ZGF x BHM: Spotlight on Matthew Joseph

ZGF x BHM: Spotlight on Matthew Joseph

February 05, 2021

Part of our 2021 Black History Month series "9 Designers Reflect on the Past, Present & Future of Black History in Architecture"

Matthew Joseph, an architectural designer who joined ZGF’s Vancouver office in 2019, encourages a commitment to our local minority communities all year round.

One of the most impactful ways to recognize, support, and celebrate Black history (and futures) is by engaging with local Black communities year-round, not just during Black History Month. Here in BC, there are a number of organizations that are doing important work to educate around anti-racism and to uplift Black voices and communities. These are a few of the organizations that I support and would encourage others to get involved with too:

  • BC Black History Awareness Society– For 25 years BC Black History Awareness Society has hosted a Black History Month program. So while events will be delivered differently this year, BCBHAS has put together another great month with five online events to recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions of historical and contemporary people of African descent.
  • BC Community Alliance– The BCCA is a community-based organization dedicated to combating the structural inequities created by anti-black racism.
  • Hogan’s Alley Society | Revitalizing Strathcona’s Black Community– The Hogan’s Alley Society advocates for Black Vancouverites who have endured the legacies of urban renewal and their erasure from the official historical narrative. Through their initiatives, they hope to build the capacity of racialized and marginalized communities to participate in city-building.
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