MANIFESTA: EQUITY IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
“[As architects], you are not a profession that has distinguished itself by your social and civic contributions to the cause of civil rights, and I am sure this has not come to you as any shock. You are most distinguished by your thunderous silence and your complete irrelevance.”
- Whitney M. Young, Jr.
June 1968 remarks at the AIA Annual Convention in Portland, OR
Our manifestA:
manifestA is a collectively-led organization facilitated by students and open to all members of the A-School community (students, faculty, and staff), both past and present. We welcome participation from all disciplines, backgrounds, sexual orientations, genders, ethnicities, races, and abilities.
manifestA seeks to challenge the explicit and implicit inequities and biases that have been perpetuated within the allied design professions and the built and designed environment. We acknowledge our professions’ complicity in creating and reinforcing unjust systems; we aim to contribute to the end of inequitable design practices and the movement toward their reparation. manifestA stands against white supremacy and systemic racism; against sexism, homophobia, and transphobia; and against ableism and abuse. manifestA is a platform to address such institutions of injustice as they intersect with design and the built environment.
In alliance with other A-School CIOs and community partners and relationships, manifestA aims to foster meaningful conversations and educational programming that will strengthen the A-School community's ability to address issues of justice and equity in academic and professional work. We strive to begin productive, thoughtful discourse from all schools of thought on the state of architectural education, both at the A-School and nationwide, and the ethics of the current profession.
Our commitment:
We will:
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Hold our organization, school, and larger institution accountable to continue to address injustice.
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Work with partner organizations inside and outside the A-School to foster meaningful conversations, host educational programming, facilitate collaboration between different departments and in related fields, and serve as a connector to larger issues of inclusion and equity at UVA.
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Share resources with students, faculty, staff, and alumni which promote dialogue about equity across the disciplines of the built environment.
Our programming:
manifestA is committed to expanding the discourse of the A-School regarding equity and inclusion through various platforms including:
- Weekly Meetings:
Spaces for members to discuss ideas and plan events, often involving workshops, guests, or brief readings and discussions. - Community Partnerships:
Previous partners include Westhaven Housing and Charlottesville’s Public Housing Association of Residents (PHAR). - Equity-Focused Panels and Events:
Programming centered around public interest design, advocacy work, atypical professional avenues, etc., to highlight alternatives to the traditional pre-professional career offerings of the A-School. - “Book” Club:
Selection of short article(s) read and discussed at weekly meetings, then published as the manifestA newsletter every other month. - Exhibitions:
Efforts to more deeply explore issues of equity through public exhibitions hosted by the A-School, and to showcase our organization’s work to the larger student body and A-School community. - Equity Library Book Share:
A curated collection of books exploring issues related to equity in the built environment, available to students, faculty, and staff of the A-School to borrow (The full list of the Equity Library’s books). Books are available to borrow from the 3rd Floor outside 305 and the 4th Floor Tech Bridge bookshelves. - Digital Resources Library:
An evolving list of publicly accessible resources available on the web related to the built environment. Special focuses on (a) public-interest design theories, opportunities, and resources, and (b) centering feminist, queer, and BIPOC voices and concerns. (manifestA's Digital Resources Library). - Coordinated Programming:
Participation in the organization of shared events across A-School student groups including portfolio reviews, mentoring, and workshops.
What do you want to manifest?
manifestA is always open to working with A-School students, faculty, and staff, as well as engaged alumni. Please reach out via email to manifestauva@gmail. com with your vision for how we can work towards more equitable design education and address issues of justice in the built environment.
To get regular updates on what we're working on, follow us on Instagram at