New to NOMA?

We’re a new chapter, so we’re all working with a blank canvas in the PDX context.

I have a question that is not explained below.. help?

Reach out via our Contact Us Website Form and we’ll be in touch via email within a business week.

As a new member, why do I have to join a committee?

Technically you don’t, but with when tackling any sort of systemic change it’s best to zoom in. The committees help tackle issues BIPOC folks face in the industry at different phases of someone navigating a career in the industry.

I’m ready! How do I sign up?

Great! I would start by registering with NOMA National. 

  • There's local and national member dues, these help pay for things like the National Conferences, Project Pipeline, and provide reasonable accommodations for our members etc.

If you would like financial assistance, you can fill out this form to get your membership partially or fully reimbursed. If you're like some of us and struggle to ask your firm for financial assistance I totally understand and that's why we decided to recycle some of the funds from local member dues and firm donations to help other members sign up via the scholarship form.

FAQs

  • July 2020 - 3 Latina Students called for 5 BIPOC architects to make the Board.

    January 2021 - the new board collaborated build the foundation for the chapter and gain National recognition, and had our first at large Zoom meeting to help people sign up.

    Summer 2021 - we developed our committees from scratch

    August 2022 - we had our first Project Pipeline Summer Camp in Portland

    October 2022 - we were chosen to host the 2023 NOMA National Conference

    Now - We’re prepping for the conference, Project Pipeline, and assembling NOMAS chapters (for students), and planning more in person events.

  • It all volunteer work so a good start would be to figure out how much of a commitment you want to make, and within which committee.

    On the minimum side in the past would be the 2.5 hr commitment with the monthly member meetings… but now with the influx of NOMA meetings in prep for the National Conference we’re looking into bimonthly member meetings.

    If you wanna engage more than the minimum you can sign up for leadership roles within the committees.... Since we're a young/new chapter there's a lot of flexibility when it comes to figuring out how you want to apply your ideas, skills and time.

  • To date, other than these monthly member meetings we have finally started to plan more social events i person thanks to increased covid safety measures so the best way to stay tuned is via Google Calendar Event Invites, Instagram/Facebook or Linked In.

    If you reach out with via email we can add you to our newsletter list (we send out one quarterly), and Slack Channel to help connect you with other members.

  • When it comes to fighting system injustice, especially with Oregon’s convoluted past with BIPOC communities we established early on that this work is only sustainable if we work with allies.

    So in short, yes.