In the spring of 2024, the University of Miami School of Architecture accepted proposals for the second cycle of the Social Justice Prize, a program crafted by the DEI Committee as one of multiple initiatives lacunched in 2023 to advance the culture of belonging within architectural education and professional practice. This prize funds innovative projects that address social and environmental justice through the lens of architecture. By addressing these critical issues, the Prize integrates the culture of belonging and environmental priorities into the core of architectural education, empowering the School of Architecture community to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable built environment.
This year, the Social Justice Prize honored two exceptional projects that embodied these values and showcased innovative approaches to architectural scholarship and community engagement.
The 2024 Social Justice Prize will fund Professor Lily Wong's proposal, "Moonrise: Embodying the Mid-Autumn Harvest." In this workshop and meal-performance, Wong will explore non-western embodied knowledge systems in architectural and ecological practices. Her project, which builds on research into Chinatown networks and contemporary plant production, is designed to build community through the simple yet profound act of sharing food. Building on her interest in non-traditional pedagogical methods beyond the confines of the classroom, Wong aims for learning and teaching through eating: the worskhsop will include a performative meal, staged in collaboration with Xiaoxi Chen.
The Prize will also support U-SoA Teaching Fellow Demar Matthews and Assistant Director of Communications Madison Brinnon's proposal, "Unearthing A Black Aesthetic: Green Haven." This proposal aims to combat local food injustice through a partnership with the non-profit Green Haven Project to establish a new plant nursery and educational space for the Overtown community. The initiative showcases Matthews' coined Black architectural aesthetic and seeks to create a haven for education and growth. By addressing food inequity and promoting sustainable practices, Matthews and Brinnon's project aims to empower the Overtown community and foster a deeper appreciation for Black cultural and aesthetic contributions to the built environment.
Learn more about the Social Justice Prize, here.
