March 16, 2026
The Altadena Rebuild Coalition (ARC), an initiative of the Southern California chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (SoCal NOMA), has been awarded $300,000 in community regrant funding from the Los Angeles Conservancy through its Altadena Cultural Asset Mapping (ACAM) initiative. The program is supported by a $1.5 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s Humanities in Place program, which funds community-based cultural preservation efforts.
The grant will support ARC’s work to document Altadena’s cultural heritage through oral histories, storytelling, and the identification of historically significant places and traditions. The effort is designed to ensure that the voices and experiences of longtime residents help shape recovery and rebuilding plans following the wildfire.
ARC will collect oral histories from longtime residents, document culturally significant sites, and develop educational materials highlighting Altadena’s architectural and cultural history. The coalition also plans to host public workshops and forums connecting residents with architects, planners, and preservation professionals to support informed rebuilding decisions.
SoCal NOMA | Altadena Rebuild Coalition
Matthew Trotter, AIA, NOMA, NCARB
SoCal NOMA President (2025 & 2026)
[email protected]
Eletrice Harris
ARC Program Director
[email protected]
Altadena Rebuild Coalition Receives $300,000 Grant to Document Community History and Support Post-Fire Rebuilding
March 16, 2026
The Altadena Rebuild Coalition (ARC), an initiative of the Southern California chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (SoCal NOMA), has been awarded $300,000 in community regrant funding from the Los Angeles Conservancy through its Altadena Cultural Asset Mapping (ACAM) initiative. The program is supported by a $1.5 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s Humanities in Place program, which funds community-based cultural preservation efforts.
The grant will support ARC’s work to document Altadena’s cultural heritage through oral histories, storytelling, and the identification of historically significant places and traditions. The effort is designed to ensure that the voices and experiences of longtime residents help shape recovery and rebuilding plans following the wildfire.
ARC will collect oral histories from longtime residents, document culturally significant sites, and develop educational materials highlighting Altadena’s architectural and cultural history. The coalition also plans to host public workshops and forums connecting residents with architects, planners, and preservation professionals to support informed rebuilding decisions.
SoCal NOMA | Altadena Rebuild Coalition
Matthew Trotter, AIA, NOMA, NCARB
SoCal NOMA President (2025 & 2026)
[email protected]
Eletrice Harris
ARC Program Director
[email protected]
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Below are the open board positions for January 2026 – December 2027 (2-year term). A call for nominations begins now for all members through November 18 and voting will occur electronically November 21 – 28. You may nominate yourself or someone else.
🔸1st VP/President Elect (1-year)
🔸2nd VP
🔸Public Relations
🔸Parliamentarian
🔸Secretary
🔸Historian
🔸Student Representative
🔸Social Media
Voting will open by November 21st and you will receive another email/link at that time to vote for the submitted nominees. Results will be announced on December 5 at the Year End Celebration.
Please email [email protected] if you didn’t receive the nomination email this morning.
Call for Board Nominations
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Below are the open board positions for January 2026 – December 2027 (2-year term). A call for nominations begins now for all members through November 18 and voting will occur electronically November 21 – 28. You may nominate yourself or someone else.
🔸1st VP/President Elect (1-year)
🔸2nd VP
🔸Public Relations
🔸Parliamentarian
🔸Secretary
🔸Historian
🔸Student Representative
🔸Social Media
Voting will open by November 21st and you will receive another email/link at that time to vote for the submitted nominees. Results will be announced on December 5 at the Year End Celebration.
Please email [email protected] if you didn’t receive the nomination email this morning.
City of Los Angeles – Bureau of Engineering Architectural Division
Employment Opportunity
Emergency Appointment – Architect Position
Application Deadline: Friday, August 29, 2025 at 4:00 PM
This position is subject to Personnel Department approval of the emergency appointment.
Minimum Experience Requirements:
Candidates must meet the requirements below by the application deadline:
1. Two years of full-time paid professional architectural experience at the level of an Architect and;
2. Possession of a valid Certificate of Registration as an Architect issued by the California State
Board of Architectural Examiners.
Method of Evaluating Candidates:
1. Review of City Application Form and Resume
(https://personnel.lacity.gov/application.pdf)
2. Interview with ARC Staff
3. Reference check
How to Apply:
Candidates interested in applying for this position must submit a City application and resume by email to [email protected] by the application deadline, August 29, 2025, 4:00 PM (Note: Should you be granted an interview and require a special accommodation for the interview, please so indicate when responding to this Notice).
Job Posting – City of LA BOE Architect Position
City of Los Angeles – Bureau of Engineering Architectural Division
Employment Opportunity
Emergency Appointment – Architect Position
Application Deadline: Friday, August 29, 2025 at 4:00 PM
This position is subject to Personnel Department approval of the emergency appointment.
Minimum Experience Requirements:
Candidates must meet the requirements below by the application deadline:
1. Two years of full-time paid professional architectural experience at the level of an Architect and;
2. Possession of a valid Certificate of Registration as an Architect issued by the California State
Board of Architectural Examiners.
Method of Evaluating Candidates:
1. Review of City Application Form and Resume
(https://personnel.lacity.gov/application.pdf)
2. Interview with ARC Staff
3. Reference check
How to Apply:
Candidates interested in applying for this position must submit a City application and resume by email to [email protected] by the application deadline, August 29, 2025, 4:00 PM (Note: Should you be granted an interview and require a special accommodation for the interview, please so indicate when responding to this Notice).
