A R C H I T E C T U R E

Roll Call

There are far fewer female architects than males, and an even smaller percentage are BIPOC. Deezen featured a list of women architects nominated by other women architects, and I added more names below. If you have recommendations, leave a comment on this blog or my Instagram post!

• AFN (Assembly of First Nations) is directed by Chiefs, advocating for Canada’s First Nations. In 2019 AFN assembled a team of Indigenous architects to design Indigenous Peoples Space, a safe gathering space for Indigenous Peoples and their government. The female architects working on the project are Eladia Smoke and Wanda Dalla Costa.

• Mexican architect Tatiana Bilbao is motivated by social values. Her preliminary artwork will be on view at SFMOMA for the exhibit Tatiana Bilbao Estudio: Architecture from Outside In. 

• Samantha Josaphat established Studio 397 after becoming the 397th African-American female architect in the U.S. Alongside her practice, she is committed to inspiring generations through the Studio 397 community.

• Atelier Cho Thompson, founded by Christina Cho Yoo and Ming Thompson, expressed frustration with architects often not considering their work’s social impact in their 2020 Madame Architecture interview. They work against this notion with projects that highlight diversity.

F A S H I O N

How to Not Fast Fashion

Considering my wardrobe’s afterlife isn't second nature but, I’m practicing being aware of my environmental impact. NPR’s “5 Ways To Make Ethical Fashion Choices" offers a simple guide. The takeaways are; don’t consider your clothes disposable, switch it up by revamping what you already have, resell and donate instead of discarding, check if what you're looking for can be thrifted, and educate yourself on the impacts of the fashion industry. Good On You is a website that offers information on making ethical choices and is also an app you can download to explore what companies really up to.

M U S I C

I’ve made a playlist that makes me think about a snail taking a stroll through a zoo on a spring day.

P E O P L E

TW: Racism & Violence

Crimes against AAPI (Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders) in the U.S. have risen well over 100% in 2020, and many cases go unreported. USA Today’s “Asian Hate Crimes: How to be an Ally to the Community” is an article that lists productive actions to take. Below is a non-exhaustive list of small AAPI businesses to support, helpful resources, and AAPI historical figures.

Nguyen Coffee Supply was founded by 1st generation Vietnamese American Sahra Nguyen. The focus is on the direct farm-to-consumer trade and celebrating Vietnamese coffee culture.

When purchasing a Take Care sweatshirt, you receive access to a life coach session, and 10% of the proceeds will be donated to Mental Health America.

The photo book Chinatown Pretty, created by Andria Lo and Valerie Luu, celebrates Chinatown residents from the East to West coasts. 100% of proceeds go to Chinatown nonprofits when ordering via Bookshop.org. Each month the duo highlights a different nonprofit to donate to, currently Asian Americans Advancing Justice.

Yobo Soju celebrates American and Korean culture through small batched soju made in New York. On their site, the company has collected 33 organizations to support.

There are many to show financial support for AAPI communities, do the research, and find what resonates or alternate monthly donations but here are the resources I’ve found. Anti-Asian Violence Resources is a great start.

This month, I learned about the following influential Asian American historical female figures.

Yuri Kochiyama’s activism began in Harlem during the 1960s. As a proactive member in many civil rights movements, she stated, “Racism has placed all ethnic peoples in similar positions of oppression poverty, and marginalization.”

Equipped with academic training, Grace Lee Boggs dedicated her life to social activism. She utilized her knowledge of philosophy to teach and mobilize fellow activists.

May Chen led the New York Chinatown strike of 1982. The call for worker’s rights, permanently impacted labor laws as the employers halted wage cuts, non-paid leave, hired translators, and offered English classes.