The AIA and advocacy—what do we mean?

As the AIA Vice President for Advocacy, I preside over a Board committee and portfolio concerned with Institute policies, legislative priorities, and programs in public outreach.  Advocacy is about influence, about the power to cause change.

Our purpose is to stimulate the demand for work by AIA members, responding to the needs and interests of client groups, government agencies, and the public.

Our targets are policymakers and influence groups; the executive agencies of government that implement building programs; the organizations and associations with greatest authority in the eyes of our clients, the legislators who frame the laws and budgets that shape building programs, and the media organizations, who influence us all.

The messages we intend to convey: Design is vital to your interests and concerns; AIA members create value that responds to your needs; design is good for business, health, and the environment; here is how to contact the AIA and here is what you can obtain.

The vehicles for these messages include print, broadcast and digital media; client organization conventions, meetings and forums; social and business networks; and influential public figures who embrace the values of design. We are also striving to build networks of members who are engaged and effective in civic affairs at all levels.

The actions we will oversee include messaging campaigns, official testimony, editorials and special events involving client organizations and key influence groups.  We will encourage members to serve effectively in public office and in civic roles.  We will work with the AIA staff on objectives and approaches for major investments in public relations and advertising.

An article in the latest AIArchitect is about advocacy—efforts by AIA Dallas to counter plans to build a toll road:

“If you want to have a direct impact on a local design or policy issue, brief and straightforward—but extremely forceful—storytelling is a wise course to take. See how AIA Dallas President Bob Bullis AIA cuts right to the heart of the matter: ‘We’re being very clear: We’re for the park. We’re against the highway. The return on investment is huge, and we think the highway is going to undermine the change for the park to be successful . . . [the park] is essential to the future health and prosperity of Dallas.’"