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 BassMayor, City of Los Angeles (10am – 10:45am)

Denice Wint Vice President, Real Estate Development, EAH Housing & President, SCANPH

Faizah MalikManaging Attorney, Public Counsel

Christopher Ira Koontz, AICPDirector, Community Development Department, City of Long Beach

Matthew Trotter AIA, NOMA, NCARBAssociate, Cuningham & President, SoCal NOMA

Kevin Daly, FAIA Founder, Kevin Daly Architects & Adjunct Professor, UCLA Architecture & Urban Design

Ralph Mechur, AIAPrincipal, 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, AIAAssociate 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 APAssociate 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 LockDeputy 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, NOMACPrincipal, 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 BriereFounder, C+C Ventures

Dr. Dana CuffProfessor, Architecture and Urban Design, & Director, cityLAB – UCLA

Umaymah RashidPublic 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-DavisPlanning Deputy, Council District 10 & Director At Large, BPLA

Ryan JohnsonInterim 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
Chava Danielson, AIA
2025 President, AIA Los Angeles &
Principal, DSH // Architecture
Hon. Karen Bass
Mayor, City of Los Angeles
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

Day 1 Speakers - June 13th
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

Day 1 Speakers - June 13th
Thea Trindle
City Planner, Los Angeles City Planning
Blair Smith
Senior City Planner, Los Angeles City Planning
Carlos Augusto Garcia, AIA, NCARB, WELL AP
AIA|LA Board of Directors, & Architect, Brooks + Scarpa

Day 2 Speakers - June 20th
Nithya Raman
Councilmember, District #4, City of Los Angeles
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

Day 2 Speakers - June 20th
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
Karen Mack
Founder & Executive Director, Leimert Park-based LA Commons
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

Day 2 Speakers - June 20th
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

Champion Sponsor

Student Scholarship Sponsors

Friends of Design for Dignity Sponsors

Participating Sponsors
Kadre Architects
Reframe Systems
Hanson LA
SALT Landscape Architects