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Black Architects in the Making design futures

MEET THIS CHANGEMAKER: Craig Aquart is a Jamaican-American architect, principal of MCHarry & Associates and the founder of Black Architects in the Making, an outreach programthat educates middle and high school students about architecture through activities, workshops and summer camps with the goal of diversifying the profession.

WHAT IS HE DOING: Craig travels to communities such as Overtown, Liberty City, Richmond Heights and Homestead with other architects to carry out one-week workshops that consist of games, presentations, physical model building and hands-on computer model making sessions.

People of color are underrepresented in the field of architecture and Craig Aquart wants to change that.

FUN FACT: The program has reached more than 200 children since 2016 – and one parent. Bernise Muhammad was introduced to BAM at an awards ceremony at the Overtown Youth Center, where her daughter was awarded the opportunity to attend the Architects in the Making (AIM) summer camp at the University of Miami. After shadowing the workshop for a couple of years, she’s decided to go back to school to pursue an associate’s degree in architecture at Miami-Dade College.

QUOTABLE: “We see the influence of people of color in other industries,” Craig says. “What are we missing out of in the architecture industry if the inclusivity and the diversity is not there?”

HOW TO GET INVOLVED: BAM will have workshops in April, May, and June. Head here for more information and updates on these workshops.