Fireclay Gives Diversity Advancement Scholarship for Black Women

Support Black Women in Architecture

We've partnered with the Architects Foundation to sponsor a Diversity Advancement Scholarship supporting Black women earning their degree in Architecture.

This scholarship is dedicated to the memory of Desiree Cooper, AIA, a DC-area architect who tragically passed in 2015. Help us honor Desiree's legacy by helping to create a pathway to equity in architecture.

About Desiree Cooper, AIA

Raised in Harrisburg, PA, Desiree "Dez" Cooper, earned her Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Design in Architecture from North Carolina State University before receiving her Master’s Degree in Architecture from Temple University.

Desiree built a successful career and a number of buildings in the Washington D.C. area before tragically becoming a victim of domestic violence. At just 36 years old, Desiree left behind a legacy of service, having spent her free time assisting youth at the YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Urban Land Institute.

Desiree is honored today with the eponymous Desiree Cooper Memorial Fund, a scholarship developed by the Architects Foundation to support the advancement of young Black women architects and narrow the racial and gender disparities present in the architectural field.

Representation Matters

African American women are vastly underrepresented in architecture. Current data shows that just 0.4% (502 Black women) are licensed architects in the U.S.-- We cannot accept this. Industry representation is essential to achieving equitable diversity. As we find ways to amplify Black visions everywhere, we realize our work has only just begun...

The Barrier Breakers of Black Architecture

The struggle for equality in architecture and design is a story of liberation. From Robert Robinson Taylor to today’s trailblazers, join us as we celebrate 10 pioneers of Black American Architecture and Design.

How to Share

Ready to support? We invite you to participate in spreading the word! The more we raise, the more scholarships we can fund, and the quicker we can help bring much-needed equity and perspective to the field. Click below for our Sharing Toolkit.

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