President's message

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 I feel honored to have been elected by my peers to hold this position.  I hope that my election as first female president since the organization was formed in 1945 will encourage more women to get involved with the Institute. We have an exciting and busy year planned for you at the AIA Bronx and together, WE CAN DO IT!

Each year has its defining moments, but COVID-19 in 2020, will be remembered as a turnaround point in human history, not because of all the negatives but for the positives! It is offering us a chance to reinvent ourselves, and our way of practicing architecture!  This year, the global pandemic has taught me how to rebound, reorganize and re-imagine.  Thankfully, I was surrounded not only by my indefatigable friends at AIA-Bronx but also had the support of our sponsors, and most importantly our volunteers. They have been critical to our ability to navigate this dynamic set of circumstances successfully. I have tried countless times to express how proud I am of all of them, but I never do them justice.

To be an architect is a privilege that so few people have the opportunity to experience. In 2021, my goal is to make The AIA-Bronx more Visible and to Inspire, and motivate the young generation of future architects.  “You can’t be what you can’t see.” For that we will continue our children education program in the disadvantaged and minority communities of the Bronx. The program has a goal of educating children on what architects do and for them to meet and interact with minority and women architects in leadership positions. For our student and recently graduate members, we will start a mentoring program to create an environment that encourages them to pursue their dreams and find their voice.

I strongly believe that with crises come opportunities. We are excited by this new challenge! Holding virtual meetings, lectures, and AIA accredited webinars means that more architects in our chapter and around the world will be able to participate.  Many of our regular meetings qualify for AIA LU/HSW points!  Meetings are typically held on the third Thursday of the month, September to June.

Thank you again for your ongoing engagement and support of the Chapter. Now more than ever, I encourage you to be involved with our programs as a member of our city and our community, and as an active voice for our profession. We are proud to be a diverse, engaged chapter. We are proud that the Bronx and what we do matters. We know that we transform and change lives. A year of tremendous growth and significant change for our organization will continue in 2021.

Stay safe,

Sara Djazayeri

AIA Bronx Chapter President