Current NOMAtlanta Board of directors
President – Alvin Harper
Vice President – Jerome Martin
Secretary – Frederick Godbolt
Treasurer – Thomas Allen
Parliamentarian: Bryan Houser
Director of Communications – Marc Johnson
Membership Chair – Tariq Abdullah
Past President – Craig VanDevere
Who we are
. . Twelve African-American architects from different parts of the country met, some for the first time, during the AIA National Convention in Detroit in 1971. What these professionals recognized was the desperate need for an organization dedicated to the development and advancement of minority architects.
. . Present at the creation were William Brown, Leroy Campbell, Wendell Campbell, John S. Chase, D. Dodd, Kenneth B. Groggs, Nelson Harris, Jeh Johnson, E.H. McDowell, Robert J. Nash, Harold Williams, and Robert Wilson. These African American architects wanted minority design professionals to work together to fight discriminatory policies that limit or bar minority architects from participating in design and constructions programs.
. . That was the beginning of the National Organization of Minority Architects, an increasing influential voice, promoting the quality and excellence of minority design professionals. There are NOMA Chapters in all parts of the country, increasing recognition on colleges and university campuses and providing greater access to government policy makers.
Mission
The Atlanta Chapter of the National Organization of Minority will strive to increase the professionalism and profitability of its members; our aims and objectives are:
The National Organization of Minority Architects has been organized to:
. . Foster communications and fellowship among minority architects;
. . Form a federation of existing and proposed local minority architectural groups;
. . Fight Discrimination and other selection policies being used by public and private sector clients to unfairly restrict minority architects’ participation in design and construction;
. . Act as a clearing house for information and maintain a roster on practitioners;
. . Promote the design and development of living, working, and recreational environments of the highest quality;
. . Create and maintain relationships with other professionals and technicians whose work affects the physical and social environment;
. . Encourage the establishment of coalitions of member firms and individuals to form associate and joint venture relationships;
. . Speak with a common voice on public policy;
. . Work with local, state, and national governments on issues affecting the physical development of neighborhoods and communities;
. . Be an effective source of motivation and inspiration for minority youth.
