Howdy.

I just came home from the Brownfields Conference – held here in Philadelphia this year. For the past few months I have been working with an incredible group of people organizing a design charrette component for the convention.

Here is a little blurb I wrote about it for the website:
The experience will consist of a (1) Day design charrette featuring EPA identified Brownfield sites within the Philadelphia region. Each one of the sites presents various environmental and contextual challenges. Proposals developed within this charrette will have the opportunity to be presented as a catalyst for re-development.

A highlight of this year’s design charrette provides the opportunity to engage local colleges and universities within this process. Students from the area’s top design schools have had the opportunity to investigate and propose their own strategies to the various local sites and will present their design proposals for discussion and further exploration.

So I am sitting there watching the student presentations and I notice a young man that looks very familiar to me… He was actually a former student I had the pleasure of mentoring about 3 years ago in the ACE Mentoring Program.

I could not believe my eyes and then I think my heart sank.

(I am getting chills still thinking about it)

We spoke after the presentations and to my surprise, he has been dedicating his studies to architecture and upon completing his course at the Community College of Philadelphia, he will be enrolling in Drexel University in the fall. He recalled sitting in my (very small) conference room years ago – talking about the ins and outs of the architecture profession and from that day – it sparked an interest that has led him upon an incredible journey.

I know that he is hard working.

I know that he is passionate.

I know that he WILL become an architect one day and I couldn’t be more proud.

(Guys – I can’t even begin to explain this feeling….)

THANK YOU M.R. – You made my day :)

Oh – and By the Way… Refreshments were provided by: