Black History Month a Time to Highlight ASLA's DiversityInitiative

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) marks Black History Month by spotlightingthe African American landscape architects who, along with their Latino colleagues, are helping toexpand the Society's diversity profile.

According to ASLA President K. Richard Zweifel, FASLA, ASLA has a longstanding commitment toinclusion and is communicating and educating about the landscape architecture profession todiverse communities. ASLA is undertaking outreach that includes a redesigned career discoverypage for students, including "personal paths" video interviews with minority landscape architects,and an education hub for teachers launched last year.

"The celebration of Black History Month is very important to ASLA," said Zweifel. "We wanteveryone to know that African American landscape architects are providing incredible contributionsthrough their design skills and environmental stewardship in making our communities better placesto live and raise our children. We also want parents, teachers and children to know about landscapearchitecture and the satisfying and creative professional career it offers."

In order to help develop and further action items and strategies to increase diversity in thelandscape architecture profession, ASLA launched a multi-year commitment in July 2013 to sponsora series of annual multicultural focus summits with landscape architects representing a variety ofpractice types. The African American landscape architects who participated in the June 2014 summitincluded:

C.L. Bohannon, Ph.D, ASLA. Bohannon is an assistant professor of landscape architecture at VirginiaTech, where he also received his doctorate in architecture design research in 2014. His priorleadership roles with ASLA include serving on the Florida ASLA Chapter's executive committee from2008 to 2011, the Society's Council of Education from 2008 to 2009 and the Test Prep Committeefrom 2007 to 2008. He is a current member of the Committee on Education.

Wesley Brown, ASLA. Brown is the project manager of planning and capital projects at CentralAtlanta Progress - downtown Atlanta's business improvement district. In this role, Brown isresponsible for managing downtown Atlanta's infrastructure improvements and strategic planningefforts, which create vibrant public spaces and improve mobility. Brown received a bachelor'sdegree in landscape architecture from North Carolina State University and a master's degree inurban design from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Domini Cunningham, Assoc. ASLA. Cunningham is a landscape designer with BETA Group Inc. andreceived two master's degrees from Auburn University, one in landscape architecture and another incommunity planning. At Auburn he was part of a team that received a 2014 ASLA Professional HonorAward in the Research Category for "The Phenology Project."

Michael Hill, ASLA. Hill's career has been devoted to empowering youth and communities toreconnect to and shape the places they live, play, work and learn. He works as a landscape architectfor the U.S. Forest Service's Independent Resources Enterprise Team, and supports the agencythrough meeting facilitation, youth program support, scenery analysis, recreation facilities planningand design. He received his master's degree in landscape architecture and planning from VirginiaTech in 2011.

Janelle Johnson, ASLA. Johnson is a senior landscape architect at OLIN Studio. Her professionalexperience spans both the public and private sectors as a landscape designer and project manager.She has worked on a variety of projects including the design and construction of city parks andurban design strategies for distressed communities. She received her master's degree in landscapearchitecture and regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania in 2010.

Tammy Martin, Assoc. ASLA. Martin has worked in human resources for more than 12 years and iscurrently transitioning to the field of landscape architecture and urban planning. She graduatedwith distinction with a master's certificate in landscape architecture from the University ofCalifornia Los Angeles Extension. She works as a regional human resources coordinator for ZenithEducation Group and also performs landscape design and consulting through Tammy MartinLandscape Design.

Courtney Hinson Cason, ASLA. With more than six years of experience in the land developmentindustry, Hinson Cason works as a planner for Parsons Brinckerhoff. Her previous experienceincludes working as a planner and landscape architect for a civil engineering, surveying and land-planning firm. She received her master's degree in landscape architecture from North CarolinaState University in 2007.

Christopher L. Sanders, Associate ASLA. Sanders is a designer with SWT Design whose career focusis environmental stewardship and innovation. He had previously been a conservation specialist withthe Big Bend Groundwater Management District in Stafford, Kansas. He earned his master's degreein landscape architecture from Kansas State University in 2012.

Lindsey D. Smith, ASLA. Smith is the assistant chief landscape architect for the city of New OrleansDepartment of Parks and Parkways. His career has emphasized design, community engagement,project management and communications skills. He earned his bachelor's degree in landscapearchitecture from Mississippi State University in 2004 and is currently studying for a master'sdegree in urban and regional planning from the University of New Orleans.

About the American Society of Landscape Architects

Founded in 1899, ASLA is the national professional association for landscape architects,representing more than 15,000 members in 49 professional chapters and 72 student chapters.Members of the Society use "ASLA" after their names to denote membership and their commitmentto the highest ethical standards of the profession. Landscape architects lead the stewardship,planning, and design of our built and natural environments; the Society's mission is to advancelandscape architecture through advocacy, communication, education, and fellowship.

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