As a platinum sponsor of the NOMA annual conference, HGA will partner year-round on advancing equity and inclusion through holistic design.
HGA is pleased to announce an enhanced partnership with the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). Partnering with NOMA since 2016, HGA has upgraded to a platinum sponsor of the organization’s annual conference with plans to engage in additional project initiatives to advance diversity in the Architecture & Engineering (A&E) industry and beyond.
Along with the partnership, two new members from each of HGA’s 12 offices nationwide will join NOMA, contributing to a goal of 50 members by 2024. The added memberships and renewed momentum will encourage local chapter participation at all levels. NOMA’s mission is to empower local chapters and membership to foster justice and equity in communities of color through outreach, community advocacy, professional development and design excellence. HGA is honored to contribute to the organization’s vital efforts to minimize the effects of racism in the architecture industry.
“HGA’s expanded partnership with NOMA echoes our own internal efforts and our commitment to advancing equity in the workplace. As a design firm rooted in research, we are excited to partner with NOMA members to identify the needs of minority architects as well as trends and patterns that can be addressed to create a more inclusive workplace,” said Terri Howard, Director of Equity at HGA.
As HGA looks forward to adding value through the enhanced partnership, a research collaboration is currently underway. Working with HGA’s Design Insights Group (DIG) and NOMA members, Terri Howard will lead a participatory workshop geared at identifying individual equity outcomes and critical factors affecting workplace equity in the A&E industry.
The Design Insight Group is HGA’s growing collective of Lean process engineers, practice-based researchers, design thinkers, anthropologists, and data scientists who help clients rethink and reshape their future through the design process. At the core of this work is the belief that advancing the state of the design industry is not only an opportunity but a responsibility. Both practitioners and leaders, research teams leverage insights to craft innovative design interventions—and give back to clients and communities.
” As HGA enhances its partnership with NOMA, there is an opportunity to encompass our built environment research community to delve further into equity outcomes at the individual employee level rather than solely through an organizational perspective. Our primary research goal is to expand our understanding of how a sense of belonging, authenticity, purpose, growth, safety, meaning, and creativity can be nurtured or impeded in the A&E industry. By co-creating insights and suggestions, we aim to build on the ongoing equity efforts undertaken by AIA and NOMA, adding a focused lens of social and cultural insights to progress workplace equity.” said Adaheid Mestad, Design Anthropologist.
HGA’s pillars of equity include pushing the industry forward through thought leadership, by researching and establishing best practices and knowledge sharing. Through the workshop and ongoing research, Howard and the HGA DIG team plan to share their conclusions with the industry with the goal of building a pathway for increased diversity in the workforce.
NOMA’s national conference will take place October 11-15, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. Terri Howard and members of the Design Insights Group will be presenting. Learn more about HGA’s commitment to equity here.