Speak Up, Speak Out: Communicating for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

*This event is occurring as a live webinar. Registrants will be emailed a link to access the program.*

Join the AIANY Marketing and Communications Committee and AIANY Diversity and Inclusion Committee for a roundtable conversation to discuss the advancement of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) through value-driven communication and strategies. Panelists will share their experiences developing and communicating firm values and identity in order to imbue justice and inclusivity across firm practices and culture.

Moderator:
Celeste Frye, CEO, Public Works Partners

Speakers:
Talisha L. Sainvil, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, LEED, Principal, 40 Six Four Architecture | Design Studio; Secretary and Editor-in-Chief, PYLON, AIA Brooklyn
Patrice Rajacic, Vice President, Marino Public Relations
Rajas Karnik, AIA, LEED AP, NOMA, BOA, President and Co-Founder, Build Out Alliance; Associate, FXCollaborative

About the speakers:

Celeste Frye is an urbanist known for designing and implementing multi-stakeholder initiatives that build strong connections across the government, nonprofit, and private sectors. As CEO of Public Works Partners, a WBE- and DBE-certified planning and consulting firm, she leads a multidisciplinary team that engages communities, designs innovative plans, and implements policies and initiatives for our public and nonprofit clients. Before co-founding Public Works in 2010, Frye held leadership roles at the NYC Department of Small Business Services and the NYC Office of Management and Budget. Frye holds a Masters of Regional Planning from Cornell AAP and an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a graduate of Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses and Coro Leadership New York, and serves on the Regional Plan Association’s Connecticut Committee.

Talisha L. Sainvil, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, LEED was born and raised in Brooklyn and graduated from the University of Miami School of Architecture. Since then, she has gained almost 20 years of knowledge and practical experience by taking on various roles and responsibilities. Presently, Sainvil is the Principal of her Brooklyn-based architecture and design firm, where she specializes in homes and hospitality. Sainvil is a registered Aachitect in both New York and New Jersey, an active member of nycoba|NOMA, and currently serves on the board of AIA Brooklyn as Secretary and Editor-in-Chief of PYLON, the AIA Brooklyn publication.

Patrice Rajacic is a Vice President at Marino PR, leading the agency’s Corporate Communications unit. With more than nine years of communications experience, she is responsible for developing and executing strategic communications and reputation management programs for some of the agency’s largest and most complex accounts. Her work has garnered placements in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Business Insider, The Economist and USA Today, among others.

Rajas Karnik, AIA, LEED AP, NOMA, is the President and co-founder of Build Out Alliance, a non-profit organization that promotes and advocates for the LGBTQ+ community within the building design and construction industry. He is a registered architect and Associate at FXCollaborative, and is currently working on 1 Willoughby Square—a commercial building in Downtown Brooklyn that will serve as the future home of FXCollaborative. Karnik is also one of the founders and co-chair of FXOne, FXCollaborative’s LGBTQ+ employee resource group, and is actively involved in the firm’s justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts.