AIA From Crisis to Resilience: How Architects Can Combat Disparities and Strengthen Communities
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Black communities are often at the frontlines of climate disasters, facing disproportionate damage, slower recovery times, and systemic barriers to rebuilding. From redlining to underinvestment in infrastructure, historical inequities have left many communities more vulnerable to extreme weather, flooding, and displacement. Architects have a powerful role to play—not just in rebuilding after disasters but in equipping communities with the tools to prepare before the storm hits. We’ll begin with an overview of architects’ role in emergency management and introduce the Communities by Design (CxD) program, a nationally recognized initiative supporting local leaders in addressing pressing social, environmental, and economic challenges. Through case studies from post-disaster recovery efforts in Birmingham, AL, the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, and others, we’ll examine the impact of architect-led community engagement in rebuilding efforts. We also share insights from emerging work in Los Angeles, where proactive planning is shaping more resilient communities post-wildfire.
R. Steven Lewis FAIA, NOMAC
Architect
ZGF Architects
Steven Lewis FAIA, NOMAC, LEED AP® pursues his passions wherever they lead him. From Southern California, to New York, to Detroit and back, Steven’s ethics-driven urban planning and design has made the cities he’s worked in not only more aesthetically beautiful, but also more equitable and representative of the surrounding communities. Following in the footsteps of his father, an architect with a drive for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, Steven designs, speaks, mentors, and volunteers tirelessly to advocate for what he believes in and to see those values embodied in the built environment.
Stacy A. Bourne, FAIA, NOMA
Principal
The Bourne Group, LLC
Stacy A. Bourne, FAIA, NOMA, is the founding principal of The Bourne Group, LLC, established to drive social change through hurricane-resilient, community-engaged design. With over $50 million in hurricane recovery projects following Hurricanes Irma and Maria, her firm now extends its expertise to the Gulf States.
With over 30 years of experience Stacy’s work spans custom homes, disaster recovery, building code reform, and historic
restoration. Her early career focused on sustainable design in challenging terrains; later, she led FEMA-funded roof
replacement programs and resilience strategies post-disaster.
Stacy’s dedication extends beyond practice. A six-term AIA Virgin Islands president, she served on the AIA National Board,
chaired the Diversity Council, and was the first Black woman on the board. She also served as Commissioner of the Virgin
Islands Casino Control Commission.
Mentor, educator, and advocate, Stacy sponsors Crit Scholars and supports emerging professionals. She leads Hurricane
Havoc, a platform for disaster preparedness education, and serves on the Tulane School of Architecture Dean’s Advisory
Council.
Stacy holds master's degrees from Tulane and Washington University in St. Louis and was elevated to the AIA College of
Fellows in 2012. Her work continues to champion resilient design, equity, and leadership in architecture.
Paola Capo
Senior Manager
AIA
Paola Capo is Senior Manager of Climate Action and Resilient Communities for AIA. She strives to provide architects and communities with the resources they need to create healthier, more sustainable, resilient, and equitable built environments. In her current role, she divides her time between managing the Disaster Assistance Program (assisting architects and AIA chapters before and after disaster events occur) and supporting Communities by Design, a program of the Architects Foundation that matches communities with interdisciplinary expertise to achieve community aspirations. In her time at AIA, Paola has supported several other portfolios related to sustainability and climate action including the 2030 Commitment program, the Materials Pledge, and the Committee on the Environment with a focus on capacity-building for architects, firms, and chapters. Paola is currently pursuing a Masters in Emergency Management from Tulane University. In 2020, she completed IAP2’s Foundations in Public Participation Program. She graduated from Georgetown University in 2017 with a degree in Science, Technology, and International Affairs, concentrating in Energy and the Environment.
