By Subcontractors USA News Provider
About NOMA
The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), which thrives only when voluntary members contribute their time and resources, has as its mission the building of a strong national organization, strong chapters and strong members for the purpose of minimizing the effect of racism in this profession.
Strength in NOMA is built through unity in the cause that created the organization. Their impact is felt when the organization wrestles with the dilemmas that face this nation, particularly as they affect this profession. There is strength in numbers. By increasing the number of people in this organization, they add strength to the voice with which they can speak against apathy, bigotry, intolerance and ignorance; against abuse of the natural environment; and for the un-empowered, the marginalized and the disenfranchised.
By building a strong organization, they develop a showcase for the excellence and creativity which have been ignored for so long. Through their publications and conferences, they are able to inform the world that minority professionals have the talent and capabilities to perform in design and construction with any other group.
By building strong chapters of design professionals whose sensibilities and interests include promotion of urban communities, they are able to respond to the concerns that affect marginalized communities and people. Their goals are to increase the level of participation in the social, political and economic benefits afforded the citizens of this nation and to tear down the barriers that make full participation unattainable. Chapters give members a base from which to be involved in politics, to visit schools and reach out to children, to conduct community and civic forums and to responsibly practice in their professional capacities.
NOMA’s mission, rooted in a rich legacy of activism, is to empower the organization’s local chapters and membership to foster justice and equity in communities of color through outreach, community advocacy, professional development and design excellence.
Aims and Objectives
NOMA has been organized to:
- Foster communications and fellowship among minority architects
- Form a federation of existing and proposed local minority architectural groups
- Fight discrimination and other selection policies being used by public and private sector clients to unfairly restrict minority architects’ participation in design and construction
- Act as a clearing house for information and maintain a roster on practitioners
- Promote the design and development of living, working, and recreational environments
- Create and maintain relationships with other professionals and technicians whose work affects the physical and social environment
- Encourage the establishment of coalitions of member firms and individuals to form associate and joint venture relationships
- Speak with a common voice on public policy
- Work with local, state, and national governments on issues affecting the physical development of neighborhoods and communities
- Be an effective source of motivation and inspiration for minority youth
For more information on NOMA, please visit www.noma.net.
Source: NOMA
