Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The AIA Colorado J.E.D.I. Committee’s Equity in Practice series is a three-part virtual learning experience grounded in the American Institute of Architects Guides for Equitable Practice. Across three one-hour sessions, participants explored the foundational principles and practical strategies that support more equitable architectural workplaces and outcomes, from intercultural competence, workplace culture, and compensation, to recruitment, mentorship, career advancement, and community engagement. Through guided discussion and real-world application, the series connects equitable practice to improved collaboration, stronger teams, and better design solutions that advance the health, safety, and welfare of the communities architects serve.

Equity in Practice Series: Event Recaps

• Apr 28, 2026 • Intercultural Competence, Workplace Culture, Compensation
• May 28, 2026 • Recruitment, Negotiation, and Mentorship
• June 23, 2026 • Career Advancement, Community Engagement, and Measuring Progress

Coach Mentoring Program

Empower the next generation of professionals! Explore career pathways with purpose alongside DPS students. As a mentor, you’ll support students in turning their passions into a plan by building their professional networks and strengthening their confidence for post-secondary success.

How it works:

1. PLAN: Attend an info meeting with DPS staff and complete a quick onboarding process (application, background check, and training).
2. MEET: Join a monthly school-based cohort where mentors and students grow together in a collaborative space. We offer Industry, Affinity, and General cohorts to ensure a meaningful match for every professional.
3. EXPLORE: Collaborate with students as they develop their career identity and learn about career pathways.
4. RELATE: Strengthen a student’s self-efficacy through coaching on career & post- secondary readiness.

There is a particular need this year for mentors who can bring their experience and perspective to students interested in design, architecture, STEAM, and the creative arts. It’s a great opportunity to connect with students, share what you do, and help them see what’s possible in a career in design.

Two programs that would be a particularly good fit are:

• East High School / STEAM  Wednesdays, 9:00–11:30 a.m. | Monthly
• Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy  Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. | Monthly

The commitment is just one morning or afternoon a month, and mentors are provided with support and an onboarding process that includes an application and annual background check.

If you’re interested in getting involved—or would simply like to learn more—please see the recruitment materials and mentor application below or feel free to reach out to me sarah@sarahgoldblatt.com or connect with the DPS Coach program coordinator Jonah Steed, jonah_steed@dpsk12.net. The students really benefit from having professionals in their corner, and it would be great to see more members of our design community get involved!

More info:

Mentor Recruitment Flyer (Program details & time commitment with application qr code)
Coach Mentoring Program Video (Program Highlights)
Mentor Application 
Cohort List & Schedules (Options for the 26-27 year)

Design Like Girl

Design Like a Girl 2025/36

AIA Colorado’s J.E.D.I. committee is seeking mentors for the 2025-2026 session of Design Like a Girl. Design Like a Girl is a design mentoring program that introduces a diverse cohort of middle school girls to architecture and allied design professions. Three full-day workshops on Fridays throughout the 2025-2026 school year allow students to learn first-hand about these dynamic careers from local professional women and design students. The workshop dates are October 31st, February 27th, and May 1st and take place at CU Denver College of Architecture & Planning (1250 14th St, Denver, CO), with potential short walking field trips to nearby sites.

Who Should Mentor? 

DLAG CO is seeking female-identifying design professionals and students to guide, instruct, and inspire participants throughout each workshop. While we would love mentors to participate in all three workshops to get to know the participants, we understand it may not be possible. Multiple volunteer options are available. Sign up to volunteer as a mentor by September 30th, here.

Youth Mentoring & Engagement Opportunities Through DPS

The AIA CO J.E.D.I. Education Pipeline Committee is focused on introducing school-age students to architecture in an effort to expand career pathway exploration and diversify the profession. We regularly post opportunities in the AIA Colorado newsletter for architects, architectural interns, and allied professionals to share their journey with middle and high school students in the Denver Public School (DPS) system. Time commitments are outlined along with each opportunity. Please contact Sarah Goldblatt, AIA if you or your firm is interested in volunteering.

