NOMA, NAACP, and Design Corps Partner to Host the 2020 Social, Economic and Environmental Design (SEED) Awards

THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF MINORITY ARCHITECTS SUPPORTS DESIGN EXCELLENCE AWARDS FOCUSED ON JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

 WASHINGTON, D.C., JUNE 1, 2020 — The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) partnered with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Design Corps to announce the NOMA-NAACP Social Environmental and Economic Design (SEED) Awards. The purpose of the partnership is to highlight the built and conceptual projects in architecture, community design, and economic development that exemplify justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) at their core. 

“We announce this partnership and awards program in the wake of COVID-19 illuminating a disproportionate impact on the very communities that should be better served by the power of design, specifically, our under-invested communities of color,” said Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP, NOMA President and HOK Principal. “If there ever was a time to highlight the need for built work that promotes justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, now is that time. We must promote and support design, real estate, economic and community development that improves health outcomes and contributes to the triple bottom line well-being of communities.” 

The most important element of the awards will be demonstrating the impact of U.S.-based work in the areas of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in a variety of project categories, including: built work; landscapes; community development; industrial design/products; urban planning or other relevant designs initiatives. 

Designed by students or professionals, projects most demonstrate the following:

• JUSTICE: Demonstrated research and definition of each impacted group's unique needs; demonstrated methodology of need assessment that is balanced and fair; impact of the project to reverse history and advance fairness for all parties impacted by the project

• EQUITY: Demonstrated equity in the forms of beauty, access, decision-making processes incorporating community stakeholders needs, and outcomes 

• DIVERSITY: Demonstrated diverse project teams, project outcomes, and representation of persons, including race, ethnicity, gender, age, socioeconomic background, and geography.  

• INCLUSION: Illustrated and documented involvement and empowerment of diverse people and voices and influence of the voices on the final project design. 

Awards can be submitted until August 1, 2020, at SEEDNetwork.org. Six projects will be selected through a juried process of distinguished experts with finalists announced in advance of the NOMA Annual Conference in October 2020. The winning projects will receive a $1,000 honorarium. NOMA, NAACP, and Design Corps. will host content around the award-winning projects as part of the NOMA conference. This year’s NOMA conference theme is, “Spatial Shifts: Reclaming Our Cities.”  

The SEED Awards are hosted by Design Corps, which creates positive change in traditionally underserved communities by using design, advocacy, and education to help them shape their environment and address their social, economic, and environmental challenges. The SEED Awards are part of the SEED Network. 

Deadline: August 1, 2020

To apply for the award, visit: https://seednetwork.org/seed-evaluator-4-0/