Greetings from the AIA California Office,

We are repeatedly asked “what’s the value of AIA?” And while I can create a long list of programs, resources, and initiatives we’re pursuing on your behalf, what is also important to recognize is AIA’s ability to connect you with your colleagues to unite and leverage your collective strength. This organization is about the people and no where is this more evident than the 400+ volunteers that serve the AIA in California – “it takes a village”.

I recently highlighted one member for his tremendous work on the California ARE/CSE Study Hub – a statewide group which provides support for those on the path to licensure. But of course, rarely are AIA programs the result of a single member’s work. Often, our most impactful projects evolve from early contributions and sparkers of ideas and actions. In the case of Study Hub would never have happened without the earliest involvement of Niloofar Badihi, Assoc. AIA. It’s a tremendous oversight that I didn’t include her last week. 

Why may you ask am I sharing this mistake and wondering how it is relevant to you and your practice? Well, fundamentally the AIA (at all levels) exists to bring the architectural profession together – to harness your collective passion, desire, and expertise to improve the built environment and to advocate on your behalf in the legislative, regulatory, and public arenas. Imagine what we could accomplish with even 1% more active participation at the local and state level?

At AIA California we are incredibly fortunate to have dedicated and generous volunteer leaders who have accomplished some incredible things on behalf of the profession throughout the years. The list of contributors is too long to mention (and I am afraid I may overlook someone again!) Instead, I will say that by identifying opportunities, harnessing the expertise of members, and creating avenues for advocacy, AIA California is working for you – individually and collectively as a profession – in Sacramento.