SoCal NOMA featured in Archinect, Story by Josh Niland
Here’s another look inside the complexities of rebuilding in Altadena following January’s Eaton Fire, courtesy of AfroLA. “The takeaway right now is that the greatest value is in community preservation,” Altadena resident Steve Lewis tells the outlet in response to the growing concerns of displacement for many of the Black families whose properties have sustained an inordinate amount of damage, according to a UCLA study. SoCal NOMA has been active in advocating for their position as the rebuilding process finally starts. They are working closely with other volunteer groups like the Altadena Rebuild Coalition to recover decades of Black history by founding community land banks and through other means.
Photo: steve lyon/Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
April 30, 2025 | Archinect News Article “SoCal NOMA, other nonprofits join the fight to keep Altadena’s Black History indelible”
SoCal NOMA featured in Archinect, Story by Josh Niland
Here’s another look inside the complexities of rebuilding in Altadena following January’s Eaton Fire, courtesy of AfroLA. “The takeaway right now is that the greatest value is in community preservation,” Altadena resident Steve Lewis tells the outlet in response to the growing concerns of displacement for many of the Black families whose properties have sustained an inordinate amount of damage, according to a UCLA study. SoCal NOMA has been active in advocating for their position as the rebuilding process finally starts. They are working closely with other volunteer groups like the Altadena Rebuild Coalition to recover decades of Black history by founding community land banks and through other means.
Photo: steve lyon/Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Drake Dillard, past National and x2 SoCal NOMA President, has been reappointed to the California Commission on Disability Access, where he has served since 2020. Dillard has been a Senior Project Manager at Perkins & Will since 2014. He was a Senior Healthcare Architect at Parsons from 2007 to 2013. Dillard was a Project Architect at Kaiser Permanente from 1989 to 1998. He is a member of the Crenshaw Design Review Panel, American Institute of Architects and the National Organization of Minority Architects. Dillard earned a Master of Arts degree in Architecture from Howard University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Dillard is registered without party preference.
Governor Newsom Reappoints Drake Dillard to the California Commission on Disability Access
Drake Dillard, past National and x2 SoCal NOMA President, has been reappointed to the California Commission on Disability Access, where he has served since 2020. Dillard has been a Senior Project Manager at Perkins & Will since 2014. He was a Senior Healthcare Architect at Parsons from 2007 to 2013. Dillard was a Project Architect at Kaiser Permanente from 1989 to 1998. He is a member of the Crenshaw Design Review Panel, American Institute of Architects and the National Organization of Minority Architects. Dillard earned a Master of Arts degree in Architecture from Howard University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Dillard is registered without party preference.
We are excited to announce that our very own past President, Craig Atkinson, has become our West Region Vice President!
“Although I am transitioning from my role as Chapter President” Craig says, “I am excited to continue serving NOMA as the West Region Vice President…This new role will allow me to champion our shared goals on a broader scale while staying connected to the amazing work happening here in Southern California. Thank you, SoCal NOMA, for entrusting me with this responsibility and for inspiring me with your dedication and creativity every step of the way. It has been an honor to serve, and I look forward to continuing this journey with all of you in my new capacity.”
Our new West Region Vice President…Craig Atkinson!
We are excited to announce that our very own past President, Craig Atkinson, has become our West Region Vice President!
“Although I am transitioning from my role as Chapter President” Craig says, “I am excited to continue serving NOMA as the West Region Vice President…This new role will allow me to champion our shared goals on a broader scale while staying connected to the amazing work happening here in Southern California. Thank you, SoCal NOMA, for entrusting me with this responsibility and for inspiring me with your dedication and creativity every step of the way. It has been an honor to serve, and I look forward to continuing this journey with all of you in my new capacity.”
In April 2024 our chapter President, Craig Atkinson attended an AIALA Advocacy Meeting with Deputy Mayor of Business and Economic Development Rachel Freeman proved pivotal in addressing pressing concerns regarding housing and housing policy within the City of Los Angeles.
Amidst a time in LA when there are economic constraints on hiring, the necessity for innovative solutions became glaringly apparent. Chief among the discussed solutions was the streamlining of processes, particularly through the expedited approvals for affordable housing projects. This imperative not only ensures timely responses to the housing crisis but also serves as a proactive measure in combating the budgetary challenges faced by the city.
With a keen eye on inclusivity, Craig Atkinson, President of SoCal NOMA, attends these meetings to ensure that the voices of underrepresented communities are not only heard but also integrated into the strategic missions driving policy discussions. Through collaborative efforts and a commitment to efficiency, the city aims to navigate these challenges while fostering equitable development across all neighborhoods.
April 2024 AIA|LA Advocacy Meeting Update by Craig Atkinson
In April 2024 our chapter President, Craig Atkinson attended an AIALA Advocacy Meeting with Deputy Mayor of Business and Economic Development Rachel Freeman proved pivotal in addressing pressing concerns regarding housing and housing policy within the City of Los Angeles.
Amidst a time in LA when there are economic constraints on hiring, the necessity for innovative solutions became glaringly apparent. Chief among the discussed solutions was the streamlining of processes, particularly through the expedited approvals for affordable housing projects. This imperative not only ensures timely responses to the housing crisis but also serves as a proactive measure in combating the budgetary challenges faced by the city.
With a keen eye on inclusivity, Craig Atkinson, President of SoCal NOMA, attends these meetings to ensure that the voices of underrepresented communities are not only heard but also integrated into the strategic missions driving policy discussions. Through collaborative efforts and a commitment to efficiency, the city aims to navigate these challenges while fostering equitable development across all neighborhoods.
SoCalNOMA seeks to advance and support the education and careers of those who have been historically under represented in the field of architecture and various allied design/build professions.
