By Lisa Ciota, Education Guide, Class of 2020
Photographs by Nick Robbins unless noted
Pursuing our mission; achieving our vision; that’s what we’re all about at the CAC. And, that’s what we did at our fourth annual Girls Build! Day on Saturday, August 24, 2024. Through a collaborative effort between CAC staff, Education Guides, docents, and volunteers from more than a dozen partner and sponsoring organizations, we inspired young women, their families, and friends to learn why design matters and how they can achieve their potential by pursuing their interests in architecture, engineering, design and construction.
It was quite an electric day, full of positive vibes enjoyed by the roughly 250 people who attended. Our partner organizations each hosted an activity table where guests could, among other things, recreate Alexander Calder’s Flamingo sculpture and design a building’s exterior glass cladding as well as explore engineering concepts using cardboard, Legos, and marshmallows and spaghetti.
Education Guides Lisa Ciota, Kevin Griebenow, John Ivory, Chandra Jadhwani, Diana Rodriguez, and Jeff Zurlinden led visitors on a free mini-tour highlighting some of the women architects who have and continue to make an impact on Chicago, including Natalie De Blois, Carol Ross Barney, and Jeanne Gang as well as Lynne Sorkin and Danielle Tillman.
Our Girls Build! Day concluded with an inspiring talk and Q&A by Kimberly Dowdell, president of The American Institute of Architects. Kimberly talked to a full house about her experience growing up in Detroit in the 1990s and how she would dream about revitalizing the city’s downtown as well as its neighborhoods. This is what inspired her to become an architect.
Ms. Dowell also emphasized the importance of mentors and how she now pays it back by serving in leadership roles in the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) as well as the AIA. Her advice to all the young people in attendance: employ the ‘4 Cs’ in life and career: curiosity, creativity, courage, and consistency.
It was such a great day. Can’t wait till next year. In the meantime, “You Go, Girl!”
Education Guide, Class of 2020
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