by Branden Jarka, AIA
Last week, the AIA Dallas Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) hosted Session 4 focused on Civic & Community Engagement at the Steelcase Dallas showroom. The session was organized by class-members Stephanie Crockett, Mike Love, AIA, Kyle Beard, AIA, and Branden Jarka, AIA with Maddie Bennett, AIA serving as the Vice Chair in charge of the session. The session was led by Suzanne Smith of Social Impact Architects and featured guest panelists Zaida Basora, FAIA of AIA Dallas and Darren James, FAIA, NOMA, NCARB of KAI Enterprises, who both brought valuable perspectives on the role architects and design professionals play in shaping stronger communities.
We began the afternoon with a welcome and lunch from our session host, Steelcase Dallas. We also collected canned goods for a food drive benefiting the North Texas Food Bank, which tied directly into the theme of community involvement and giving back.
During our opening discussion, classmates shared their current involvement with AIA committees, organizations, and volunteer opportunities, as well as the ways they hope to serve their communities in the future. It was inspiring to hear the variety of ways the class is making an impact both professionally and personally.
During the main class session, we discussed the importance of social impact and how architects and leaders contribute to the overall fabric of a community. Conversations centered around opportunities for involvement through nonprofit boards, city boards and commissions, county organizations, and school districts. The discussion highlighted that leadership and civic engagement can take many forms and that even small contributions can create meaningful change over time.
One of the interactive exercises challenged us to work together in teams of four to prioritize 15 items we would need if stranded at sea. The exercise emphasized teamwork, communication, and decision-making under pressure. Fortunately, most groups survived the exercise, although one group unfortunately “did not make it.”
The panel discussion with Zaida and Darren was the highlight of the day. To make the discussion more interactive, each class member received a question under their name tag and a spinning wheel selected who would ask the next question. This created an engaging and conversational environment that encouraged participation from everyone in the room.
Darren shared his experiences with projects that created meaningful community impact and emphasized the importance of listening to individual community members throughout the design process. One of the key takeaways from his discussion was the importance of remaining authentic and true to yourself as a leader and professional.
Zaida spoke about her experience working for the City of Dallas and how civic projects directly influence the communities they serve. She discussed her involvement in developing the Dallas Green Building Code and how those efforts helped to position Dallas as a national leader in advancing sustainable and green building initiatives. Her insights reinforced how policy, design, and leadership intersect to create long-term impact.
To wrap up the session, we shifted focus to executive presence and networking skills to foreshadow the next session. Through an interactive exercise, we practiced handshakes, conversation starters, and networking etiquette while providing each other with constructive feedback on strengths and areas for improvement. It was a fun and practical way to close out an already engaging session.
After class, many of us continued the conversations at Hero across the street for happy hour and networking. It was a great opportunity to connect outside of the classroom setting and continue building relationships within the cohort.
Overall, Session 4 was informative, engaging, and thought-provoking. The conversations and activities reinforced how important civic and community engagement are to leadership within the architecture profession and beyond.