We looked into the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), and saw their closest chapters were in Boston, MA and in Hartford, CT. We thought that perhaps we should start one in Rhode Island. As we dove deeper into the requirements, it became clear that it would be difficult to meet them. Unsure if there were other professionals in the field with the same need and interest as ours, we decided to host a meetup event to feel the pulse of the community. We felt that in order to diminish barriers, the events had to be free to all attending and to further the cause we wanted to host the events at minority owned businesses. As we developed the parameters for the meetup, our initial idea to find other minority architects organically grew to include all design fields. Our goal was to create a space where we could see, be seen, and connect with other minority professionals and allies in order to create a support system within the design field.

Looking back at the last year and how the community has embraced these events, it is clear that we have embarked on a journey that will reshape the landscape of Rhode Island. With every meetup, we are achieving our goal of bringing people together in order to create a visible group of diverse professionals who support each other. Our hope is that this visibility will attract more diverse students and professionals to live, work and invest in Rhode Island. Students will see that they too belong in the design field and that there is a network here that will support their development.

We have many plans for the future that will foster growth in our community and build a stronger network for designers of all backgrounds. We are looking forward to continuing on this journey with all of you, our RIMiAD family.