February 2008  Dear Friends of Public Architecture:
It is hard to believe that February is upon us already, making it clear that 2008 will be another busy and hopefully equally productive year for Public Architecture. Changes are already in motion as we increasingly work hard to further develop our design campaigns and make efforts to grow The 1% Program. Next week, Steven Feuer will be joining our team as Public’s first Administrative Assistant. Having previous experience as executive administrative assistant for Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation in Los Angeles, we are excited to have another individual on staff who will ensure we keep pace with our anticipated growth while bringing additional expertise working within a non profit organization. In addition, we are looking to fill three summer associate positions to help our activities during those months.
Later this week, Milton Marks, our Acting Executive Director, will be representing Public Architecture at the Pro Bono Summit in New York City. Sponsored by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, “The Summit on Corporate Volunteerism: Toward a New Definition of Pro Bono,” is yet another recognition of Public Architecture as a valued voice on this topic. Along with a handful of other nonprofit organizations, Public Architecture is positioned to attract professionals -- in our case, architects – who want to make a real contribution with their talent and skills. It is exciting and gratifying that, in the short existence of Public Architecture, we are recognized for the importance of what we bring to pro bono service.
Finally, we would like to thank all the locals where were able to make an appearance earlier this month as we wished our Executive Director, John Cary, farewell for six months. John will be on sabbatical as a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome. For those of you who are eager to hear how he is fairing, we are happy report that he and his wife are settling in and already having a great time. If you want to reach John, he can still be contacted at jcary@publicarchitecture.org.
We look forward to your continued interest and support in the year ahead,
John Peterson
Founder & Chair
Contents:
1. The 1% Program Continues to Grow
2. Sidewalk Plaza Recieves Grant from SEED Fund
3. Skilled Campaign Volunteers Sought
4. Public Architecture Seeks Three Summer Associates
5. Upcoming Presentations and Participation
6. Thank You to our Supporters & Contributors
1. The 1% Program Continues to Grow
 Due to last year’s release of The 1% User’s Guide and version 2.0 of the website, www.theonepercent.org, The 1% has seen remarkable increase in firm and nonprofit participants, and continues to grow daily. While continuing to seek out more 1% participants, in 2008 we are turning our attention to developing resources to better frame the pro bono relationships that we are promoting and ensure the success of their projects. In the near future we will be updating our matching process. We ask that all firm participants respond to the brief survey that was released last week through email, regarding the matching process and its potential improvements. Also scheduled in 2008 to help enhance our capacity to deliver on The 1%, we are working on partnerships with potential funders and hope to be able to share the good news in upcoming newsletters.
 2. Sidewalk Plaza Recieves Grant from SEED Fund
Public Architecture’s Sidewalk Plazas design campaign, the signature aspect of the open space initiative that inspired the founding of this organization, continues to move forward. We are working towards the construction of Brainwash Plaza, the first built Sidewalk Plaza, with the hope of installing it by the end of the year. CMG Landscape Architecture, a member of our 1% Program, is our design partner on the project and has been helping us to shape the design.
This design campaign was recently awarded a grant by the SEED Fund of the Studio for Urban Projects. The Studio for Urban Projects is a research and working group that works within art, ecology, architecture and the public realm to generate projects that re-imagine the urban landscape. With their support from the SEED Fund, we hope to further advance the advocacy elements of this design campaign.
3. Skilled Campaign Volunteers Sought
 Public Architecture is presently seeking short-term, volunteer assistance in the following two areas related to our design campaigns:
These are great opportunities to make substantial and lasting contributions to the work of Public Architecture.
Contact Liz Ogbu, Design Campaign Manager, by email at liz@publicarchitecture.org
4. Public Architecture Seeks Three Summer Associates
Public Architecture will offer three summer program associates' positions this year. Both The 1% Summer Associate and Design Campaign Summer Associate require that applicants be in architecture programs, while the Nonprofit Operations Summer Associate role is geared to business or nonprofit management students. This is a great opportunity for students to gain experience working on design, advocacy, and management projects.
Applications will be accepted until March 14; applicants will be notified of our decisions by April 15th. Click HERE for details on the positions and application requirements.
5. Upcoming Presentations and Participation
Pro Bono Summit | New York, NY | February 12-13, 2008
Invited participant
San Francisco Day Labor Program | San Francisco, CA | February 22, 2008
Invited speaker
AIA Grassroots | Washington, DC | February 20-23, 2008
Invited panelist
 6. Thank You to our Supporters & Contributors
We continue to receive contributions in response to our 2007 Year-end Appeal. The following individuals have made donations to support the work of Public Architecture: Tami Yoshiko Asato, Stephen Badanes, Joan Barth, Agnes Bourne, Marleen Davis, Rod Henmi, Laura Juran, Lisa Findley, Vanessa Scaglione, Lydia Souza, Kim Tanzer, A. Clark Tate, Steven Wiesenthal, and Allison Williams
Various companies and other entities have also made or renewed donations recently, including: The Greenway Group and McCall Design Group
We are grateful to everyone who makes it possible for us to carry out our work.
Click here for 10 ways to contribute to our work.
Established in 2002, Public Architecture identifies and solves practical problems of human interaction in the built environment and acts as a catalyst for public discourse through education, advocacy, and the design of public spaces and amenities. Visit www.publicarchitecture.org for more information.
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