Advocacy is an integral part of AIA Maryland’s mission – to promote architects and architecture in Maryland through legislative action at the State level. Ways in which we accomplish this is through
- Facilitating effective dialog between our members and the public
- Advocating for better community design
- Expanding the influence of architects in the community
- Serving as a voice on community, legislative and design matters
- Promoting AIA members and the value of their services to the public
AIA Maryland members work collaboratively with the Local and AIA National components to strengthen the voices of architects in government and community leadership at the city, state and national level. To promote the unique value of architects and the importance of design excellence, AIA Maryland features members’ and architectural students’ works through the AIA Maryland Design Awards programs.
Architects need to get involved in the political process for three reasons:
Architects have a lot to give. Architects impact the lives of everyone in the communities they serve. The architectural profession employees more than 275,000 Americans and it is part of the design/construction industry, which represents 8 percent to 10 percent of the U.S. economy. Architects need a strong voice on a wide range of issues from community planning, housing, sustainability, building codes, project delivery, historic preservation, and a wealth of other issues.
Architects have a lot to lose. It is easy to take for granted what has already been earned – architectural practice acts, qualifications based selection for design services, tax provisions for historic preservation, to name a few – but all of this work can be undone by a legislator who is unaware of the purpose of these important victories of the past.
Through the AIA, Architects have a unified voice on the business and the design issues important to all of us. Members can identify ways to participate in that unified voice for the architectural profession.
To find out the Seven Easy Steps to Make Your Voice Heard, click here.
Opportunities to advocate on behalf of the architectural profession abound. Your involvement does make a difference! Learn why.
Get Involved – Get Informed
- Contact Your Legislators
- Donate to ArchiPAC
- Donate to Maryland Architects PAC
- Monthly Virtual Advocacy Meetings
- Advocacy365: How to Become an Advocate
