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SUMMARY:The 2nd Annual AIA|LA Immigration Summit: Workforce Leadership and the Future of Architectural Practice
DESCRIPTION:Click here for Ticket Purchase Instructions & Support. \nEVENT DETAILS\nWorkforce Leadership and the Future of Architectural Practice \nBuilding on the success of the inaugural 2025 AIA|LA Immigration Summit\, this second convening deepens the profession’s engagement with immigration as a force shaping workforce resilience\, firm leadership\, and the future of architectural practice in Los Angeles. Amid a shifting federal policy landscape\, the 2026 Summit equips architects\, educators\, and emerging professionals with actionable strategies — while amplifying the voices driving change. \nSUMMIT THEMES & STRATEGIC INTENT \nThe 2026 Summit synthesizes four interconnected themes that carry the conversation from the 2025 inaugural event into actionable territory: \n\nEconomic Impact → Firm Strategy The 2025 Summit documented immigrants’ outsized contribution to California’s AEC economy. In 2026\, we translate that data into firm-level practice: how should leaders recruit\, retain\, and advance this talent?\nPolicy Landscape → Professional Response New federal rules threaten to remove architecture from recognized professional degree classifications\, cutting off the international student pipeline. The Summit equips professionals to respond and advocate.\nEducational Pipeline → Licensure Access. From an international student to a licensed architect is a complex journey. The Summit maps barriers\, highlights successful pathways\, and connects students with mentors.\nWorkforce Resilience → Leadership Development Post-wildfire Los Angeles is rebuilding. The AEC industry depends on a diverse\, skilled workforce. The Summit strengthens the profession’s capacity to lead through disruption.\n\nWHO SHOULD ATTEND \n• Architecture firm principals and managers seeking workforce strategies\n• Emerging professionals navigating licensure as first-generation or international graduates\n• Architecture students exploring careers in the U.S. context\n• Educators designing inclusive curricula and student support programs\n• AIA Fellows\, senior practitioners\, and JEDI advocates\n• Allied AEC professionals in engineering\, construction\, planning\, and landscape architecture \nClick here to sponsor this event! \nFinancial Sponsors will be recognized through promotional materials\, event signage\, printed program\, and verbal acknowledgment. Sponsorship opportunities are available — contact will@aialosangeles.org. \n \nStudents will be central to our presentation and panels\, please enjoy some interviews with some student panelists: \n\nYiceth Cosby\nMyisha Arellano\nMonique Nogueira\n\nAIA CES: 4 LU Approved\n \nLearning Objectives \nParticipants will review data-driven perspectives on immigration\, the AEC pipeline\, and Los Angeles’s role on the global stage \nParticipants will be able to describe how recent federal policy changes—including threats to remove architecture from recognized professional degree lists—affect the pathway from international student to licensed architect \nParticipants will discuss the themes of foreign credential recognition\, ARE access for international graduates\, visa pathways for architecture students\, and ways to design inclusive academic pipelines \nParticipants will be able to outline how firm principals can actively recruit\, mentor\, and advance immigrant professionals — and why it’s a competitive advantage \nParticipants will explore how the AEC industry depends on a diverse\, skilled workforce as post-wildfire Los Angeles is rebuilding. \nPROGRAM & AGENDA: Click here to download the program. \nWELCOME\, COFFEE & BREAKFAST = (8:00 am – 8:20 am) \nOPENING REMARKS = (8:20 am – 8:30 am) \nToni Lewis\, AIA  — President\, AIA Los Angeles & Principal\, Lewis|Schoeplein Architects \nKEYNOTE ADDRESSES — Designing the Workforce of Tomorrow = (8:30 am – 9:30 am)\nData-driven perspectives on immigration\, the AEC pipeline\, and Los Angeles’s role on the global stage \nCecilia V. Estolano – CEO & Founder\, Estolano Advisors Workforce equity\, economic development\, and design in underserved communities \nMiguel A. Santana – President & CEO\, California Community Foundation Philanthropy\, immigrant talent\, and investment in the profession’s future \nCOFFEE BREAK (9:30 am – 9:45 am) \nCoffee Break & Networking Light refreshments | Connect with speakers\, sponsors\, and fellow attendees \nPANEL #1 – (9:45 am – 10:45 am) – From Classroom to Career: Navigating the Educational Pipeline \nHow recent federal policy changes—including threats to remove architecture from recognized professional degree lists—affect the pathway from international student to licensed architect.  \nDiscussion themes: Foreign credential recognition | ARE access for international graduates | Visa pathways for architecture students | Designing inclusive academic pipelines \nHeather Flood\, Assoc. AIA – Dean\, Woodbury School of Architecture \nMohamed Sharif\, AIA – Director\, Undergraduate Program\, UCLA Architecture and Urban Design \nMyisha Arellano – LACCD Student & Public Artist \nMonique Nogueira – Brazilian Architect\, Architecture and Environmental Design Student\, Los Angeles Trade-Technical College & Building Resilient Futures Fellow \nCristian I. Benoit\, Assoc. AIA\, NOMAS\, AIAS – Inaugural Cohort\, BSBP Program at College of the Canyons\, NOMAS National Student Leadership Committee\, AIA | ACLA 2×8 Committee \nYiceth Cosby – Architecture & Design Student\, Pasadena City College \n  \nNETWORKING BREAK (10:45 am – 11:00 am) \nLight refreshments | Connect with speakers\, sponsors\, and fellow attendees \nPANEL #2 – (11:00 am – 12:00 pm) – Building from Within: Immigrant Leadership in Architecture Firms \nHow firm principals can actively recruit\, mentor\, and advance immigrant professionals — and why it’s a competitive advantage \nDiscussion themes: Mentorship and sponsorship across cultural contexts | Visa sponsorship and firm obligations | Retention strategies for international talent | Building inclusive firm cultures \nJennifer Horn\, PLA\, ASLA\, ISA – Founding Director\, Design Demands Labor \nYu-Ngok Lo\, FAIA – Principal\, YNL Architects | President\, Immigrant Architect Coalition \nFlora Chou\, LEED AP – Associate Principal & Cultural Resources Planner\, Page & Turnbull \n  \nCLOSING REMARKS: (12:00pm) –  \nMitra Memari\, AIA\, NCARB\, LEED AP B+C – Community Regional Director\, HKS \nCheck her recent Q&A here! \nRESOURCES: \n\nBusiness Perspectives on Immigrant Talent & Economic Growth\n\n\nNew Analysis Shows International Students Contributed $44 Billion to the U.S. Economy Last Academic Year – \n\n\nThe Role of International Students in U.S. Innovation and Global Competitiveness – \n\n\nNAFSA International Student Economic Value Tool\nMore to be added\n\n 
URL:https://www.aialosangeles.org/event/the-aiala-immigration-summit-2026/
LOCATION:Center for Communities\, 4450 West Adams\, Los Angeles\, CA\, 90016
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