The Legacy of Whitney Young: RIDING THE VORTEX (VORTEX)
Named for civil rights leader Whitney M. Young Jr., this award distinguishes an architect or architectural organization that embodies social responsibility and actively addresses a relevant issue, such as affordable housing, inclusiveness, or universal access. This session features the winner of the 2022 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award, RIDING THE VORTEX (VORTEX).
For more than a decade, VORTEX, a collaboration of African-American women representing the entire spectrum of practice, had endeavored to increase the number of people of color licensed to practice architecture in the U.S. Following its 2007 launch at the AIA Conference on Architecture in San Antonio, VORTEX has directly responded to Whitney M. Young Jr.’s observations on the disheartening history of American architecture. Even today, through the first quarter of the 21st century, entry, success, and progress in the profession remain dominated by white men, something VORTEX works tirelessly to change. This session highlights the work of VORTEX and its impact on the increased number of African-American women architects.