Created specifically for the opportunities and challenges of our organization, “Designing a Space of Racial Equity and Belonging at AIA Austin” will support AIA Austin’s commitment to educate, equip, and empower members and leadership in shaping an internal organizational climate that values and drives intentional diversity, inclusion, and equity, and a public posture that recognizes histories of racial injustice and creates a space of belonging for Austin’s full community.
Faciliated by Virginia Cumberbatch, this virtual, interactive presentation is open to all AIA Austin members. Attendees will learn more about the history of Austin, accessible language, and frameworks to inform design practices to guide their understandings of and role in the collective investment to diversity, inclusion, equity and racial justice.
There are a number of activities planned as part of this process that will result in action-oriented recommendations in the first quarter of next year. We hope you will join us in this collaborative and iterative process as we strive towards a more equitable future.
WATCH THE VIDEO
Video Reminders and Reflections (PDF)
About Virginia Cumberbatch
As an equity practitioner, creative activist, and scholar, Virginia’s work sits at the intersection of community equity and storytelling. As a racial justice educator Virginia supports the development of a culture equity, inclusion and belonging for organizations based in the U.S., UK, Switzerland, and parts of Asia, working with clients such as Gensler, Bumble, lululemon, Gensler, The World Economic and many more within the tech, design, nonprofit and wellness sectors.
She was director of equity and community advocacy for The University of Texas at Austin’s Division of Diversity and Community Engagement from 2016-2020, helping drive the university’s vision to become less of an ivory tower, and more of a community anchor addressing issues of access and equity. She currently serves as CEO and Co-Founder of Rosa Rebellion, a platform for creative activism for and by women of color and sat on the founding Global Ambassador Board Advisor for lululemon’s IDEA. Given her commitment to disrupt systemic racism and build resources for inclusive practices, she’s spoken around the world. In 2018 she co-authored the book “As We Saw It: The Story of Integration at The University of Texas at Austin.”
She is the recipient of the 2016 Anti-Defamation League of Austin Social Justice Award, the 2018 Austin 40 Under 40 Award for Civics, Government and Public Affairs, the 2019 Girl Scouts Women of Distinction, and in 2021 was awarded the The University of Texas Outstanding Young Texas Exes award. She holds a B.A. in history from Williams College and a M.A. in public affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.