Juneteenth, Opal Lee, and Space for Connection

We walk into the gaping and spectacular atrium in the National Portrait Gallery. It’s undulating honeycomb ceiling in contrast to the substantial weight and monumentalism of the building it bridges between. Here my husband and I rest a while. Beside us are a group of women of all ages, weaving together. Knitting side-by-side in an intermediate bursts of conversation, laughter, and peaceful quiet. A few feet away, children play, and what could generously be called a fountain, but was more like a small area of ground covered in water that was constantly flowing and bubbling up.

We sat on the cold marble, white marble, small trees, and foliage to our back, the landscape around us. Here was a space connection and a place to be connected to art, to culture, and to the people around us.

I spent a lot of time in Washington DC absorbed in wonderful conversation with colleagues from across the nation. Those that were architects coming in for the The American Institute of Architects (AIA) conference, and those that have spent their lives dedicated to furthering social connection and service to others, The Foundation for Social Connection / Foundation for Social Connection Action Network , many of whom lived in Washington DC, others who flew in from far away. I found myself between these worlds, and so blessed to be a part of both.

As I gave into my lifelong love of museums, gift shops, I took home with me the book you see below. The one that reminds me each night that women doing good work in the world have been Nobel prize winners, have been changemakers, and that I come from a long line of strong women dedicated to creating a brighter future.

In the halls of the beautiful National Portrait Gallery, I found this (above) stunning portrait of Mrs. Opal Lee, for whom we owe so much gratitude for her work in the movement of Juneteenth. (I couldn’t resist adding Michelle Obama’s stunning portrait to the mix. You’re welcome )

This time of year we come together and celebrate the amazing beauty, ingenuity, and spirit of African Americans across the nation and especially here in Texas. My life has been so blessed by these beautiful friends, mentors, colleagues community members, and inspirations, and those who continue to share their gifts with me.?

In that spirit, I want to share a few of the amazing people right here in my backyard that I look up to for their work, creating a brighter future for #Dallas and beyond. Check them out!

• Ashli W. Hall: President and Chair of BLACK Collective at HKS, Inc.
• Derwin Broughton, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, WELL AP : President of Texas Society of Architects - We appreciate your leadership!
• Ferrell Fellows : Real Estate and Development in South Dallas and Fair Park, and beyond with Kingdom Legacy Company
• April Allen : President & CEO, Southern Gateway Park Public Green Foundation
• Maggie J. Parker: Community planner, activist and developer.
• Courtney Kelly, MBA, PE : Civil Engineer, Children's Book Author, Inspiration!
• Frankie Wilson Jr. MBA, MDiv & Feleceia Wilson : Couple Dream Team
• J. A. Armstrong III : Dallas developer and housing advocate with a new The Dallas Morning News column

In The News!

• Watch my TEDx on Design to Heal Loneliness
• Psychology Today: How to Design Spaces for Social Connection
• Erin Awarded Dallas Business Journal 40 Under 40!
• Getting to Know the Young Architects Awardees.