Two of the team members from our Michigan office are quoted in an article published by The Michigan Chronicle. Saundra Little, FAIA, a Principal and Director of Diversity & Inclusion at Quinn Evans, and, Imman Suleiman, AIA, discussed the contributions of Black women architects in shaping urban landscapes.

In the article, Saundra stressed the significance of gaining access to opportunities and building a solid foundation in the business side of the profession.

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The best way to advocate for yourself is to learn about the profession’s business, like the Business of Architecture, the business of how projects come together. I didn’t have an entrepreneurship class in Lawrence Tech when I went to school; I had a professional practice class. I learned about contracts. I learned all the different parts of that contract.

Saundra Little, FAIA

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Imman reflected on her personal journey of navigating identity within the architecture profession, particularly as a woman of color.

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Showing up as yourself and being accepted, but then there’s a lot of mental math that we (women of color) do in terms of disarming those who are around us, and when we are a minority, a lot of times, you do take on that responsibility, whether you like it or not, and that’s something that I’ve always struggled with.

Imman Suleiman, AIA

Read the full article here.

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