Awards: 2005 Institute Honor Award for Interior Architecture
Recipient: Neil M. Denari Architects
Project: l.a. Eyeworks Showroom; Los Angeles
Client: Gai Gheradi & Barbara McReynolds; Los Angeles
Photo: Benny Chan, Fotoworks
 

   
 
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Center for Communities by Design Staff

 





Director, Communities by Design
joelmills@aia.org

Joel Mills serves as director of the AIA Center for Communities by Design, the primary resource for architects and citizens interested in building healthy, sustainable, safe, and livable communities. Under his leadership, the AIA Center for Communities by Design is at the forefront of the AIA’s organization-wide initiative conducting local-level targeted outreach, issues advocacy, resource development, and case study collection that is slated for the coming years.


His experience includes community-based technical assistance, process design, facilitation and training across a number of fields including juvenile justice reform, local government, education, family strengthening, civic media and emergency management. During the 1990s, Joel spent several years supporting international democratization initiatives by providing technical assistance to parliaments, political parties, local governments, and civic and international organizations. His scope of work included constitutional design and governing systems, voter and civic education, election monitoring and administration, political party training and campaign strategy, collaborative governance, human rights, and civil society capacity building. He maintains active memberships in the International Association of Facilitators (IAF), the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2), and the Mid-Atlantic Facilitators Network. He also serves on several public and private boards.


Manager, Outreach
mgarcia@aia.org

Marsha serves as the primary link between the Center for Communities by Design and all AIA components, communicating and coordinating Center activities with local components and monitoring local component activities related to the mission of the Center. Marsha coordinates the Center’s outreach efforts with AIA Component Relations and AIA Marketing & Promotion departments. Marsha’s vast community outreach experience and ability to convert underserved constituencies with local community design initiatives makes Marsha an invaluable resource for the future of the Center and its programs.


Director, Design Assistance

esimmons@aia.org

Erin Simmons leads selected initiatives involving community outreach and facilitation to foster leadership opportunities for AIA members, AIA local components, and the public. She focuses on the relationship-building aspects of creating healthy, sustainable, safe, and livable communities. Erin manages the design assistance programs offered through the Center including Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) and Regional and Urban Design Assistance Team (R/UDAT) programs.

Erin holds a Master’s degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Georgia, College of Environment and Design. She earned her BA degree in history from Florida State University. Before joining the AIA Erin was senior architectural historian and historic preservationist with Terracon Consultants, Inc., in Duluth, Ga. Prior to Terracon Consultants, Inc. she served as a historic resource surveyor in Georgia.