President Elect Campaign Speech, Chad D. Danos, FASLA
I am both honored and humbled by this opportunity to be considered as a candidate for ASLA President-Elect. I have great respect for my good friend Shawn Kelly and am excited to share this opportunity with him.
We all have varied paths to discovering this profession, yet I believe that we all share a common bond that unites us as landscape architects regardless of how we practice our craft. For a Cajun boy from a coastal community in South Louisiana, I did not come to know the term “landscape architect” until after my freshman year at LSU. For me, the understanding of community and culture, living off of nature’s abundant resources, and respect for one another were characteristics deeply rooted within my upbringing. I spent my freshman year in pursuit of a degree that I soon found out was part of legislative budget cuts. Luckily, I found myself in an Introduction to Landscape Architecture course with Dr. Robert S. Reich, FASLA, which has forever changed my life. “Doc” Reich captivated my attention with his charisma, yet his teachings transformed me from a student into the landscape architect I am today. While Doc’s lessons have influenced me, each of us have had teachers, mentors, and employers who have influenced us to the extent that we owe it to future generations of landscape architects to “pay it forward.”
ASLA is the collective bond that ties us together as landscape architects. Regardless of how we practice, we share a vision: “Leading the design and stewardship of land and communities.” It is our responsibility to cultivate the fundamentals of our profession established by the 11 founding members in 1899. The same tenets practiced by Eckbo, Kiley, Halprin, Olin, and Walker. The philosophies taught by Sasaki, Carpenter, and Reich. The next generation of landscape architects will blaze trails not yet ventured into, but it is important to understand and respect our past in order to move forward.
I believe the future is bright, though it is imperative that we begin to strategize our preferred future and tackle the issues that could hinder it. We must confront our profession’s lack of diversity, be engaged in the decision making process, and lead on emerging issues.
Diversity – The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that by 2043, our nation’s majority population will be comprised of today’s minority populace. As our country evolves demographically, we must also face the issue of our profession's lack of ethnic and gender diversity so that landscape architecture will remain a viable option for our future emerging professionals. Let’s face it − we’ve talked about diversity and growing the profession for many years without much progress. With the demographic shift occurring, if we remain a predominantly white male profession, landscape architecture will be less relevant to mainstream America in 30 years.
I am pleased to say, however, that last summer ASLA took the first significant step by hosting a Diversity Summit. Six Latino and six African American practitioners, most of whom were in the early stages of their careers, participated in this inaugural effort. The goals of the Summit were to develop strategies that ASLA could use to attract diverse students into landscape architecture programs while enriching the community and simultaneously raising the profile of the profession. It is essential that we continue this dialogue and employ these strategies to increase the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of students entering the profession. If we tackle these issues head on, landscape architecture will be better positioned as a credible profession in “leading the design and stewardship of land and communities.”
Being engaged – Advocating on issues that affect our built and natural world is a responsibility of our stewardship of land and community. It has been said that landscape architects are a “shade-loving species.” Outside of our project role, often times we are reluctant to promote ourselves and our views. We must step out into the sun and engage our federal, state, and local decision makers in understanding the full spectrum of the decisions they face.
The first time I attended an ASLA Advocacy Day, I was apprehensive that what I had to say was not significant enough for my Representatives and Senators. I soon found out that they were interested in what I had to say whether or not they agreed with me. You see, it’s their responsibility to have an understanding of their constituent’s views and opinions before casting a vote. Our chapter leaders just participated in Advocacy Day. The dialogue with our elected officials and their staff was an empowering opportunity. We must continue these conversations with our Governors, state representatives and senators, our Mayors, city council members, as well as local planning commission members, school board members, and even homeowners association members. We CAN and WILL make a difference.
Emerging issues – Landscape architects’ innovation is our strength. It allows us to be at the forefront of new issues we face as a society. Whether green stormwater systems, sustainability, resiliency, or active living, ASLA has been and must continue to be engaged in these and future issues in order to fulfill our collective vision. We must not shy away from investing and providing the leadership necessary to tackle these daunting issues.
To do so, we must collectively work together with our companion organizations such as CLARB, LAAB, LAF, CELA, CSLA and IFLA. Each perspective strengthens our cohesive voice for the profession. Our mutual respect for Landscape Architecture will allow us to emerge as the leaders of the design community.
Throughout this campaign, I’ve had the opportunity to write and speak to the issues that formulate the agenda that I intend to focus upon if elected. Being engaged and advocating on issues relevant to landscape architects, addressing our lack of diversity, and leading on emerging issues are subjects critical to advancing landscape architecture.
I would like to thank the nomination and executive committees for entrusting me with this opportunity to be a candidate for President-Elect. I also have to acknowledge the unwavering support of my wife, Tika, and daughter Micah, my friends and colleagues who have guided me over the years, and the leadership of Duplantis Design Group who never hesitated to support me in this journey.
Our shared vision of landscape architecture is entirely within our reach. For us to “Lead the design and stewardship of land and communities,” it will take all of us working together. Will you please join me in realizing our vision?