Top Ten Reasons For NOMA

TOP TEN REASONS TO BE A NOMA PARTICIPANT

NOMA is the only organization of its kind. It focuses on minority architect’s needs like no other organization does. It has a great mission and very honorable goals. It is the top recognized entity for minority architects. It’s national when it needs to be. It’s local when it needs to be. It’s on a roll. It's here to stay. It’s here to grow. It’s here for you. A smart, inexpensive, worthwhile investment in the profession and your role in it.

NOMA is synonymous with unity. And unity is the one thing that we always will be in control of. We have no one to answer to for our own unity. We need no one’s permission. If we desire we can have unity. It is the only guarantee we have. We have to be smart enough and humble enough to use it to its fullest. That is why NOMA exists. For unity.

NOMA is your voice amplifier. One voice alone can and usually will be ignored. Your voice amplified through NOMA will be heard.

NOMA is a vehicle for empowerment. The messenger to carry unified legislative requests. The army to fight discrimination. A threat to those who have or seek to abuse, mistreat, or overlook us as qualified professionals. And it is reputable enough to join with a federation of allied organizations to multiply the empowerment.

NOMA is the buffer between our businesses’ passionate concerns and any risks involved with expressing them personally or individually.

NOMA is the broadcast network for our designs and projects. Our marketing vehicle. It gets us published, broadcasted, exhibited, seen and heard.

NOMA is a two-way information network. A news network. A resource for obtaining project opportunities. A resource for employment referrals. A resource for state-of-the-art technical, material and method information.

NOMA uncovers, documents and preserves our history, our legacy, and the successors of our legacy.

NOMA is well-rounded. It covers business, social, informational, artistic, technological, educational, marketing, networking, charitable, historical, legislative, and community development issues.

NOMA is FUBU. (For-Us-By-Us)

NOMAC Profile: Leon Bridges

Leon Bridges, NOMAC, FAIA, is President of TLBC Incorporated, an east coast architectural/ interior/ community planning firm in Baltimore, Maryland. With Professional and Master's Degrees from the University of Washington and Loyola College of Maryland, Mr. Bridges is recipient of 20 national and local awards in design from AIA, NOMA and others, plus numerous community service awards. He is a licensed architect in Washington, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Virginia, and District of Columbia.

As a sole proprietor, partner and owner of his architectural firm for 26 years, and president of TLBC Incorporated for 11 years, Mr. Bridges has had personal principal responsibility for all aspects of architectural and planning projects, and the administration of an architectural firm for over three decades.
A generalist, he has had principal responsibility for over 250 diverse major projects with a construction value over $1,450,000,000. A select listing of his experience as principal and project manager of related architectural projects includes:

Leon’s professional service includes membership in The American Institute of Architects (AIA) for over 25 years during which he was elected by his peers as the Middle Atlantic Regional Director for 3 years and as National Vice President, 1983-87. As a member of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), he held every regional and national office including President, 1979-80. He was inducted into both, the AIA College of Fellows in 1986 and as a Member of the Counsel of NOMA in 1994. His contributions to the NAACP’s ACTSO program mentoring high school students in architecture serve as a model for investment in our youth.

Mr. Bridges is the recipient of over 20 national and local design awards including Baltimore Pennsylvania Station Renovation/Restoration in Baltimore, MD which won the Washington, DC AIA Chapter, Outstanding Merit Award, 1981; National Organization of Minority Architects, Design Excellence Award, 1983; Presidential Design Achievement Award, NEA, 1984, Baltimore AIA Chapter, Design Excellence Award, 1985; plus several others awards. His numerous community honors include the State of Maryland Governor's Citation in Appreciation of Outstanding Services to the Citizens of Maryland in 1993 and The Black Pages Award- Recognition for Outstanding Contribution to the Economic Health of Minority Enterprise in Baltimore, MD in 1981.

NOMAC Profile: Roberta Washington

Roberta Washington’s love of art and a chance meeting with a black architect led to a career in architecture. She won local high school art shows in Greensboro, NC and attended the first summer of Governor’s School for the Arts.

Roberta graduated from Howard University’s School of Architecture with a Bachelor of Architecture degree and attended Columbia University’s School of Architecture earning a Masters Degree in Architecture (Hospital and Health Facility Design). She used a Kinne Fellowship to travel to Ghana. After graduation, she worked for firms specializing in hospital design, got licensed and worked in Mozambique for the Ministry Public Works for four years.

When she returned to New York, she moved to Harlem and started her own firm in 1983. In the beginning, the majority of the projects were rehabilitation and restoration projects. New construction projects include two ‘green’ projects including one to be LEED certified. Roberta became LEED accredited in 2003.

