An inspiring account (I thought) of Ms Kimberly Dowdell, newly inaugurated president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and native Detroiter.
“An extended village raised me and that included my parents, grandmother, siblings, aunts, cousins, educators, church family and other caring people around Detroit,” said Dowdell, who spoke by phone on Jan. 5 from New Orleans, where she was attending the American Institute of Architecture Students Forum 2024, her first speaking engagement as AIA president.
“I am who I am because of Detroit,” proclaims Dowdell, the daughter of Renee Dowdell and the late Thomas Cobb, who worked in automobile factories and was a creator in his own right as the owner of a sign painting business. “All of Detroit was the village for me.”
“Part of my campaign for AIA President included challenging people to ‘Envision New Possibilities’ given the historic nature of my candidacy. And in some ways, Dr. King inspires us all to look at the world through the lens of what can be versus what we currently see,” explained Dowdell.
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