NOMA Louisiana Porch Talk

This programming series elevates the voices of students, educators and practitioners not afforded such platforms by other architectural organizations, and to advance NOMA's mission: rooted in a rich legacy of activism, is to empower our local chapters and membership to foster justice and equity in communities of color through outreach, community advocacy, professional development and design excellence.

These programs will be held over Zoom for the foreseeable future, and once possible, in physical spaces.

The Zoom programs will intentionally put Louisiana students and practitioners in conversation with practitioners from across the state and in other states. Students in NOMA Louisiana's four student chapters (LSU NOMAS, NOMAS TU, UL NOMAS, and LTU NOMAS) will be given opportunities to contribute to this programming series. 

The first Porch Talk featured Professor Kiwana McClung of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and Melissa Lee, senior project manager at Concordia in New Orleans, who spoke about their experiences with community-engaged education, design and planning on projects including New Iberia's Provost Farms, the State of Louisiana's LA-SAFE climate change adaptation planning program, and Concordia's Roundtable curriculum. Following a presentation of work from each practitioner, NOMA Louisiana's Teva Kaplan facilitated a discussion and audience participation.

This Porch Talk was hosted via Zoom on Thursday, February 18th, 2021 from 6-7:30​ PM, on Chitimacha, Choctaw, and Houma land (New Orleans and Lafayette, LA) and Tongva land (Los Angeles, CA).