The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee works to promote and develop strategies to increase the numbers of professionals of color to align with population proportions and to improve their experiences within the profession. We are also committed to advancing the leadership of women within the industry and profession. We hold that our environment must be developed with the experiences of diverse professionals.

RESOURCES 
EDUCATION:

• DEI Foundations/workshops 
  • Pittsburgh’s EDI committee has established DEI Foundations/ workshops for firms to receive training. 
  • Topics available | Foundations ED&I; Implicit Bias; White Fragility 
  • Forthcoming Topics: Onboarding & Welcoming; Civility
  • Contact Tiffany Castagno via info@aiapgh.org.  Use this link for more information.

SUPPORT: 

• EDI Initiatives in the state are varied with different focuses and target groups. 
• Full ongoing document for view:  EDI Initiatives around Pennsylvania 

AIA PA BUILDING FUTURES PROGRAM (New Initiative for 2025) 
This program will provide high school students who attended a NOMA Project Pipeline summer camp with a shadowing opportunity to explore architecture and design. Participants will attend the NOMA National Conference in Kansas City (Oct 8-12, 2025), accompanied by a parent or guardian, to experience networking, professional workshops, and exposure to career pathways in the industry.

The goals of the program are:

• Empower students: Offer the students exposure to architecture and design professionals through the conference and shadowing opportunities.
• Strengthen Connections: Build long-term mentorship opportunities by pairing students with architects at the conference.
• Increase representation: Encourage diverse representation by advancing the pipeline for underrepresented students.

More information about applying for this program will be posted when available.

July 2025 EDI Calendar

July is Disability Pride Month which celebrates the nearly 1 billion disabled people worldwide. In the United States, nearly 15% of the population identifies as disabled. It aims to end the stigma of disability and to promote the idea that it is a normal part of human diversity. Learn more at: https://thearc.org/blog/why-and-how-to-celebrate-disability-pride-month/

July 2 – Thurgood Marshall’s Birthday: The day Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and civil rights activist Thurgood Marshall was born. Learn more at: https://www.naacpldf.org/about-us/history/thurgood-marshall/

July 4 – Independence Day, known colloquially as the Fourth of July, commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America. Learn more at: https://www.history.com/articles/july-4th

July 6 – Dalai Lama’s Birthday: The day that Tibet’s leader in exile and Nobel Peace Prize recipient was born. Learn more at: https://www.dalailama.com/

July 18 – Nelson Mandela’s Birthday: Nelson Mandela served as South Africa’s first black president and was a strong civil rights leader. Learn more at: https://www.nelsonmandela.org/biography

July 26 – Americans with Disabilities Act: This law protects people with disabilities from being discriminated against. Learn more at: https://adaanniversary.org/