Black History Month a Time to Highlight ASLA's Diversity Initiative

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) marks Black History Month by spotlighting the African American landscape architects who, along with their Latino colleagues, are helping to expand the Society's diversity profile

According to ASLA President K. Richard Zweifel, FASLA, ASLA has a longstanding commitment to inclusion and is communicating and educating about the landscape architecture profession to diverse communities. ASLA is undertaking outreach that includes a redesigned career discovery page for students, including "personal paths" video interviews with minority landscape architects, and an education hub for teachers launched last year.

"The celebration of Black History Month is very important to ASLA," said Zweifel. "We want everyone to know that African American landscape architects are providing incredible contributions through their design skills and environmental stewardship in making our communities better places to live and raise our children. We also want parents, teachers and children to know about landscape architecture and the satisfying and creative professional career it offers."

In order to help develop and further action items and strategies to increase diversity in the landscape architecture profession, ASLA launched a multi-year commitment in July 2013 to sponsor a series of annual multicultural focus summits with landscape architects representing a variety of practice types. The African American landscape architects who participated in the June 2014 summit included:

C.L. Bohannon, Ph.D, ASLA. Bohannon is an assistant professor of landscape architecture at Virginia Tech, where he also received his doctorate in architecture design research in 2014. His prior leadership roles with ASLA include serving on the Florida ASLA Chapter's executive committee from 2008 to 2011, the Society's Council of Education from 2008 to 2009 and the Test Prep Committee from 2007 to 2008. He is a current member of the Committee on Education.

Wesley Brown, ASLA. Brown is the project manager of planning and capital projects at Central Atlanta Progress – downtown Atlanta's business improvement district. In this role, Brown is responsible for managing downtown Atlanta's infrastructure improvements and strategic planning efforts, which create vibrant public spaces and improve mobility. Brown received a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture from North Carolina State University and a master's degree in urban design from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Domini Cunningham, Assoc. ASLA. Cunningham is a landscape designer with BETA Group Inc. and received two master's degrees from Auburn University, one in landscape architecture and another in community planning. At Auburn he was part of a team that received a 2014 ASLA Professional Honor Award in the Research Category for "The Phenology Project."

Michael Hill, ASLA. Hill's career has been devoted to empowering youth and communities to reconnect to and shape the places they live, play, work and learn. He works as a landscape architect for the U.S. Forest Service's Independent Resources Enterprise Team, and supports the agency through meeting facilitation, youth program support, scenery analysis, recreation facilities planning and design. He received his master's degree in landscape architecture and planning from Virginia Tech in 2011. 

Janelle Johnson, ASLA. Johnson is a senior landscape architect at OLIN Studio. Her professional experience spans both the public and private sectors as a landscape designer and project manager. She has worked on a variety of projects including the design and construction of city parks and urban design strategies for distressed communities. She received her master's degree in landscape architecture and regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania in 2010.

Tammy Martin, Assoc. ASLA. Martin has worked in human resources for more than 12 years and is currently transitioning to the field of landscape architecture and urban planning. She graduated with distinction with a master's certificate in landscape architecture from the University of California Los Angeles Extension. She works as a regional human resources coordinator for Zenith Education Group and also performs landscape design and consulting through Tammy Martin Landscape Design.

Courtney Hinson Cason, ASLA. With more than six years of experience in the land development industry, Hinson Cason works as a planner for Parsons Brinckerhoff. Her previous experience includes working as a planner and landscape architect for a civil engineering, surveying and land-planning firm. She received her master's degree in landscape architecture from North Carolina State University in 2007.

Christopher L. Sanders, Associate ASLA. Sanders is a designer with SWT Design whose career focus is environmental stewardship and innovation. He had previously been a conservation specialist with the Big Bend Groundwater Management District in Stafford, Kansas. He earned his master's degree in landscape architecture from Kansas State University in 2012.

Lindsey D. Smith, ASLA. Smith is the assistant chief landscape architect for the city of New Orleans Department of Parks and Parkways. His career has emphasized design, community engagement, project management and communications skills. He earned his bachelor's degree in landscape architecture from Mississippi State University in 2004 and is currently studying for a master's degree in urban and regional planning from the University of New Orleans.

About the American Society of Landscape Architects

Founded in 1899, ASLA is the national professional association for landscape architects, representing more than 15,000 members in 49 professional chapters and 72 student chapters. Members of the Society use "ASLA" after their names to denote membership and their commitment to the highest ethical standards of the profession. Landscape architects lead the stewardship, planning, and design of our built and natural environments; the Society's mission is to advance landscape architecture through advocacy, communication, education, and fellowship.

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SOURCE American Society of Landscape Architects

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