Dear SoCal NOMA Members and Allied Professionals,

I am honored to be your President and dedicated to supporting you all and the spirit of SoCal NOMA’s mission, the enrichment and advancement of Architects and Designers of Color.

In recent years, we have made great strides in revamping our Architecture Summer Camp and NOMA Student programs. As a professional organization, I am excited to reenergize our professional programs and focus. We will achieve this through the following:

DESIGN EXCELLENCE: We are putting design excellence at the forefront of SoCal NOMA to celebrate the achievements of our members and their leadership in our industry. Therefore, we brought our Design Awards back as an annual tradition that honors our members’ work. We hope that as we continue to build and expand the awards, the act of winning one is a prestigious achievement that helps member’s win more design opportunities and further their careers.

ACCESS + OPPORTUNITY: We are focused on creating a community of belonging through our Coffee Talk discussions, where professionals can voice concerns, share experiences, promote best practices, and create deep connections. We will also expand activities and discussions beyond our internal community, engaging and supporting our local neighborhoods and partner organizations. Lastly, we will connect with and celebrate small and emerging design businesses of color.

BRAND STRATEGY + AWARENESS: We will improve our brand awareness by revamping our marketing and social media strategy. We want to ensure that our internal and external communities are aware of all the programming described in “Design Excellence” and “Access + Opportunity.” So, we are planning updates to our website, branding, and social media that will better communicate chapter news, education, and member experience.

To realize our vision, it is imperative that we identify and nurture new leadership within our organization. If you are passionate about advancing the mission of SoCal NOMA and have the skills and dedication to lead, we encourage you to reach out to us by email or filling out the Volunteer form under the GET INVOLVED tab.

I am filled with excitement for 2025 and beyond. Our success hinges on the dedication, passion, and collective efforts of each and every one of you. Together, let us move forward in excellence, to design a brighter future for SoCal NOMA and the communities we serve.

Sincerely,

Matthew Trotter
President, SoCal NOMA