Events

Latest updates on achieving our mission.

Owning The Practice: Black-owned Landscape Architecture Firms in Conversation

BlackLAN invites you to join us for a virtual panel discussion centered on Black-owned landscape architecture firms and the realities of ownership, leadership, and professional growth.
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February 26, 2026, 6:30 PM Eastern Time  
Virtual Zoom (Registration Link Below)

This conversation brings together firm leaders to reflect on building and sustaining a practice, carrying professional legacy forward, and shaping the future of landscape architecture.
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Register in advance. We look forward to seeing you there.

Register for the Event

BlackLAN Annual Event

The Black Landscape Architects Network (BlackLAN) invites you to an unforgettable evening of reflection, community, and celebration! This is the largest gathering of Black landscape architecture students, professionals, and supporters during the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) annual National Conference.

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Save the date flier

Juneteenth Special | Different Modes of Landscape Architecture

Virtual
2024
The Juneteenth Special featured an esteemed panel of landscape design professions that advance the profession in non-traditional settings. The purpose of the panel was to highlight alternative career paths within landscape architecture that are as viable and interesting as traditional routes.
BlackLAN speaker

Black History Month | Exploring Cultural Landscapes

Virtual
2024
The Black History Month Speaker Series continued in partnership with the Central Park Conservancy by exploring the definition and execution of cultural landscapes. The dialogue also expanded on the juxtaposition of historic preservation and contemporary placemaking and placekeeping.
BlackLAN speaker

Annual BlackLAN Benefit Gala

Minneapolis, MN
2023
The Second Annual BlackLAN Benefit Gala was held during the 2024 ASLA  Conference in Minneapolis, MN. The benefit featured guest speakers who shared the value of the Network including ASLA CEO Torey Carter-Coneen and ASLA President-Elect Kona Gray.
BlackLAN speaker

Annual BlackLAN Luncheon | Day of Service

Minneapolis, MN
2023
The Fifth Annual BlackLAN Luncheon was held during the 2023 ASLA Conference in Minneapolis. BlackLAN also hosted a second Day of Service with Juxtaposition Arts. In partership, BlackLAN led a charrette with students around a light raiil expansion project in the area.
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Juneteenth Special | Keynote Speaker: Everett L. Fly

Virtual
2023
The Juneteenth Special featured Keynote Speaker, Everett L. Fly, one of the first and early successful black landscape architects in the professional. Fly has more than forty years of national experience preserving historic Black towns and settlements. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Awards include the 2014 National Humanities Medal; 2020 Conservation Society of San Antonio Texas Hero of Preservation Award; 2021 Daughters of the American Revolution Historic Preservation Medal; 2021 Harvard University Graduate School of Design Distinguished Alumni Award.
BlackLAN speaker

Black History Month | Race, Landscape + Media

Virtual
2023
The Black History Month Speaker Series continued with two rising stars who are using podcasts and virtual conversation to cover important topics on race, politics and land. The conversation focused how landscape architecture professionals can leverage technology and media to control the narrative on the intersectionality of the landscape and other socioeconomic issues in the United States.
BlackLAN speaker
BlackLAN speaker

Annual BlackLAN Benefit Gala

San Francisco, CA
2022
The First Annual BlackLAN Benefit Gala was held during the 2022 ASLA  Conference in San Francisco, CA. The benefit was an opportunity to update BlackLAN's generous funders on the organization's impact and upcoming initiatives. At this event, BlackLAN publicized its strategic plan and fundraising goals. CMG generously provided space in their office for the benefit.
BlackLAN speaker
BlackLAN speaker

Day of Service

San Francisco, CA
2022
BlackLAN facilitated its first Day of Service with a community design workshop with C.A.R.E. (Community Awareness Resource Entity). BlackLAN members helped the nonprofit with upgrades to their community garden, including furniture design and construction. This initiative was led by Kevin Jeffrey, Naomi Bailey and Darneka Waters.
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Annual BlackLAN Luncheon

San Francisco, CA
2022
The Fourth Annual BlackLAN Luncheon was held during the 2022 ASLA Conference in San Francisco, CA. The lunch featured a roundtable dialogue for members who were entering or considering careers in academia. Emerging teachers were connected with professors to share experiences and gain insight on how to pair research topics with course development.
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Black History Month | Capturing Landscape Legacy

Virtual
2022
The Black History Month Speaker Series continued with three dynamic speakers who document landscape history and memory across different mediums. The conversation focused on the ethnographic components of landscape architecture and that integration into traditional practice.

