INITIATIVE UPDATE - Building An Equitable Future: Workforce Housing + Generational Wealth for Young Black Professionals
The Young Black Professionals (YBP) Workforce Housing Initiative was born locally as a call to action for collective and intentional investment in the Black community and to support the long-term health and prosperity of Black lives. This initiative is a community discovery process that leverages building projects and programs to close the gap of issues of widening wealth disparity, and empower young Black professionals with opportunities to thrive.
The YBP Initiative, led by Bora Architecture & Interiors and Andersen Construction, in partnership with Self Enhancement Inc. (SEI) and HMS Development, is working to expand Portland as a home for young Black professionals interested in a career in the AEC industry. Their Professional Apprenticeship Program mentors high school and college graduates toward careers in construction management, architecture and engineering trades in Portland through supportive social impact objectives.
Project Partners Amy Donohue of Bora Architecture & Interiors and Joel Andersen of Andersen Construction last shared this work with the AIA community through a digital design series in 2021 and will join the Urban Design Panel in May to give an update on this initiative and share the challenges and opportunities encountered in delivering this work.
Speakers:
Amy Donohue, AIA
Principal, BORA Architecture & Interiors
Amy has over 25 years of experience designing spaces for education, collaborative work, and urban living. Her deep understanding of interdisciplinary and synergistic environments blends concepts from a broad range of sectors, resulting in a sophisticated body of work that enables people to create, learn, live and thrive together. Recent projects under her leadership include precedent-setting interdisciplinary learning environments for Oregon State University, Texas A&M university, and the University of Washington as well as transformative Portland-based projects including the new Workforce Training Center in the Cully Neighborhood for Portland Community College and the renovation of the beloved Meier & Frank Building.
Amy’s work has been awarded by AIA and IIDA, and she has presented on designing for innovative pedagogies at conferences across the country. She serves on the Board of Directors for Literary Arts, and the Advisory Council for the University of Florida School of Architecture. Along with sitting on AIA design award juries in Colorado, Arizona, Nebraska, Ohio, the Gulf States, New England, and California, she is also dedicated to advancing gender equity in the profession. Amy’s tireless advocacy helped shepherd through Oregon’s paid family leave bill in 2019, and she embraces Design Justice in her process to ensure that all voices are heard in the creation of new spaces.
Joel Andersen
Chief Executive Officer, Andersen Construction
Joel Andersen is CEO of Shoestring Valley Holdings, a holding company over Andersen Construction, Oregon’s largest family-owned General Contracting firm. He is also a real estate developer with a robust and diverse portfolio of projects throughout the Pacific Northwest. Joel is a 3rd-generation Oregonian with close ties to the area’s development community. Joel’s grandfather, HA ‘Andy’ Andersen, started their family construction business in 1950 and shortly thereafter started building and acquiring real estate, helping peek Joel’s interest in real estate and development.
Joel’s development leadership has resulted in several of the most dynamic, award-winning and creative projects in the Pacific Northwest. This includes everything from high-rise multi-family residential towers, to industrial office parks, to downtown office buildings.
Today, Joel dedicates much of his time to supporting the company’s philanthropic efforts through the Andersen Foundation. Working both internationally and in the NW, he feels a deep responsibility to give back.
Most recently he’s spent time working with a community in rural South Africa to build classrooms and an eco-village out of shipping containers. When working abroad his goal is to create work opportunities for locals, engage and train local builders and entrepreneurs, build sustainable projects, and to bring along a team of Andersen employees for the opportunity to participate in meaningful work benefitting those in need. This year, the Andersen Foundation is funding international builds in South Africa, India, and Mexico. Additionally, the Andersen Foundation gives funds locally directed by employee giving committees.