Housing an Inclusive Community
The 10th Annual "Design For Dignity” Conference
Design For Dignity: From Ashes to Equity – Building Resilient and Just Communities With Innovative Housing Solutions
The 10th Annual Design For Dignity conference will confront the intertwined crises of housing affordability, social inequity, and climate-driven disasters in Los Angeles. It will explore innovative design, policy, and community strategies to increase housing affordability, combat homelessness, and build resilient, healthy neighborhoods. Moving beyond basic shelter, the event will champion well-being, empower marginalized communities, and leverage data-driven, interdisciplinary approaches for a just and equitable housing ecosystem. With a focus on wildfire recovery and resilient design, the conference urges design professionals to advocate for systemic change and ensure housing is a human right.
Attendees will:
- Analyze the relationship between design, policy, and technology in creating livable neighborhoods, including the role of the AIA|LA.
- Investigate solutions and best practices for addressing homelessness, including innovative housing typologies and community-based strategies.
- Evaluate policy, procedural, and regulatory reforms to streamline housing development, promote density, and achieve housing equity.
- Examine resilient design and community preparedness for wildfire recovery and other climate-driven disasters.
- Explore the connection between housing, health, and community well-being, and utilize data-driven approaches to inform design and policy decisions.
WHEN | WHERE | LEARNING UNITS
Friday, June 13th & Friday, June 20th | 7:30 am – 12:30 pm
Design for Dignity 2025 will be at AIA|LA’s Center for Communities located at 4450 West Adams Blvd. LA, CA 90016
This year, to expand access, we’re organizing the 10th annual Design For Dignity conference as a two-part conference held on two consecutive Friday mornings = Friday, June 13th (7:30 am – 12:30 pm) and Friday, June 20th (7:30 am – 12:30 pm)
Learning Objectives
AIA CES: Submitted for approval
PROGRAM
FRIDAY, JUNE 13 (7:30am – 12:30pm)
Chava Danielson, AIA – 2025 President, AIA Los Angeles & Principal, DSH // architecture
Hon. Karen Bass – Mayor, City of Los Angeles (10am – 10:45am)
Denice Wint – Vice President, Real Estate Development, EAH Housing & President, SCANPH
Faizah Malik – Managing Attorney, Public Counsel
Christopher Ira Koontz, AICP – Director, Community Development Department, City of Long Beach
Matthew Trotter AIA, NOMA, NCARB – Associate, Cuningham & President, SoCal NOMA
Kevin Daly, FAIA – Founder, Kevin Daly Architects & Adjunct Professor, UCLA Architecture & Urban Design
Ralph Mechur, AIA – Principal, Ralph Mechur Architects & Cloverfield Commons
Robert Jernigan, FAIA, LEED AP – Senior Vice President, CLAYCO & Team Palisades
Michael H. Anderson, AIA, NOMA – Principal, Anderson Barker Architects
Raeven Flores, AIA – Associate Principal & Housing Director, Practice
Christine Bustillos – City Planning Associate, Los Angeles City Planning
Thea Trindle – City Planner, Los Angeles City Planning
Blair Smith – Senior City Planner, Los Angeles City Planning
Carlos Augusto Garcia, AIA, NCARB, WELL AP – Associate Principal & Studio Director, BROOKS + SCARPA & Co-Chair, AIA|LA Government Outreach Committee
FRIDAY, JUNE 20 (7:30am – 12:30pm)
Nithya Raman – Councilmember, District #4, City of Los Angeles (available from 11am to 12pm)
Connor Lock – Deputy Mayor of Housing, Office of Mayor Rex Richardson, City of Long Beach
Heather Flood, AIA – Dean & Professor, School of Architecture, Woodbury University
Steven Lewis, FAIA, NOMAC – Principal, ZGF Architects
Darcy L. Coleman – Vice President | Asset and Investment Management, Alagem Capital Group
Lewis C. Horne – President for Advisory Services, CBRE
David P. Waite – Partner, Cox Castle Nicholson, LLP
Clare De Briere – Founder, C+C Ventures
Dr. Dana Cuff – Professor, Architecture and Urban Design, & Director, cityLAB – UCLA
Umaymah Rashid – Public Relations Specialist, Los Angeles City Planning
Kyle Winston – City Planner, Los Angeles City Planning & President, Black Planners of Los Angeles (BPLA)
Terri Osbourne – Planning Deputy, Council District 8 & Vice President, BPLA
Hakeem Parke-Davis – Planning Deputy, Council District 10 & Director At Large, BPLA
Ryan Johnson – Interim CEO, Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA)
Greg Kochanowski, AIA, ASLA – Design Principal, Practice
Toni Lewis, AIA, LEED AP – President-elect, AIA Los Angeles & Principal, Lewis | Schoeplein Architects
TICKETS
CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS – for JUNE 13th or for a 2-Day Pass to both days
CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS – for JUNE 20th
AIA Member – $100 per day or $175 for a 2-day pass
Non-Member – $160 per day or $235 for a 2-day pass
Students – $50 per day or $80 for a 2-day pass
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Support a conference that advances our profession, increase visibility for your firm, and pick up tickets for your staff.
Click on the image below to become a sponsor!
Day 1 Speakers - June 13th
Day 1 Speakers - June 13th
Kevin Daly, FAIA
Founder, Kevin Daly Architects & Adjunct Professor, UCLA Architecture & Urban Design
Day 1 Speakers - June 13th
Carlos Augusto Garcia, AIA, NCARB, WELL AP
AIA|LA Board of Directors, & Architect, Brooks + Scarpa
Day 2 Speakers - June 20th
Day 2 Speakers - June 20th
Kyle Winston
City Planner, Los Angeles City Planning & President, Black Planners of Los Angeles (BPLA)
Day 2 Speakers - June 20th
Toni Lewis, AIA, LEED AP
President-elect, AIA Los Angeles & Principal, Lewis | Schoeplein Architects
Champion Sponsor
Student Scholarship Sponsors
Friends of Design for Dignity Sponsors
Participating Sponsors
Kadre Architects
Reframe Systems
Hanson LA
SALT Landscape Architects
