Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation

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LSA forges new collaboration with Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation funded by Elsie Owusu and RIBA

Left to Right: Dr Neal Shasore, Head of School and CEO at the London School of Architecture; Simon Allford, Architect and RIBA President; Baroness Doreen Lawrence; Elsie Owusu OBE, Architect and former RIBA Council Member. Photography credit:  Morley von Sternberg

Today, 13 September 2021, on what would have been Stephen Lawrence’s 47th birthday, the LSA is privileged to announce a new collaboration with the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation (SLDF). At the instigation of founding LSA Vice-Chair Elsie Owusu OBE and the RIBA, a sum of £30,000 has been donated to SLDF which in turn has selected the LSA as beneficiary.

This generous award is in recognition of Stephen Lawrence’s talent and aspiration to become an architect, before he was killed in an unprovoked racist attack in 1993. By the date of Stephen’s 50th birthday on 13 September 2024, we hope that architectural education and professional practice will be truly accessible and diverse to all. The LSA and its Practice Network will be at the forefront of change over the next three years and looks forward to announcing a comprehensive programme to tackle the structural barriers which currently hold back the profession.

We share Elsie Owusu OBE and the RIBA’s commitment to the promotion of equality, diversity and inclusion in the profession of architecture.

The commitment to fund a programme of work, with the LSA, will address the historic
and current underrepresentation of black and other racialised groups in the architecture profession. Further information on the LSA’s intended programme of work and activity will be announced over the coming weeks. 

With support from Elsie Owusu and the RIBA, the LSA will also be launching a major fundraising campaign to extend the new bursary programme and provide further funding for initiatives to promote equality in architectural education.

Social Action

This year, in particular, it is a chance to show how small changes and simple things that we can all do can make a huge difference.

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COMMUNITY

Stephen Lawrence Day is about the part we all play in creating a society in which everyone can flourish.

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– Architect and RIBA Council Member, Elsie Owusu OBE said:

“I am delighted to have chosen the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation as the recipient of this donation. The architectural aspirations of a talented young man, whose life cruelly ended, should act as a positive force in tackling the systemic racial and gender discrimination in the architecture and the construction industries. I look forward to working with RIBA and SLDF to support these talented young people from LSA, as they become successful architects, inspired by Stephen’s example.”

– Baroness Doreen Lawrence said:

"I’m delighted to receive this donation to the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation. I am keen that we support young Black architects to realise Stephen’s dream. This donation will definitely have an impact in creating the legacy of change the new Foundation has been set up to deliver.”

– London School of Architecture Head of School and CEO, Dr Neal Shasore, said:

“It is a privilege and an honour to work with Baroness Lawrence and the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation on their work in this area. With this generous preliminary funding from the RIBA, the LSA is designing an ambitious programme that creates opportunity, enables dialogue and serves as a call to action. With Elsie Owusu’s support, we want to use this donation as a springboard for an ambitious programme to tackle enduring systemic barriers to diversity in architecture. We welcome the support of the architectural profession at large in achieving this.”

– RIBA President, and London School of Architecture Trustee, Simon Allford said:

“I am very pleased that the RIBA is supporting this targeted new programme of work to broaden access to the profession. It’s through projects like this, working in collaboration with individuals and organisations with experience and expertise, that we can, as a profession, break down the discriminatory barriers that continue to prevent talented people from studying and practising architecture.”

THOMAS AQUILINA

STEPHEN LAWRENCE DAY FELLOW, LONDN SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

The London School of Architecture has appointed Thomas Aquilina as its inaugural Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation Fellow through the generous donation of the Foundation in September 2021 under the instigation of founding LSA Vice-Chair Elsie Owusu OBE and the RIBA, marking another significant step in the LSA’s commitment to widening access and participation in architectural education.

Through this Fellowship, Thomas is committed to researching means of tackling of historic and current underrepresentation of black and other racialised groups in the architecture profession. A tutor in Critical Practice and Design History at the LSA, Thomas is a registered architect and educator dedicated to building communities of radical thought and progressive practice. He is a co-director of the New Architecture Writers programme and a co-founder of the publishing collective Afterparti. Thomas is also investigating local understandings of spatial justice in London as a Design Researcher in Residence at the Design Museum. As a past recipient of the Stephen Lawrence Architecture bursary, Thomas’ trajectory in architecture is one indebted to Stephen’s legacy. Under the fellowship, Thomas looks to:
  • Lead conversations at the LSA around curriculum reform, in particular in relation to decoloniality, decarbonisation and destandardisation.
  • Work on delivering on the strategic priorities contained in the LSA’s ambitious Access and Participation Plan, which seeks to increase the number of Black and Asian students in its cohorts, and students from low-income and low-participation backgrounds.
  • Cultivate and nurture relationships with local schools, devising an ambitious ‘Part 0’ outreach programme.
  • Serve as a visible role model and mentor within to the school to underrepresented racialised groups.

