5 Ways to put the Guides for Equitable Practice Activation Kit into action

What happens when a resource moves from the page into practice? 

Firms, chapters, and leadership programs are continually looking for practical ways to attract, develop, and retain talent; strengthen workplace culture; and prepare the next generation of leaders. 

Developed as a companion resource to the nine-chapter Guides for Equitable Practice, the Guides for Equitable Practice Activation Kit was released last year with the goal of providing tools and resources for turning mentorship, workplace culture, career advancement, and equitable leadership into structured learning experiences and meaningful conversations.

The examples below illustrate how AIA programs, firms, chapters, and member communities are adapting the resources to foster a strong and supportive firm culture. 

1. To develop future leaders

“One of the major takeaways from our introduction to the AIA Guides for Equitable Practice Activation Kit was the realization that we do not need to reinvent a path toward a more inclusive profession,” says Ethan Hopkins, Assoc. AIA, a medical planner at HKS. “Valuable resources already exist to support both individual reflection and group discussions within studios and firms.”

As part of AIA D.C.'s 2026 Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program , which Hopkins participated in, AIA's Equity and the Future of Architecture Comittee (EQFA) used the kit to dive into intercultural competence with the cohort. The session invited participants to examine how their experiences and perspectives influence the way they lead. 

“The Activation Kit provides a tangible framework for moving beyond awareness and transforming understanding into meaningful action,” Hopkins says.  

2. To strengthen leadership cohorts

Elements of the Activation Kit has also been incorporated into AIA's Next to Lead program, a leadership development training program for a diverse cohort of women leaders in architecture. Participants engage in reflection, discussion, and peer learning throughout their leadership journey. 

“Cohort members are prompted to reflect on their own experiences, learn from one another, and explore how topics like mentorship, career growth, and workplace culture show up in their everyday leadership practice,” says Allison Read, director of leadership programs at AIA.  

Drawing from topics such as negotiation, career advancement, and mentorship, the content reinforces themes already present in the curriculum while helping participants consider how those concepts show up in their workplaces and leadership roles.  

3. To bring workplace culture conversations into firms 

For firms, these conversations can be part of a broader approach to developing and retaining talent. Creating opportunities for employees to discuss workplace culture, leadership, and career development can help firms better understand what matters to their staff while strengthening internal relationships and leadership skills that support long-term growth.  

At Washington, D.C.-based firm Quinn Evans, the Activation Kit was incorporated into a Workplace Culture lunch-and-learn designed to engage staff around the factors that contribute to a healthy and productive work environment.  

“The workplace culture discussion helped us realize how strongly Quinn Evans’ projects and clients align with the values of our employees,” says Lucjan Rostkowski-Covington, Assoc. AIA.  

4. In building communities of practice

Equitable practice conversations do not have to begin and end with a single presentation. AIA's monthly Guides in Action discussion series gives participants an ongoing oppportunity to explore different topics through activities and discussion drawn from the Activation Kit. 

Katie Cherrir, Assoc. AIA, a project designer and associate at INTEGRUS and the 2027 chair of the AIA National Associates Committee, says that the monthly sessions provide an in-depth resource for any title or experience level.  

“Continuing to expand my own awareness supports my ability to lead within my day-to-day work, as well as within my role on the National Associates Committee,” she says. “Through personal development, we can lead by example more effectively, and in our work, we are all leaders.”  

5. To empower local learning through chapters and member communities

The guides are also reaching local AIA chapters through the Guides for Equitable Practice Ambassador Workgroup, a volunteer-led initiative formed by members of EQFA. 

The workgroup helps introduce chapters, member groups, and professional networks to the Guides for Equitable Practice and Activation Kit while modeling ways to use the resources in chapter programs, workshops, and discussions. Ambassadors share facilitation approaches and implementation strategies that organizations can adapt to their own audiences and priorities.  

Garfield Peart, FAIA, NOMA, co-chair of EQFA, says that what excites him the most about the Ambassador Workgroup is that it creates opportunities for dialogue.  

“The Guides and Activation Kits provide a framework, but the real value comes from the conversations they spark,” he says. “When members share experiences, ask questions, and learn from one another, the resources become a catalyst for growth, understanding, and action.”  

The workgroup recently invited chapters to learn more about the resources, creating opportunities for ambassadors to connect with components interested in bringing the content to their members. In this way, ambassadors serve as both champions and guides, helping chapters discover, experience, and ultimately lead their own conversations using the resources.  

From resource to action

Taken together, these examples show how the Activation Kit can meet organizations where they are: strengthening leadership development, creating shared language within cohorts, opening conversations about workplace culture, fostering ongoing communities of practice, and helping chapters build capacity for local engagement.

For firms, chapters, and member groups, the kit offers a starting point for meaningful dialogue and professional learning without requiring organizations to build new resources from the ground up. As more architects and organizations explore the materials, the guides can become part of the ongoing work of developing people, strengthening organizational cultures, and advancing equitable practice across the profession,

Access the Activation Kit for free today.

Andrea Milo is senior director, EDI Strategies at AIA.