Equity in Practice Series: Intercultural Competence, Workplace Culture, Compensation

Designing great architecture starts long before anyone picks up a pen, mouse, or trace paper, it starts with people! In the first session of AIA Colorado’s three-part Equity in Practice Series, AIA Colorado's Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (J.E.D.I.) committee invites you to dive into Chapters 1–3 of the AIA Guides for Equitable Practice but don’t worry, this isn’t a book club where you pretend you did the reading. We’ll break it down into foundational ideas together.

Through guided discussion and applied examples, the session will examine how bias, communication barriers, and inequitable workplace norms can affect project coordination, team well-being, and professional risk. Participants will also learn how strengthening inclusive practices within firms can improve communication, support healthier workplace environments, and ultimately enhance the conditions under which architects design for the public’s health, safety, and welfare.

Attendees will gain practical strategies for building intercultural competence, recognizing the visible and invisible elements of workplace culture, and understanding the role that compensation transparency and equity play in supporting strong, resilient professional teams.

This session will include a brief presentation and facilitated discussion to help participants connect these foundational concepts to everyday architectural practice.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 28, Noon - 1pm MST

WHERE: Zoom (linked emailed prior to event)

EDUCATION: This session has been approved for 1 LU.

Registration is required.

Active AIA member number required to complete registration.

AIA Colorado Allied Members: use the same email address for RSVP that is listed in the Allied Member Directory and type Allied2026 in the member number field.

AIAS students: use your .edu email address to register and type AIAS into the member number field.

The Zoom meeting link will be emailed 1 day before the event to the email address used to complete RSVP.

Contact the host of Equity in Practice Series: Session 1