Shine the Light.
Launched in 2021 to celebrate local Black creators and diverse design innovators, the campaign has since grown to explore broader issues in the design industry. Through initiatives like Shine the Light, we leverage our work and platform as architects and designers to positively impact our communities and the built environment.
Harnessing our Impact.
With the Shine the Light program, our firm is committed to education, mentorship, and change. We hope to: change the script, spark important conversations, challenge ourselves and other businesses to do more, introduce the next generation to mentorship, inspire a career path in design and other creative fields, and amplify local opportunities for volunteerism.
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2021: Celebrating Black Creatives
In the first year of Shine the Light, we celebrated local black creators and design innovators from a diverse set of industries. By amplifying these voices, we hoped to promote a professional path in the art and design industry for the next generation.
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2022: Inclusive Design
We explored inclusive design through interviews with experts from the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, research papers, a roundtable discussion with community and design leaders, and firm-wide DEI training conducted by VCIC.
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2023: Equitable Housing
In our 2023 Shine the Light campaign, we explored the current housing crisis, the significance of having safe and equitable housing, and what professionals in the AEC field can do to help through a series of research papers and discussions with local experts.
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2024: Urban Greenspace
This summer we will explore the importance of equitable access to urban greenspace, and the role it plays in the health, sustainability, and growth of a city and its residents through a series of interviews with Richmond experts and research articles.
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2025: Health Equity
This year, we’re focusing on health equity, examining how access, opportunity, and environment intersect to influence well-being. Advancing health equity calls for reimagining how we design places, policies, and partnerships that support every person’s right to live a healthy life.