03-31-2022
Womxn's History Month 2022
Womxn's History Month 2022 was filled with inspirational and groundbreaking programming.
March 7: We kicked off the month with the "Effective Communication: Intent and Impact" workshop with Denise Rabius, an internal workshop that focused how we can utilize direct communication to build trust and create mutual understanding. By developing this type of foundation, we can further our ability to collaborate more openly and yield better outcomes with our work. The workshop inspired a great conversation that we will continue to build upon in future programming.
March 8: We celebrated International Womxn's Day "Break the Bias." Individually, we are all responsible for our own thoughts and actions - all day, every day. We can break the bias in our communities. We can break the bias in our workplaces. Together, we can all break the bias - on International Womxn's Day and beyond. Here is how some of our FXCollaborative colleagues are breaking the bias:
"I choose to challenge any form of gender bias and inequality so that we all can live in a better world. Stop stereotyping ourselves; stop stereotyping others; stop others stereotyping us!"
- Jennifer Zhao
"I will challenge gender bias by questioning my assumptions, raising awareness of the nuance of language, and calling out implicit bias. It is only through understanding and accountability which we can effect meaningful change."
- Wendi Shafran
"I will challenge gender bias and inequity by creating space that is welcoming to all, calling out bias actions, and standing firm in my belief that womxn's voices are powerful and have a place in every design conversation and beyond."
- Chelsea Crisafulli
"I will use my pen to challenge gender bias & inequality."
- Carol Hsiung
"I challenge myself and other parent-architects to not let the burdens of childcare fall disproportionately on the women in our households or our profession."
- Toby Snyder
"I will challenge gender bias by breaking my own unconscious biases. Changing the world starts from within"
- Fernanda Freitas
"I will challenge gender bias and inequity by creating a work environment that this is welcoming and supportive for all."
- Michael Buesing
March 16: Heidi Blau, Partner and Chief Operating Officer, participated in the AIA New York Women in Architecture Committee Meeting "In Dialogue With..." | Advancing Your Career in Small, Medium, Large Firms" alongside Annya Ramirez-Jimenez, AIA, Director, MARVEL and JJ Falk, IIDA, Assoc. AIA, Principal, Perkins Eastman Architects. Fernanda Freitas, Senior Associate, said of the event, "It was fascinating to learn about Heidi's, JJ's, and Annya's journey to get to where they are now, and to hear their advice for professional women of all levels. They reinforced the importance of mentoring, staying true to ourselves, and looking for inspiration in everything we do. It was an inspiring evening."
March 17: We hosted a panel titled, "Moving Beyond the Pandemic: How Womxn are Changing the Rules and Leveraging our New Reality Within the AEC Industry." These womxn from across the AEC Industry spoke about how they are making moves, challenging conventions, and changing the rules of what working in the AEC Industry can be for womxn in our post-pandemic reality. The panel was moderated by Sara Davis, Principal, and included Katherine Perez, Associate Principal, ARUP – Los Angeles; Amy Schaap, BIM Coordinator, Turner Construction; and Maraike Crom, Project Designer, Meryl Kramer Architect.
March 24: We held a two-part event focused on how we can develop a new framework for networking, and how we can implement it with more intentional and personal conversation and self-promotion. The internal workshops, held by FXCollaborative and JB&B, focused the following three questions:
WHY: Why is networking important?
HOW: How to build stronger/more deeply rooted relationships with others?
WHO: How to represent yourself, how to embody confidence?
Taking what we learned for the workshops, we put our new skills to the test in a fun and enriching practice networking and happy hour event at our new One Willoughby Square office. This was the first of many collaborations between FXWomxn and the JB&B Women's Initiative to come.
March 25: FXCollaborative participated in our 5th Covenant House New York Sleep Out event. Grateful for the support of many, the FXWomxn team has raised $4,400, which helps ensure that youth facing homelessness can sleep safely and dream big at Covenant House. This donation will directly provide warm meals, education opportunities, job training, medical care, mental health and substance use counseling, and legal aid — essential services designed to help them build independent futures.
March 29: We capped off the month with a celebration of the new book The Women Who Changed Architecture, which features Senior Partner Sylvia Smith. From early practitioners to contemporary leaders, the impact of the group of womxn in this book is truly inspiring.
