June 7, 2022 by Sara Taketatsu

Here’s a list of 100 reasons why everyone, including you need to be at AIAS Grassroots Leadership Conference this summer:

  1. Join Lakisha Ann Woods, CAE, the Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Institute of Architects, for her keynote presentation.
  2. Join Scott Cornelius, 2021-2022 President of the AIAS, for his keynote presentation as he moves into the role of Past President at Grassroots.
  3. Join Shannon DeFranza, 2021-2022 Vice President of the AIAS, for her keynote presentation as she moves into the role of Past Vice President at Grassroots.
  4. Master Planning the District Wharf: Walking Tour with Perkins Eastman architects. 
  5. ​Tour the National Museum of African American Museum of History and Culture.
  6. Visit the National Museum of the American Indian with Quinn Evans architects.
  7. Visit the National Museum of Natural History with Quinn Evans architects. 
  8. Visit the National Museum of American History with Quinn Evans architects.
  9. Learn how architecture can help people experiencing homelessness with Friendship Place.
  10. Network with peers! That person sitting 5 seats down from you could be the link to your next job. Get up and say hi!
  11. Quad Breakouts. Meet your Quad Director or International Ambassador and peers. Learn how you can work together to make the best quad!
  12. Get a grant to attend Grassroots: 2022 AIAS Grassroots Freedom By Design Grant Application
  13. Roll Call!
  14. Learn more about how to get involved in AIAS national committees. 
  15. Receive a copy of Architectural Record and all the goodies in the registration bag.
  16. Block Party at AIA Building. Good music, good eats!
  17. During the Block Party, visit the Octagon Museum and check out the “SAY IT LOUD” exhibit created by NOMA President-Elect Pascale Sablan. 
  18. Get FREE registration for the virtual Leadership Day training.
  19. Attend Leadership Day session “AIAS 101” which will teach you everything you need to know to start out your year with AIAS on the right foot – the structure of the organization, chapter bylaws, how to register students as AIAS members and how to register those members for conferences, how to run an event, chapter leadership roles, national involvement, and more! 
  20. Attend the Quad Director-hosted Leadership Day session “Re-Learning Finance.”
  21. Attend the Quad Director-hosted Leadership Day session “Re-Building Culture: Learning & Teaching Culture Policies.”
  22. Attend the Quad Director-hosted Leadership Day session “Re-Align: The New Alliance.”
  23. Attend the Quad Director-hosted Leadership Day session “Re-Viving Membership: Check Your Vibes.”
  24. Attend a Leadership Day training for NAAB visiting teams. 
  25. Attend a Leadership Day training for licensing advisors. 
  26. Attend a Leadership Day training for FBD leaders.
  27. Attend a Leadership Day training on international engagement.
  28. Visit the AIAS National Office!
  29. Visit the National Housing Center for the opening night!
  30. Meet the leaders of and the AIAS liaisons to the Alliance organizations – AIA, ACSA, NAAB, NCARB, NOMA, and the AIAS!
  31. Travel the DC Metro and see the brutalist Metro stations!
  32. Grab dinner with your quad and meet new friends after the opening night session.
  33. Meet alumni of the AIAS!
  34. Network with professionals, from architects, executives, faculty advisors, industry leaders, and much more.
  35. Pick up AIAS Merch!
  36. Establish your Freedom by Design presence.
  37. Meet the DC cicadas.
  38. Tour the award-winning NCARB office. 
  39. ​Tour the DC Gensler office building. 
  40. See the inspiration behind Night at the Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
  41. Tour the CallisonRTKL office.
  42. Go on a sketching tour in the Penn Quarter neighborhood.
  43. Go on a sketching tour in the Dupont neighborhood. 
  44. Go on a sketching tour in the Georgetown neighborhood. 
  45. Learn how to be an advocate as an architect with AIA Advocacy.
  46. See the cherry blossom trees while NOT in bloom (that happens in April). 
  47. Attend the Career Expo to network and learn more about architecture firms, job opportunities, and more.
  48. Tour the monuments at night with Past-President Scott Cornelius. 
  49. Equip yourself to be the “go-to advisor” for your peers through the Student Licensing Advisor Training with NCARB.
  50. Paddle boat on the Tidal Basin.
  51. Attend the “What’s Next?: Transitioning to a Design Professional” workshop to learn more about finding your voice, where to go from here, and how to transition skills to the professional environment. 
  52. See politicians around town.
  53. Engage with both the AIAS Mental Health Task Force and the AIAS Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Task Force.
  54. Say hi to our awesome AIAS sponsors, who make this conference possible!
  55. Attend the “What They Don’t Teach You about Architecture in the School of Design” workshop with ConstructConnect.
  56. Learn more about bidding to host your quad’s conference.
  57. Learn strategies to serve in your community in the best way possible, while getting architectural experience (yeah, we’re talking AXP hours) along the way! 
  58. Get a picture in front of the White House.
  59. Gensler Quad Reception
  60. CallisonRTKL Quad Reception
  61. HKS Quad Reception
  62. At the leadership Q&A, learn how to become a national leader in the AIAS. 
  63. Hot dogs and food trucks on the National Mall. 
  64. Explore the steps of the Capitol at the Capitol Center.
  65. Explore the National Zoo and meet the pandas – Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Xiao Qi Ji!
  66. Explore the Arlington Cemetery.
  67. Explore the Smithsonian Museums.
  68. Explore the Washington Monument.
  69. Visit The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.
  70. Explore the Lincoln Memorial.
  71. Explore the Korean War Veterans Memorial.
  72. Explore the International Spy Museum.
  73. Explore the Word Museum. 
  74. Explore the National Archives.
  75. Explore the Air and Space Museum.
  76. Explore the Newseum.
  77. Explore the Library of Congress.
  78. Explore the Renwick Gallery.
  79. Explore the National Gallery of Art.
  80. Explore the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, leading voice for contemporary art and culture.
  81. Say goodbye to the outgoing 2021-2022 Board of Directors
  82. AIAS Past-Past President Erin Conti.
  83. AIAS Past President Scott Cornelius.
  84. AIAS Past Vice President Shannon DeFranza.
  85. Northeast Quad Director Elizabeth Caccavano.
  86. South Quad Director Jessie Cart.
  87. Midwest Quad Director Baili Null.
  88. West Quad Director Nick Romero.
  89. Middle East Regional Ambassador Vanessa Abouharb.
  90. Latin American Regional Ambassador Adan Hernandez.
  91. Inauguration of your incoming AIAS 2022-2023 Board of Directors.
  92. AIAS President Cooper Moore.
  93. AIAS Vice President Nicole Bass.
  94. Northeast Quad Director Julia Andor.
  95. South Quad Director Colt Brock.
  96. Midwest Quad Director Ethan Sandburg.
  97. West Quad Director Tristan Osorio. 
  98. Middle East Regional Ambassador Marcelle El Achkar.
  99. Latin American Regional Ambassador Paulina Gonzalez.
  100. Meet the new AIAS Executive Director, Larry Hoffer.