Annual BlackLAN Luncheon

Nashville, TN
2021
The Third Annual BlackLAN Luncheon was held at the ASLA National Conference site on November 20, 2021 with 37 attendees. An Open Session Panel Discussion was held after the luncheon with Kene Okigbo as moderator. Panelists included Elizabeth Kennedy (EKLA studio), Marc Miller (Asst. Professor, Penn State), Ayana Belk (MLA student, Kansas State), and Rikerrious Geter (Associate at GGN, Seattle, WA). ASLA generously provided space in the convention center for these events.
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BlackLAN speaker
BlackLAN speaker

Black History Month | Black Landscape Symposium

Virtual
2021
The Black Landscape Symposium featured four discussions between professionals across a myriad of topics that highlighted interdisciplinary approaches to landscape architecture. Featured speakers included Sara Zewde (Studio Zewde, Harvard GSD), Dr. Douglas Williams (Institute of Chicago), Dayton Schroeter (SmithGroup), Elizabeth Kennedy (EKLA PLLC), Drew Sargent (Urban Studio), C. L. Bohannon (Virginia Tech), Alexa Bush (Kresge Foundation), and Elycia Thomas-Knight (Black Joy Parade)
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Annual BlackLAN Luncheon

San Diego, CA
2019
The Second Annual BlackLAN Luncheon was held at the ASLA National Conference site in San Diego, CA with 50 attendees. An Open Session Panel Discussion was held after the luncheon with two panels: Emerging Professionals and Senior Professionals. The event was funded by the following Black landscape architecture firms: EKLA studio, Studio Zewede, Murray Site Design, PUSH studio, Design Jones, Perry Howard, FASLA, and Stephen Carter, FASLA. ASLA generously provided space in the convention center for these events.

BlackLAN / ASLA Regional Black Landscape Architects Mixers

Washington, DC
2019
Black landscape architects from Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia met at a social networking gathering in August 2019. The event was co-sponsored by ASLA at the National Headquarters building in Washington, DC. Roxanne Blackwell, Acting CEO, and Lisa Jennings, Director of Diversity, represented ASLA in hosting the 30-plus attendees.

Annual BlackLAN Luncheon

Philadelphia, PA
2018
The First Annual BlackLAN Luncheon was held at the ASLA National Conference at a local restaurant with 35 attendees. The event was funded by the following Black landscape architecture firms: EKLA studio, PUSH studio, Murray Site Design, and Design Jones. 

Inaugural Meeting of Black Landscape Architects

Washington, DC
2010
This meeting was organized to coincide with the ASLA National Conference that was held in Washington, DC. The event was held within the Architecture Building at Howard University. While the event was organized by Glenn LaRue Smith, other Black landscape architects helping to organize and fund the event included: Elizabeth Kennedy, FASLA; Diane Jones Allen FASLA; Kofi Boone, FASLA; Perry Howard, FASLA; Austin Allen, ASLA; and Ramon Murray, ASLA. The meeting of over 30 attendees was the catalyst for the Black Landscape Architects Network (BlackLAN).

Thank you from BlackLAN!

March 8, 2021
Thank you everyone for joining the Black Landscape Architects Network for our first annual Black History Month Speaker Series, "Black Landscape Symposium". Your participation in this series highlighted just how important these conversations are in building stronger, more inclusive communities across the globe. Your support of BlackLAN's mission also elevates a collective commitment to actively pursue diversity, equity, and belonging in our profession. Your contribution to this Series will go to support Black-identifying students currently pursuing landscape architecture. We look forward to sharing with you the recipients as we roll the effort forward!

A special thank you to our sponsors, who gave generously to our 2021 Scholarship Campaign. These firms, organizations, and institutions have already demonstrated leadership in these conversations and their support lends yet another avenue in achieving these important goals. Please see our allies on our website.

As we set out to plan  future events, we ask that you take time to fill out our survey so that we can learn more on how to improve and engage more people moving forward. We also ask that you stay connected by following BlackLAN on Twitter and Instagram (@blacklanetwork).

Link to survey

Student Engagement

Student Engagement

Student Engagement
2019 Luncheon
2019 Luncheon
2019 Luncheon