March 7: We kicked off the month with the "Effective Communication: Intent and Impact" workshop with Denise Rabius, an internal workshop that focused how we can utilize direct communication to build trust and create mutual understanding. By developing this type of foundation, we can further our ability to collaborate more openly and yield better outcomes with our work. The workshop inspired a great conversation that we will continue to build upon in future programming.
March 8: We celebrated International Womxn's Day "Break the Bias." Individually, we are all responsible for our own thoughts and actions - all day, every day. We can break the bias in our communities. We can break the bias in our workplaces. Together, we can all break the bias - on International Womxn's Day and beyond. Here is how some of our FXCollaborative colleagues are breaking the bias:
"I choose to challenge any form of gender bias and inequality so that we all can live in a better world. Stop stereotyping ourselves; stop stereotyping others; stop others stereotyping us!"
- Jennifer Zhao
"I will challenge gender bias by questioning my assumptions, raising awareness of the nuance of language, and calling out implicit bias. It is only through understanding and accountability which we can effect meaningful change."
- Wendi Shafran
"I will challenge gender bias and inequity by creating space that is welcoming to all, calling out bias actions, and standing firm in my belief that womxn's voices are powerful and have a place in every design conversation and beyond."
- Chelsea Crisafulli
"I will use my pen to challenge gender bias & inequality."
- Carol Hsiung
"I challenge myself and other parent-architects to not let the burdens of childcare fall disproportionately on the women in our households or our profession."
- Toby Snyder
"I will challenge gender bias by breaking my own unconscious biases. Changing the world starts from within"
- Fernanda Freitas
"I will challenge gender bias and inequity by creating a work environment that this is welcoming and supportive for all."
- Michael Buesing
March 16: Heidi Blau, Partner and Chief Operating Officer, participated in the AIA New York Women in Architecture Committee Meeting "In Dialogue With..." | Advancing Your Career in Small, Medium, Large Firms" alongside Annya Ramirez-Jimenez, AIA, Director, MARVEL and JJ Falk, IIDA, Assoc. AIA, Principal, Perkins Eastman Architects. Fernanda Freitas, Senior Associate, said of the event, "It was fascinating to learn about Heidi's, JJ's, and Annya's journey to get to where they are now, and to hear their advice for professional women of all levels. They reinforced the importance of mentoring, staying true to ourselves, and looking for inspiration in everything we do. It was an inspiring evening."
March 17: We hosted a panel titled, "Moving Beyond the Pandemic: How Womxn are Changing the Rules and Leveraging our New Reality Within the AEC Industry." These womxn from across the AEC Industry spoke about how they are making moves, challenging conventions, and changing the rules of what working in the AEC Industry can be for womxn in our post-pandemic reality. The panel was moderated by Sara Davis, Principal, and included Katherine Perez, Associate Principal, ARUP – Los Angeles; Amy Schaap, BIM Coordinator, Turner Construction; and Maraike Crom, Project Designer, Meryl Kramer Architect.
March 24: We held a two-part event focused on how we can develop a new framework for networking, and how we can implement it with more intentional and personal conversation and self-promotion. The internal workshops, held by FXCollaborative and JB&B, focused the following three questions:
WHY: Why is networking important?
HOW: How to build stronger/more deeply rooted relationships with others?
WHO: How to represent yourself, how to embody confidence?
Taking what we learned for the workshops, we put our new skills to the test in a fun and enriching practice networking and happy hour event at our new One Willoughby Square office. This was the first of many collaborations between FXWomxn and the JB&B Women's Initiative to come.
March 25: FXCollaborative participated in our 5th Covenant House New York Sleep Out event. Grateful for the support of many, the FXWomxn team has raised $4,400, which helps ensure that youth facing homelessness can sleep safely and dream big at Covenant House. This donation will directly provide warm meals, education opportunities, job training, medical care, mental health and substance use counseling, and legal aid — essential services designed to help them build independent futures.
March 29: We capped off the month with a celebration of the new book The Women Who Changed Architecture, which features Senior Partner Sylvia Smith. From early practitioners to contemporary leaders, the impact of the group of womxn in this book is truly inspiring.