Advocacy

We are more than the buildings we produce; we are members of a greater community, and we can affect change with our skills and expertise. Our objective is to promote good design within our profession and community by way of positioning our chapter in the local and regional conversation. We will also strive to educate and inform our members on issues relating to our metropolitan area and beyond.

Locally, we have been meeting with city officials throughout the region in an effort to introduce what the AIA Kansas City can offer communities in terms of public support and/or design expertise. We have a large organization that can help inform priorities for our communities, and can provide a vision for our shared future.

If you are interested in learning more, or getting involved in our Advocacy Committee, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Building Civic Relationships Across KC: City Hall Day 2025

Our 6th annual City Hall Day was an intensive effort to both initiate and to nurture relationships with elected officials in our metro. Advocacy Committee coordinated 9 meetings with 12 elected officials in 3 municipalities. Whether we were talking about affordable housing with commissioners in Unified Government of Wyandotte County/KCK, or about MBE/WBE programs with city councilmembers in KCMO, or about energy codes with city councilmembers in Overland Park, our members showed up prepared and open to dialogue.   

Letter of Support for the KCMO MBE/WBE Program

October 2025

Dear Councilmember:

On behalf of the board of directors of the Kansas City Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Kansas City) I am writing to emphasize the importance and ongoing benefits of the Kansas City, Missouri Minority Business Enterprise/Women Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) Program. In this time of political pressure to minimize, disguise, or expunge DEI programs, the City of Kansas City’s leadership is more vital than ever. Our chapter supports continuance of the City of Kansas City MBE/WBE Program.

The KCMO MBE/WBE Program has been successful in creating opportunity where disadvantage has historically existed. Without this program, the systemic barriers faced by minority- and women-owned businesses would continue to persist, uncontested. Instead, the program has shifted awareness and practice across the city, demonstrating that diverse and talented firms are not only present in our community, but ready and capable of contributing meaningfully to Kansas City’s most important public projects.

Key benefits of the City of KCMO MBE/WBE Program:

• Creates advantage where systemic disadvantage has historically existed.
• Ensures that, without contest, minority and women-owned businesses are not left behind.
• Raises awareness among prime contractors of the talent and availability of minority- and women-owned firms.
• Establishes MBE/WBE goals in RFQs, providing firms with access to City projects that form the foundation for their growth.
• Encourages women and minorities to take risks, start businesses, and build capacity with the support of early contract opportunities.
• Produces role models in ownership and leadership—still lacking in sufficient numbers in our industry.
• Develops leaders engaged in City commissions, initiatives, and not-for-profits.
• Demonstrates that many established firms would not have received initial opportunities without this program.
• Inspires minority and female youth by showing them entrepreneurs and leaders who look like them.

The City of KCMO MBE/WBE Program is not just about fairness—it is about building a stronger, more diverse, and more representative design and construction community in Kansas City. It provides opportunity, cultivates leadership, and strengthens our profession for the future.

We urge the City to stay the course and continue the City of Kansas City Missouri MBE/WBE program. By doing so, we affirm our City’s commitment to equity, to fostering opportunities where they are needed most, and to shaping a business ecosystem that truly reflects the diversity and creativity of Kansas City.

Thank you for your leadership and for considering this important matter.

Sincerely,

Dawn Taylor, Executive Director
AIA Kansas City

On behalf of the AIAKC MBE/WBE Task Force Members: Amy Slattery, Julie Wellner, Emily Marsh, Angie Gaebler, Dominique Davison, Elizabeth Amirahmadi, Rukhsana Reyes, Wendy Doyle

Join the Advocacy Committee

If you are interested in helping with our advocacy initiatives, join the committee.  The Advocacy Committee meets the second Tuesday of each month on Zoom, and on a quarterly basis (February, May, September) in person at the Center for Architecture & Design. Email dtaylor@aiakc.org for the Zoom link.