Roberta has served as a juror for NAACP’s ACTSO architecture competition, Chair of the Housing Committee of Central Harlem’s Community Planning Board, chairperson of the NY State Board of Architecture and as a question writer for NCARB registration exams. Roberta also served on several AIA NYC committees including the Foundation for Architecture. In 2006 Roberta Washington was elevated to the College of Fellows. In 2007, she was appointed to the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Roberta Washington joined the New York Coalition of Black Architects (NYCOBA) in 1988 and NOMA in 1991. She was elected to the NOMA Board of Directors as a regional director and worked to present to NYCOBA members the advantages of NOMA membership. In 1995, NYCOBA became the New York affiliate of NOMA. Roberta was elected NOMA president in 1997 – the second woman to serve in this capacity since its creation. During her year in office, Roberta worked to stabilize the financial condition of the organization, established the organization’s web-site (NOMA.net) and publicized the finding of NOMA’s historian about black women in architecture. She was inducted into the NOMA Counsel in October 1997.

Roberta Washington continues to run her firm in New York City where she designs schools, housing and cultural projects. One such project is the Interfaith Specialty Clinic featured below. (Photo by John Gallager)

NOMAC Profile: Clarence Mobley

Clarence Mobley became a member of NOMA in the mid 1980’s. He was introduced to NOMA while he worked for Louis Fry, Jr. who knew Leroy Campbell, one of the founders of NOMA.

Clarence has served NOMA as Secretary for the board twice and Vice President for the East Region twice. He helped establish the Cornell University Student Chapter of NOMA. He has been appointed Parliamentarian twice, served as Vice Chair for the Membership Committee and has been a NOMA official photographer for many years.

During his youth, Clarence was a Cub Scout and later became a Boy Scout and Star Scout. As a Boy Scout he won First Prize in a citywide art contest and was awarded a one year scholarship at the renowned Fletcher’s Art School in Washington, DC. He became a newspaper carrier and won the Business Training Certificate for excellent achievement in salesmanship. At 19, he gave his heart to the Lord and became a Christian.

After becoming President of his class in the 7th & 9th grades and Vice President in the 12th grade, Clarence attended Howard University to earn both B. Arch. & M. Arch. Degrees.
He is now a registered and licensed architect in DC, MD, VA, NC, SC, and GA. His military service includes an Honorable Discharge as a Vietnam Veteran.

Clarence has practiced architecture 2 years with the Department of Navy, Department of Public Works and 18 years with the DC Government Department of Housing. He has 19 years of private sector general practice. He carries NOMAC, AIA, and CSI professional designations.

Mr. Mobley has received many awards from his religious, social, civic, professional work. He has invested in the future of our youth by serving as a high school and Jr. high school teacher as well as a guest speaker on college campuses.

NOMAC Profile: Michael A. Rogers

Michael Rogers became the youngest President of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) in Oct. of 1994. He had served nationally as the NOMA Vice President, Midwest Regional Vice President, Membership Chair (14 yrs), and NOMA Convention Chair. For the Illinois NOMA Chapter he held the positions of President, Vice President and Secretary after joining as a student member in 1980. He is currently secretary of the NOMA Foundation.

Mr. Rogers practices at McDonald’s Corporation where he has more than 28 years of tenure. He has worked on design and construction projects that have produced more than 1000 built structures throughout the United States and Canada.

He is a 1983 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago where he has a degree in Architecture and also holds a certificate of Construction Management from Triton College. He holds architectural licenses in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Michael Rogers is the past President(2010)of AIA Illinois. He is currently a member of the AIA Illinois Empowerment Committee. He has served the Northeast Illinois Chapter as Director, Vice-President and 2002 President and also has chaired its Public Awareness and Nominations committees. He has received the AIA Illinois Nothnagel Award for Public Service and the AIA Northeast Illinois Outstanding Professional Member Award.

Mike grew up in Chicago’s Robert Taylor homes which was the nations largest public housing development and second most impoverished (2nd lowest per capita income) community in the country at the time. He is especially committed to providing mentorship and motivation to the youth in economically depressed areas as well as the redevelopment of such areas. He has been a guest speaker at schools from elementary through college and championed community engagement and advocacy.

In his community Michael has been appointed as Zoning Board Chair, Plan Commission Chair, and Youth Committee Chair and was also elected as a Village of Bellwood Councilman where he served 2 terms in the municipal government. He has since been elected as a Village of Maywood Councilman where he now lives and serves. In 2001, he was named Proviso Township Citizen of the Year runner-up.

Michael and his work has the distinction of being featured on WGN TV, WTTW-TV, and in Progressive Architecture magazine, The Daily Herald, Jet magazine and a number of other publications.