AWA+D’s mission is to support women in the architecture and design field, and aims to connect both professionals and students with career opportunities through educational programming and mentoring. In the last few years, the organization has made a renewed commitment to these efforts and with the launch of a formal mentorship program this fall continues to work even harder on this pursuit.
The AWA+D Mentorship Program will focus on bringing its members together into mentor/mentee relationships that will foster a two-way dialogue about the profession, and offer avenues towards developing lasting relationships. While the designated mentorship period is one year, our hope is to extend the interactions into multi-year experiences with the aid of targeted programs and support. Planned events currently include:
November 2012 — “Matchmaking” Event
Members of all levels will be encouraged to engage in brief one-on-one conversations with each other in order to identify suitable mentor/mentee pairs. Architecture and design students, recent graduates and mid-career professionals can engage in brief one-on-one conversations with members designated as potential mentors.
March 2013 — Portfolio Review
Mentees looking to improve their portfolios and chances of succeeding in the architecture and design field will have an opportunity to have their work reviewed by other AWA+D members for constructive critique and feedback. A series of brief lectures focusing on career building will accompany this event.
May 2013 — Mentorship Event
Members will be able to share stories as well as collect feedback and suggestions that will help guide the mentorship committee in further strengthening the program.
Whether you are a founding principal/employee/partner of a firm or a hopeful student, we encourage all AWA+D members to take part in this program. Please contact our Mentorship Committee if you are interested in participating in the program as a mentor or mentee, and for more general information, visit our website at awa-la.org.