{"product_id":"letters-to-ms-1000","title":"Letters to Ms. 1000 (Limited Edition)","description":"\u003cp class=\"a-spacing-none a-text-normal\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eLetters to Ms. 1000: Words of Wisdom from African American Women Architects\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"a-spacing-none a-text-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDid you know that Black women make up just 0.4% of licensed architects in the United States?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"a-spacing-none a-text-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLetters to Ms. 1000 is a collection of short stories aimed to inspire Ms. Future Black Architect from licensed black women across the nation including our 2024 AIA President Elect, members of the First 500 Board, and women across various NOMA chapters around the U.S.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEmbark on a journey of wisdom as African American Women Architects across the United States share their stories of intentionality in mentoring the next generation. The Directory of African American Architects currently identifies fewer than 650 African American Women Architects who are licensed and practicing in the United States. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIf the current trajectory is maintained, \"Ms. 1000\" will become the 1000th licensed around the year 2040.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e These stories take root at the epicenter of establishing identity, depicting how black women have sculpted themselves from various walks of life and how we each share a role in elucidating the current state of the profession, expressing how far it has come and how far it must grow. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTogether we can change the narrative and empower our future Ms. Architect for many generations to come with our words of wisdom and encouragement.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eContributors include:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan dir=\"ltr\"\u003eChristian Joosse\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan dir=\"ltr\"\u003eKimberly Dowdell\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan dir=\"ltr\"\u003eValarie Franklin Hernandez\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan dir=\"ltr\"\u003eDominique Hawkins\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan dir=\"ltr\"\u003eLatoya Nelson Kamdang\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan dir=\"ltr\"\u003eJennifer Rittler\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan dir=\"ltr\"\u003eZena Howard\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan dir=\"ltr\"\u003ePascale Sablan\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan dir=\"ltr\"\u003eShelly-Anne Tulia Scott\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan dir=\"ltr\"\u003eJonné Smith\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan dir=\"ltr\"\u003eImani Day\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan dir=\"ltr\"\u003eNakita Reed\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan dir=\"ltr\"\u003eLeslie Sydnor\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan dir=\"ltr\"\u003eWhitley Stephens\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan dir=\"ltr\"\u003eMelvalean McLemore\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan dir=\"ltr\"\u003eMotunrayo Badru\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan dir=\"ltr\"\u003eWhitni Irving\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan dir=\"ltr\"\u003eRiding the Vortex\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan dir=\"ltr\"\u003e400 Forward\u003c\/span\u003e, \u003cspan dir=\"ltr\"\u003eFirst 500. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003eProduct Details: \u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eBy \u003cspan\u003eChristian Joosse\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eISBN: \u003cspan\u003e9798992723625\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003ePublished: Sept. 30, 2025 by \u003cspan\u003ePaper Veil Studio LLC\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-ansi-language: FR;\" lang=\"FR\"\u003ePages: 112, Hardcover\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-ansi-language: FR;\" lang=\"FR\"\u003eDimensions: \u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e8.75 x 8.75 x 0.75 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eWeight: 1.5 lbs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChristian Joosse is the editor, co-author, and curator behind Letters to Ms. 1000 | Words of Wisdom from African American Women Architects, Vol. 1. She is an architect, academic, aspiring poet, mother, and mentor. Her first published poem at age eight ignited her love for the written word and her family construction business put the first hammer in her hand, both powerful tools to build a lasting foundation. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs an architect at Moody Nolan Inc., the largest African American owned and operated firm in the nation, nationally recognized design work requires captivating storytelling to imbue the culture of the communities in which she works. The world of architecture enriches her writing through research papers, national award submissions, articles, and her debut book. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs an academic, she has exhibited research internationally, co-curated gallery exhibitions, fabricated pop-up installations, moderated panel discussions focused on under resourced populations and often taken on unconventional projects aiming to redefine the profession. Her work across multiple disciplines demonstrates she is a passionate advocate for creating inclusive environments. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0in;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHer decade of academic and professional engagement with students and emerging professionals propels her vision for a tangible written mentorship piece that she believes will inspire many generations to come.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Paper Veil Studio","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44929098154029,"sku":null,"price":39.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1160\/7368\/files\/Letters-To-Ms-1000.png?v=1778252997","url":"https:\/\/designshop.aia.org\/products\/letters-to-ms-1000","provider":"AIA Design Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}