Reflections on NOMA’s 2024 National Conference in Baltimore 

As an organization that values justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, Ayers Saint Gross is proud to have many employees who are involved with – as both leaders and members – the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). This past year, several Ayers Saint Gross employees participated in NOMA’s 2024 national conference, The eXchange. The four-day event, which took place in Baltimore, drew more than 1,500 architects, allied professionals, and students from across the country.  

Architect Jordan Rhodes was a member of NOMA Baltimore’s Conference Executive Planning Committee, which helped organize and plan conference events. She also served on the Legacy Project Planning Committee which helped organize a design charette and community engagement event to honor the former Western Potter’s Field, a former burial ground for poor or unidentified people located in East Baltimore.  

As part of the event, NOMA members engaged with Cherry Hill residents, including elementary school students and 3rd and 4th generation community members, to imagine a way to preserve and honor the site’s legacy. The local chapter distributed a workbook about the site’s history and took steps to compile the charette findings, which they later shared with community members.  

“The ‘We Were Here: Potter’s Field Recognition’ was our passion project from start to finish, and I gained so much in return,” Jordan said. “I learned new skills, and the meaningful conversations strengthened my commitment to community advocacy. Everyone was fully engaged because the excitement from the community members was contagious.”  

Monica Retzke, an associate in our architecture studio, also attended the 2024 conference and said some of her highlights were sessions focused on inclusive design and queer spaces, the importance of social equity in sustainable design, and the ethics and possibilities for AI.  

“The NOMA Conference offered me a wide range of networking opportunities and excellent seminars and tours,” Monica said. “The sessions I attended changed me not only as a professional but as a person, helping me to take a different perspective and approach when I’m designing a space.” 

Architect Lonna Babu and Lyric Barmer participated in the conference’s Grad Fair and Expo, where they connected with students and aspiring architects from around the country.  

The Ayers Saint Gross team also hosted a group of 20 students from the SoCal NOMA chapter for a tour of our office in Baltimore on Friday afternoon.    

“NOMA does such an incredible job of supporting students and providing opportunities for them to connect to professionals, schools, and mentors,” Lonna said. “It was so great to connect with these students at the conference and share our collective visions for a more diverse profession and how that makes the work we do better, as a design firm.”

Overall, The eXchange left our team inspired and energized to continue building connections and creating spaces that empower communities. We are excited to keep building on this partnership with NOMA in the years to come.