Additional Opportunities

• NOMA Project Pipeline
• CU CAP Mentorship Program
• Colorado Architecture Pathways
• ACE Mentor Tools

• AIA NATIONAL Resources
  • AIA Guides to Equitable Practice
  • J.E.D.I. Advocacy Guide
  • An Investigation into Bias
• NOMA Colorado
• EBECC: Equity in the Built Environment: A Colorado Coalition Building 
• Beyond Land Acknowledgements
• Intercultural Development Programs
• Pathways to Equity

Books

• SO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT RACE By Ijeoma Oluo
• BE ANTIRACIST By Ibram X. Kendi
• THE COLOR OF LAW By Richard Rothstein

• 
  Equity in Practice: Session 3June 24, 2026
  The final installment of AIA Colorado’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (J.E.D.I.) Committee three-part Guides for Equitable Practice series shifted the conversation from understanding equity to putting it into practice. Highlighting Chapters 7-9 of the AIA Guides for Equitable Practice, presenters Jennifer Edwards, Assoc. AIA, Sonya Shah, AIA, and Margarita Gonzalez, Assoc. AIA, explored how firms and… Read more: Equity in Practice: Session 3
• 
  Design Like a Girl: Year 3 UpdateJune 19, 2026
  Now in its third year, Design Like a Girl continues to inspire the next generation of female designers through hands-on workshops introducing middle school students to careers in design. Held on Fridays throughout the school year at the CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning, these all-day workshops invite students to spend the day learning about design… Read more: Design Like a Girl: Year 3 Update
• 
  Equity in Practice: Session 2May 28, 2026
  AIA Colorado’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (J.E.D.I.) Committee continued its virtual Equity in Practice Series with a discussion focused on Chapters 4–6 of the AIA Guides for Equitable Practice: Recruitment & Retention, Negotiation, and Mentorship & Sponsorship. Committee co-chairs Sarah Morasso, AIA, and Alexander Person, AIA, were joined by Stephanie Fernandez, Assoc. AIA, exploring how workplace… Read more: Equity in Practice: Session 2
• 
  Equity in Practice: Session 1May 4, 2026
  AIA Colorado’s J.E.D.I. Committee kicked off its three-part Equity in Practice series with a session focused on intercultural competence, workplace culture, and compensation, three interconnected forces shaping equity in the profession. This series is based on AIA’s Guide for Equitable Practice. Co-chairs Sarah Morasso, AIA, and Alexander Person, AIA, framed the conversation by emphasizing that architecture is… Read more: Equity in Practice: Session 1
• 
  AIA Colorado & NOMA Colorado Host “State of DEI” RoundtableSeptember 30, 2025
  On Wednesday, September 24, AIA Colorado’s JEDI Committee partnered with NOMA Colorado to host The State of DEI in Colorado: What’s Next for the Architecture Profession? The event brought together architects, students, firm leaders, and community members to discuss the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the profession at a moment when such efforts face… Read more: AIA Colorado & NOMA Colorado Host “State of DEI” Roundtable
• 
  Designing Neuro-Inclusive and Accessible SpacesDecember 3, 2024
  Presented by Dr. Elena Sabinson, PhD, and Dr. Kait Peditto, PhD, at GENERATE 2024 Practice + Design Conference.  Article by Anna Friedrich, AIA, AIA Colorado Associate Director If Design Can Be the Source of Exclusion, Can It Also Be the Remedy? Designing Neuro-Inclusive and Accessible Spaces At this year’s Practice + Design Conference, the AIA Colorado J.E.D.I.… Read more: Designing Neuro-Inclusive and Accessible Spaces
• 
  Denver Public Schools 8th Grade Career FairDecember 2, 2024
  “Humans will always be an integral part of architecture,” explained Claire Messer, Master of Architecture student, College of Architecture and Planning at CU Denver, addressing an 8th grader who asked whether Artificial Intelligence was taking over the profession. “Imagine your community wants to build a new recreation center,” Messer continued. “Your ideas about the programs… Read more: Denver Public Schools 8th Grade Career Fair
• 
  Inaugural “Design Like a Girl” Workshop Series ConcludesMay 13, 2024
  AIA Colorado’s J.E.D.I. Committee is proud to announce the successful conclusion of the inaugural Colorado “Design Like a Girl” (DLAG) workshop series. The program, originally founded in Washington, D.C., by the Washington Architectural Foundation and was brought to Colorado through the inspiration and hard work of Sarah Goldblatt, AIA, and Britany Soler, Assoc. AIA, with… Read more: Inaugural “Design Like a Girl” Workshop Series Concludes
• 
  Design Like A Girl WorkshopMarch 19, 2024
  AIA Colorado J.E.D.I. committee and NOMA Colorado are proud to announce the success of the second “Design Like a Girl” (DLAG) workshop held on February 16th, 2024. Originally founded in Washington, DC by the Washington Architectural Foundation, DLAG began as a mentoring program for young women interested in the design and construction fields. Joanna Schmickel,… Read more: Design Like A Girl Workshop
• 
  ARE Study GroupFebruary 13, 2024
  What do you need to reach your ARE goals? Access to study materials? A group of peers studying for the same exam as you? A study schedule with people to help you stay accountable? Someone to help you work through those persistent difficult study questions? We all have the same goal, so why do it… Read more: ARE Study Group