Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are buzzwords seen all over our field of practice and in allied fields. What do they mean? How can we use these definitions to rethink the way we approach design and community collaboration? What stories and perspectives are we missing in our community of Willamette Valley landscape architecture?
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Our panelists are as follows!
Genevieve Middleton
Genevieve Middleton is a tribal citizen of the Navajo Nation and her family has resided in the Willamette Valley for the entirety of her life. Her undergraduate degree in Landscape Architecture formalized her values and understanding of the natural world that contributed to career with the Round Valley Indian Reservation in northern California. Following her passion to improve the health and wellness of collective American Indian and Alaska Native communities in the U.S., she turned her focus toward federal and state policy, and Indigenous intergovernmental relations. Today she offers her insights as a Native woman, who speaks the language of design, government process, and community engagement in Oregon
Shannon Arms
Shannon Arms is a Landscape Architect, educator, and community designer based who seeks to understand and amplify the intergenerational voices of our practice and communities. Shannon’s work focuses on civic, academic, and multi-family housing projects. She has degrees in Architecture and Landscape Architecture from the University of Oregon, where she is an adjunct instructor, and sits on the board of the Association for Community Design. Shannon’s work is rooted in the belief that all people, in all communities deserve safe, beautiful, and restorative outdoor places that connect us to our neighbors, our history, and ourselves.
Victor Garcia
Growing up as a first generation Mexican-American in Salem, Oregon, I am part of a rich community that values family, food, music, and outdoor spaces. I was raised in a household that was driven to make ends meet through hard work and dedication in the farm, agricultural, canning, construction, and restaurant business.
As the oldest, I learned how to navigate the system alongside my parents and began interpreting for them while I was learning English myself. Education was always important to my family, and I was fortunate to be part of Willamette Academy, a 5-year program between 7th-12th grade through Willamette University for first generation college students. In this program, I was supported by mentors, gained access to resources, took extra classes, and became an active volunteer in my community.
After high school, I went to Willamette University where I was involved in the Men's soccer team and received a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Social Science and Minors in Political Science and Sociology. My dissertation studied pesticide exposure and health predispositions amongst the Latinx farmworker community in Oregon.
Immediately upon graduation from Willamette, I started a Master's program in Landscape Architecture at the University of Oregon. Here I studied spatial justice as it relates to public recreational spaces in Salem, Oregon.
My community has had a profound impact on who I am today and my values in equity and inclusion.