President’s Letter - January 2026

Happy New Year NOMA|nw Family!

I hope you all have had a fun and restful holiday break that. As we enter this new year with a renewed sense of purpose, I want to pause and reflect on how far we have come. Over the past few years—and especially throughout 2025—our chapter has experienced meaningful growth and transformation. With the expansion of our board, NOMA|nw ushered in a new generation of leadership while honoring the foundation laid by those who came before us. This has given us the tremendous opportunity to reflect and envision a new way forward that builds upon our existing programming while also stretching the boundaries of our sphere of influence. 

Through this process, we’ve sharpened our understanding of who we are and how we show up as an organization. We worked to align our programming initiatives more intentionally with our Chapter values, ensuring that our impact reflects both our mission and our principles. In doing so, we established R.O.O.T.S.—an attitude and framework that guides how we move through varied challenges with purpose and clarity. Resilience, Opportunity, Outreach, Tradition, and Sustainability, R.O.O.T.S. reflects our commitment to adapting with intention, drawing on the wisdom and support of those who paved the way, and reaching outward to build coalitions with allied organizations whose missions push our culture and profession forward.

In 2025, we made a conscious effort to get out of the office and into the community. We strengthened relationships with aligned organizations such as the Black Star Farmers and the African American Task Force within the Local 206 Carpenter’s Union for the annual Seattle Design Festival. We continued to invest in the next generation of designers through our growing Project Pipeline Camp, introducing BIPOC youth to architecture and urban design through workshops, site tours, and mentorship. We established an ARE Study Group to support members on their journeys towards licensure, reinforcing our commitment to professional development and long-term career advancement. We also restarted our NOMA|nw Student Scholarship, elevating and awarding Davien Graham and Van Le for their tremendous work in leading the University of Washington NOMAS Chapter, who was recently awarded the NOMA Student Chapter of the Year! And lastly but certainly not least, we continued to build community within our membership through our expanding social calendar and by coming together every year at the NOMA National Conference —sharing knowledge, building connections, and celebrating our collective excellence.

None of this work would be possible without the dedication of our members, volunteers, and Board, whose time, energy, and belief in NOMA|nw sustain our momentum. We are also forever grateful to our Sustaining Sponsors, whose continued investment allows us to grow our programming and expand our impact. Your support is not only appreciated—it is essential to our ability to serve our communities and advance our mission.

As we look ahead to 2026, we do so in a world that continues to test our resolve. Across our communities and our profession, we face uncertainty and challenges that demand courage, clarity, and collective action. Yet it is precisely in moments like these that our purpose is renewed. NOMA’s mission is rooted in a rich legacy of activism, reminding us that architecture is not neutral and that design can—and must—be a force for justice and equity.

We remain committed to empowering our members to stay engaged, to step into leadership with purpose and conviction, and to give back to the diverse communities that shape who we are. We will continue to build on our roots, lead with intention, and move forward with optimism and unity. Together, we will meet this moment, shape the future of our profession, and design a more just and inclusive world.

Here’s to a purposeful, impactful, and inspiring 2026.

In solidarity and service,

Cierra Higgins | NOMA|nw President