Mission
NOMA’s mission, rooted in a rich legacy of activism, is to empower our local chapters and membership to foster justice and equity in communities of color through outreach, community advocacy, professional development, and design excellence.
Vision
Within Virginia, become the respected voice, guide, and resource for members and others who want to learn more about and become actively engaged in issues of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the architecture profession.
Organization
We thrive only when voluntary members contribute their time and resources, helping to build a strong chapter, made up of strong members, who support the NOMA national mission of minimizing the effects of racism and gender discrimination in our profession.
We believe all minority architects can embrace who they are, can define their future, and can change the world.
In diversity there is beauty and there is strength.
MAYA ANGELOU
Our Strength
Strength in NOMA is built through unity in the cause that created the organization. Our impact is felt when our organization wrestles with the dilemmas that face this nation, particularly as they affect our profession. There is strength in numbers. By increasing the number of people in this organization, we add strength to the voice with which we can speak against apathy, bigotry, intolerance and ignorance; against abuse of the natural environment; and for the un-empowered, the marginalized and the disenfranchised.
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By building a strong organization, we develop a showcase for the excellence and creativity which have been ignored for so long. Through NOMA's publications and conferences, we are able to inform the world that minority professionals have the talent and capabilities to perform in design and construction with any other group.
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By building strong chapters of design professionals whose sensibilities and interests include promotion of urban communities, we are able to respond to the concerns that affect marginalized communities and people. Our goals are to increase the level of participation in the social, political and economic benefits afforded the citizens of this nation and to tear down the barriers that make full participation unattainable. Chapters give members a base from which to be involved in politics, to visit schools and reach out to children, to conduct community and civic forums and to responsibly practice in our professional capacities.
Our Achievements
Our Chapter is incredibly proud of the accolades that we have achieved over our first years as a newly formed chapter. In 2021, NOMA National chose to recognize VANOMA as Chapter of the Year for Large Chapters and as a Five-Star Chapter, its highest ranking for healthy chapters. In 2022, AIA Virginia and AIA Northern Virginia bestowed our Chapter with honors recognizing VANOMA as a statewide leader in advocacy. We give many thanks and credit to our board, our membership, and our partners for making these phenomenal achievements possible! Read more on our news page.