] who, at the time, made up of 0.05% of AIA's 20,000 members.[5]

At the 1971 AIA National Convention in Detroit, 12 black architects, including William Brown and John S. Chase, began to organize to create an organization that developed and advanced black architects, which would become the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA).[6] The organization aimed to promote and advocate for black architects and their work through networking opportunities and education. The organization's advocacy first focused on government contracts to include minority participation.[7][5] The first president of the organization was founder Wendell Campbell in 1971, who held the position until 1973.[8]

In 1992, NOMA Students was created during the national conference in Washington.[8]

Organization

Membership

Membership is open to anyone in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) fields. NOMA members are registered with their local NOMA professional chapter or at-large members when there is not a chapter local to them.[9] As of 2022, there are 36 professional chapters[10] and 86 student chapters.[11]

There are five types of membership in NOMA:[9]

  • Licensed Professional - Individuals licensed to practice architecture in the United States
  • Associate Member - Individuals with three or more years of professional architecture experience but not licensed architects
  • Emerging Professional - Individuals with three or less years of professional architecture experience but not licensed architects
  • International Member - Individuals who have an equivalent architectural license from a non-U.S. licensing authority
  • Student Member - Individuals currently enrolled in an accredited architecture program
  • Allied Professional - Individuals who are not practicing architecture but are in positions related to the field

Structure

At the national level, NOMA is governed by a board of directors and supported by a leadership council.[12] There are four regions that lead state and local chapters and facilitate communication between those and national leadership. Each state is seen as a chapter and there can be additional professional and student chapters within the state.[13]

Service

By speaking with a united voice, NOMA members influence government practices that affect the practice of the profession by minorities and have advocated for government contracts to include minority participation.[5]

The organization develops mentorship programs, student grants, and partnerships with other organizations including AIA to increase minorities in the field.[5]

Presidents

References
  1. Howard, Annie (October 27, 2022). "Rediscovering NOMA's 'Forgotten' Founding Members". Architect Magazine.
  2. "Commemorating 50 years - AIA". www.aia.org. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  3. "Speech" (PDF). content.aia.org. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  4. Kahn, Eve M. (1992-04-09). "Renewed Hope For Black Architects". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  5. "Looking at Architects". The Herald-Sun. 1992-04-26. p. 77. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  6. "A Brief History: The National Organization of Minority Architects". www.ncarb.org. 2020-03-05. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  7. "Minority architects to gather here". The Commercial Appeal. 1999-07-15. p. 21. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  8. "50 Years of NOMA: A Timeline". www.architectmagazine.com. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  9. "Members". NOMA. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  10. "Professional Chapters". NOMA. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  11. "NOMAS Chapters: Alphabetical List". NOMA. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  12. "Executive Committee". NOMA. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  13. "Amended and Restated By Laws of The National Organization of Minority Architects" (PDF). November 12, 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  14. "Achievers: Architecture". The Wichita Eagle. 1995-10-16. p. 48. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  15. Romo, Vanessa (March 12, 2023). "Very few architects are Black. This woman is pushing to change that". NPR. Retrieved March 12, 2023. Sablan also serves as president of NOMA, the National Organization of Minority Architects. In 2021, at the age of 38, she became the youngest African American inductee of the AIA College of Fellows — an honor bestowed upon only 3% of the group's members 'for their exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society.'
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