AIA|LA CIVICS Committee - September

AIA|LA CIVICS Committee
Tuesday, September 21 (6:00-8:00pm)
AIA Los Angeles
3780 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800
Los Angeles, CA 90010

RSVP to WILL WRIGHT.

AIA|LA CIVICS Committee
For multi professional disciplines in the LA region
-includes architects, planners, landscape architects from the entire LA region-

MISSION
To inspire and support more architects to become civic leaders in their neighborhood & city and provide guidance, especially to emerging professionals, on how to become more effectively engaged in their communities. This committee will not deal with advocacy issues, but will focus on providing leadership resources to those currently serving and suggest pathways to follow to those with the interest in serving.

MAIN GOALS LONGTERM
1. Help place 20 professionals per year in civic engagement training programs region wide.
2. Support the involvement and election of architects and planners on every neighborhood council (approximately 90 citywide). Help neighborhood councils place architects and planners on their planning sub committees (a non-elected position).
3. Create slates of candidates for mayoral appointees on commissions. Set appointment ambitions.

MEETING STRUCTURE PER YEAR
Three events coupled with mini meetings
- Purpose: To provide recruitment, member support, networking opportunities to create the maximum interest in civic engagement
- Planned by Farmteam subcommittee with one event per year to be a training session
Three meetings
- Purpose: To conduct committee business and planning meetings hosted by committee and subcommittee chairs. Open to all members.
- Planned by All Civics Network & Subcommittee Chairs
One honor reception hosted annually for design professionals past or currently serving as public leaders (to be defined) with special mention of the newly recruited.
- Purpose: To recognize the commitment of design professionals to our City and communities
- Option: This event could be a stand alone or folded into an existing AIA event
- Planned by All Civics Network

COMMITTEE STRUCTURE
1. Candidate Farmteam, a subcommittee
- To provide outreach, recruitment and candidate support, emphasizing diversity including design professionals emerging professionals and students all with geographic inclusion.
2. Candidate Opportunities & Training, a subcommittee
- To set up a virtual information and awareness network.
- Find two committee members to volunteer one or two hours a week to be "email networkers." Can also use tools like LinkedIn, a professional networking tool.
- Once a week these volunteers would send emails, sort received information, and pass this information on in order to spread knowledge, identify openings at all levels, and distribute the information to AIA membership. Starting with the council districts awareness for the work of this AIA committee is spread. Through feedback openings could be identified and the network of contacts expanded. Within a short time frame the network should be able to identify the majority of openings.
- This network would also list a wide selection of local civic engagement leadership training opportunities
3. All Civics Network, a subcommittee
- To recognize and cohesively engage an extended group of professionals to share experience and provide mutual support to each other and Farmteam via newsletter or blog.
- These alumni would be a resource for placement and for the three committee events.
- Alumni would include all past and present professionals serving as public leaders (to be defined)

APPOINTMENT BOARD & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TRAINING PLACEMENT
Gather a group of professionals with public affairs experience including AIA, APA, and ASLA board members to help identify and vet possible candidates for a "candidate's slate" to recognize and assist in the placement of civic leaders for crucial top level opportunities (for example, planning commission).

Also, to help identify and vet possible scholarship candidates for public affairs training. These scholarships would provide matching funds with the candidate for existing programs of the applicant's choice (in their own neighborhoods). These programs are typically in the $3,000 - $4,000 range and can be completed while working. Examples include CORO neighborhood programs, chamber of commerce, and civic leadership programs.

July 21, 2010
This is a draft document. All comments are welcomed and encouraged.

Co-Chairs:
Ashley Z. Hand, LEED AP BD+C, Assoc. AIA & Bill Roschen, FAIA, LEED AP

Last Updated: August 4, 2010