KENNETH J. FILARSKI FAIA, LEED FELLOW, AIA 2025-2027 At-Large Director Candidate LEADERSHIP SUMMIT SPEECH

LETS WRITE THE STORY OF OUR PLANET FOR THE NEXT 2,000 YEARS !

I AM OPTIMISTIC FOR OUR FUTURE. These are creative times, yet filled with many questions.

WE HAVE THE TOOLS IN OUR HANDS AND MINDS, to accomplish what needs to be done. Everything is connected - the continuum of ecology - a seamless M?bius strip of exquisite design.

ECOLOGY IS DYNAMIC, a complex M?BIUS of all systems - a caring for society and planet. I think, practice, and craft my designs in that way, as an ARCHITECT, AIA FELLOW, LEED FELLOW, and CITIZEN ARCHITECT.

1 ? 98,000 ? 200 ? 1…OUR M?BIUS ?

1 ? THE ARCHITECT…the extraordinary power of one, the individual architect being the focus of the AIA.

98,000 ? ARCHITECTS IN THE AIA…our power of the many, a power of collective genius and invention.

200 ? COMPONENTS OF THE AIA…our critical link, fulcrum, the pivotal lever arm of the AIA.

1 ? THE AIA…our power of one with the power of the many - our force multiplier internally and externally.

IMAGINE WITH ME…

• BE THE GLOBAL ORGANIZATION MODEL - furthering climate action, justice, and equity - across education, profession, society.
• STRATEGICALLY SUPPORT ALL COMPONENTS, providing valued, member-centered services, enhancing architects and communities.
• CONNECT, COORDINATE, COOPERATE, COLLABORATE across organizations and government, building the power and place of sustainability EFFICIENTLY, EFFECTIVELY, and…ELEGANTLY!
• RECOGNIZE THAT OUR DESIGNS, CARBON AND MATERIALS USED have geo-spatial impacts.
• THE VALUE OF ARCHITECTS begins with gathering the quantitative data and telling the qualitative stories of our work, demonstrating the value of design.
• LEVERAGE THE "AMERICA BY DESIGN" series with our past, award winning, "Learning By Design Program", in a nation wide initiative for K-12 architecture design education.
• DISASTERS ARE NOT GOING AWAY - BUILD KNOWLEDGE AND ACTIONS WITH COMMUNITIES - Our Disaster Assistance Program is highly respected.? As Co-Chair I witnessed our bonding with communities, as Citizen Architects. We can go further with DIRRT - the Design Innovation Rapid Response Team assisting communities to strategically integrate sustainability and design thinking as they rebuild.
• The DESIGN OF DESIGN creates opportunities for architects and design more than any one building. I authored Rhode Island's nationally historic Green Buildings Act, and now Chair its implementation - incorporating LEED, LEED for Neighborhood Development, and SITES as public law for all State and municipal projects - a powerful legislative and design model for other states.? Chief Architect by another name.

A while back I was the youngest architect elected to the AIA Board. The AIA was very important to me then, and far more important to me now.

I give to you thoughtful, holistic, multidisciplinary knowledge, effective? collaborations, design achievements, a successful record of valuable community and national AIA leadership, experience, wisdom, action, and certainly JOY!

Together - write the story of our planet... 1 ?? 98,000 ?? 200 ? 1

THANK YOU!