I will look forward to co-leading a half-day workshop at the 2025 ACSA Annual Conference in New Orleans with Tya Winn and Andrew Hart, entitled: The Justice Alliance for Design Education Studio: A transformative experience for students and faculty seeking to elevate their JEDI Leadership. More info will be posted when it becomes available.
Session description
Authentic and Permanent Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (JEDI) are vital for thriving architecture programs. The Justice Alliance for Design Education (JADE) is a consortium of six Philadelphia-based design schools developing a prototype program for use in design education nationally. JADE develops and supports schools and faculty to move design schools beyond ‘awareness’ of JEDI to its integration as a fundamental part of design foundations – just as visual representation, sustainability, and structures.
However, JEDI is often misconstrued as an “end state” or an issue to be addressed, with an opportunity for all students, regardless of background, to have a richer and more meaningful experience in a justice-centered learning environment. This workshop reframes JEDI as a foundational skill for conscious designers. The workshop will explore how JADE is developing, supporting, and practicing these concepts as foundational design skills. Participants will be guided through the process, and have an opportunity to share their own experiences to adapt a design learning experience in small groups.