Standing in Solidarity. Taking Action.

As Wyzendale announces its launch to the public, we would be remiss to not speak on current events and address the way racism has negatively affected our nation for decades. 

We stand firmly alongside minority communities in the fight for equality and justice, and we fully support the Black Lives Matter movement and protests that have convened across our nation and the globe over the past several days. 

The Role We Play

We are encompassed by the built world. We live in it. We play in it. We work in it. We learn in it. We get from one place to another through it. This means that, as designers, we play a direct role in the impact these spaces can have on their occupants. These spaces create the framework for all aspects of our lives together.

As designers, we have a responsibility to design in thoughtful ways that uplift communities, in ways that promote safety and wellbeing, prioritize accessibility, preserve culture, and benefit residents as a whole. We have a responsibility to ensure that our design processes are equitable, fair, and truly inclusive from the onset. Furthermore, we have a responsibility to proactively create change at the corporate level, working to diversify leadership and representation across our industry as a whole. 

As the National Association for Minority Architects architects said in its recent statement: "... architects who want to fight racial injustice should start by eradicating it in their own practices first." 

Educate, Reflect, Act

Getting to the root of the flawed systems that currently exist in our nation is required in order for our society to recognize the depth of how these systems have broadened disparities across economic, health and social lines (see: The Color of Law, The New Jim Crow, Stamped From the Beginning, Between the World and Me, and more). 

In order for planners, architects, and designers to design for a more just future, it is essential that we understand these root causes and grasp their impact on creating systemic inequities across a multitude of sectors.

As much as we believe listening to and empathizing with the communities we serve can guide us through the design process, it is simply not enough. True inclusivity does more than passively incorporate community feedback — it involves these essential voices at the onset and includes them in all points of the decision making process. 

And as we continue to learn, to reimagine, to take stands and make calls to action, each of us must also look inward. This begins with assessing and breaking down our own implicit biases and understanding how we have benefited from the current framework through which our society has been built upon. 

Then, we must take action. There are so many ways to do this, and we can start by reflecting on some of the following questions: What active role are we playing in our respective industries to challenge systemic racism and ensure equity moving forward? How are we providing those whose voices we need to hear the loudest as we move forward to change society with the ability and resources to participate in these conversations? How are we connecting with our youth to provide them with pathways directly into industries they are severely underrepresented in?

What Wyzendale is Doing

Our team is committed to the cause, and we intend to align our actions with our beliefs as we bring our talents to market. Here are some ways we are doing this:

• Wyzendale is committed to balancing the client types for which we are providing services. We have a strong desire to work with nonprofits, community development corporations, and other similar groups to provide them with resources, support, and all encompassing services to bring to life the visions and aspirations they have set forth in their neighborhoods. 

• Wyzendale is committed to continuing to use our platform as a collaborative design practice to elevate the incredible work and voices of our fellow minority creatives. 

• Wyzendale is in the process of becoming a Certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) in the City of Chicago. As we continue to build and expand as an organization, we intend to continue and deeper cement our involvement with NOMA, ALPFA, HispanicPro and other organizations committed to advancing the diversification of our industry. 

- The Wyzendale Team