August 2015 - Leadership Charrette with ELP Alumni

The August session of the AIA Emerging Leaders Program was hosted at the Dallas Center for Architecture on August 14^th.

This month’s class discussion, led by Pete, centered on conflict and conflict management.  Many times conflicts arise out of conscious or unconscious beliefs about the competition.  When parties clearly communicate and learn to ask the right questions, conflicts can be avoided or resolved diplomatically.  The class participated in a role playing activity where individuals were only provided portions of the story; inducing conflict.  An additional dynamic was added to the activity when each group needed to come to an internal resolution, then negotiate with an “outsider.”  Understanding one’s personal communication style, learning to ask the right questions and not rushing to assumptions helped to reduce these conflicts.

The second part of the class welcomed back previous years alumni for mixed group discussions.  This was a great opportunity to gain insight on their experience since the class and how the class has helped to shape their careers and work experiences.  Several topics were posed by Pete which prompted discussions on conflict, self-reflection and career goals.  Many shared how the class provided them skills to understand their co-workers, their own leadership style and helped them ask questions about themselves and where they wanted to be in the future.  Thank you to all who attended.

October 2015 - Cultural/Sustainable, The Citizen Architect

The October Emerging Leaders class, which was our last class of the year, was held at the Latino Cultural Center, just east of downtown Dallas.  We began with a brief introduction about the LCC, including their mission to serve as a catalyst for the preservation, development, and promotion of Latino and Hispanic arts and culture, and information about upcoming events.

We then had our final "check-in" as a class, which was our most spirited check-in of the year.  Pete noted how different this was from our first check-in back in February, which resulted from the bonds that have formed.  We then transitioned into a brief review of the lessons we had learned throughout the year, and filled out a diagrammatic cheat sheet that helped to illustrate the main topics that have been covered. 

After a short break, we discussed what we value in life, with the help of Pete's balance beam hypothetical.  We then engaged in a class-led study regarding life balance.  Everyone in the class filled out their own "Wheel of Life", which provided an introspective view of what areas in our life we are most fulfilled in, what areas in our life need work, and what we value the most.  We also discussed ways to feel more fulfilled in certain aspects of life, especially when the time balance seems to be slanted heavily towards our careers.

Finally, we ended the session with a "check-out" discussion regarding what each individual gained from the Emerging Leaders class throughout the year.  While we are all sad that the year has come to an end, we are grateful for the friendships that have formed with our classmates, the help and guidance from the ELP co-chairs, and the wisdom and inspiration that Pete has provided through the entire journey.  We look forward to getting together again for our ELP graduation on November 10th.

September 2015 - Community Activism

Photo Credit:  Andy Moon, 2015 ELP Co-Chair

Our September session for 2015 AIA Emerging Leaders Program was held at The Nasher Sculpture Center in downtown Dallas.

 

Before our scheduled panelists began, Diego Barrera, AIA gave us a quick overview of the ACE Mentor Program and how we could get involved as mentors. The mission of the program is to enlighten high school students to pursue careers in architecture, engineering and construction.

 

After Mr. Barrera’s presentation, we began to discuss September's topic, Community Activism, and we had two great community forces on hand for discussion. Our distinguished panelists were Patrick Kennedy, CNU AICP, urban planner and partner at Space Between Design Studio and prominent founder of the Coalition for a New Dallas, a political action committee, and Daron Babcock, founder of Bonton Farms, where the collective efforts of the last two ELP classes have been focused on designing the infrastructure of the working urban farm in South Dallas. Not only did we have these two inspirational leaders right in front of us, Daron brought Patrick Wright, a fellow resident of the Bonton Community.  All three gentlemen inspired us by describing how their forces for change within the community began, and how the grassroots nature of their efforts eventually won over widespread support for their initiatives.

 

Mr. Kennedy's efforts focused on his work with the Coalition for A New Dallas, a local PAC whose charge is to better inform community leaders and members of the prospects of implementing sound transportation and urban design principles in a broader regional framework.  Chiefly, the group's mission was to redirect TxDOT's efforts towards the rebuilding of the I-345 elevated viaduct that bifurcates Downtown Dallas and the Deep Ellum/East Dallas area towards a more sustainable and progressive model that replaces the aging viaduct with an at-grade boulevard and opens up land for development between Downtown and Deep Ellum, as well as, more importantly, removing the psychological barrier that the elevated freeway present to groups vying to bridge the disparate areas into a more cohesive Dallas.  Currently, the PAC's initiative is to engage political and civic leaders in moving the alternative vision for I-345 forward.

 

Mr. Babcock and Mr. Wright offered up their stories behind Bonton Farms in South Dallas, and how their lives were transformed from ones with [admittedly] little meaning to ones championing the great cause of offering up solutions for the "food desert" problems that plague low-income neighborhoods like Bonton, and addressing the broader problems of reducing crime, recidivism and drugs that plague these areas and refocusing on these with efforts that encourage and reward hard work and instilling community pride and cohesion and a path out of hopelessness.

Beyond sharing their stories, a fruitful discussion was had after their initial introduction.  Much appreciation goes out to these gentlemen for sharing some of their time and wisdom with us.