The LSA once again wishes to express its gratitude to the RIBA, Elsie Owusu and the vision of Baroness Lawrence for enabling such pioneering research and action at the LSA and subsequently the wider architectural community.

LSA Stephen Lawrence Foundation Fellow, Thomas Aquilina, said:
“At this exciting time of new directorship for The LSA, I want to support the work of building an architecture school that is attune to the value of equitable and radical perspectives.”

Baroness Doreen Lawrence said:
“I am pleased to see that the LSA has appointed Thomas Aquilina to lead on this ambitious plan in researching decoloniality in architecture. For too long access to the profession of architecture was limited and challenging for those from underrepresented groups, this will be a great asset in widening participation for all.”

London School of Architecture Head of School and CEO, Dr Neal Shasore, said:
“It is fantastic that, thanks to this donation, we have been able to offer this new Fellowship. In an intensely competitive field, Thomas’s vision of what we could achieve was truly inspiring. I am looking forward to working closely with him over the coming year, ensuring the LSA leads the conversation around decoloniality and architectural education.”

JASON MBUKU

Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholar

To say I was grateful to be named as a Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholar would be an understatement. The application process was tough but enjoyable and I’m very proud of myself for having been successful. I can’t wait to get started and learn the invaluable skills Freshfields have in store for us, [and] meeting some amazing people in the process.

Tyron Denton

FRESHFIELDS STEPHEN LAWRENCE SCHOLAR

Why did you decide to apply for the Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarship?
After receiving an email from Mrs Gillow and shortly after having a meeting with her, I did some more research on Freshfields and more importantly the Stephen Lawrence Scheme. Aside from knowing that it would be a great opportunity regardless of whether I received a scholarship, the aims of addressing the underrepresentation of black male students within City careers in the name of Stephen Lawrence was truly compelling.

How did you feel when you heard you were selected for the scholarship?
I was extremely grateful. As a man of faith I couldn’t stop giving thanks to God as it would not have been possible without his favour. I was also extremely grateful to be part of an empowering scheme that will undoubtedly leave a legacy to inspire black men in the future.

What does the scholarship offer and what do you feel you have gained from the opportunity?
The scholarship has a lot to offer, far more than just monetary contribution towards studies. It’s a 15-month development programme tailored to each scholar including career advice, work experience, an alternative route to an interview for a training contract at Freshfields mentoring amongst much more. I am still in the very early stages of this journey, however from the insight day and assessment centres alone I have gained an incredible amount. I have been able to meet and converse with accomplished professionals who work within the City, and fellow students, all of which has given me a better perspective to careers and life in general.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of applying?
If you are thinking of applying, I would highly recommend speaking with the university contact for the Scheme. I’d say enter the process with an open mind and willingness to learn more about yourself, others, and careers. It sounds very cliché, but be yourself. Freshfields genuinely want to get to know you as a person, from the application to the assessment centres, so showcase the best version of yourself. In doing so you’ll also find that you gain a lot more from the experience, whether that be mentors, friends, or gaining a better understanding of your strengths and weaknesses.

Robert Gomez

STEPHEN LAWRENCE BURSARY STUDENT

Different people have different backgrounds and people’s financial situations are not the same. I needed the financial help of a bursary or it would have been a case of me not going to university.

“The bursary has completely changed my time at DMU. It means I can spend more of the day focussing on the course rather than having to worry about other stuff.

“If this bursary was not in place it would have been incredibly difficult to manage university life.

“I am enjoying the course. When you are given a brief in the first year of study you can go wild with it. You are allowed to go crazy. You can create a building and then turn it on its head. You have the freedom of creativity. I think it’s a different story from the second year onwards!
“Architecture was the dream for me since secondary school. The bursary has solidified that dream and is turning it into reality.

“Hopefully in a few years’ time I will be running my own practice. It is a long journey but it’s got to be done when it comes to having ambitions in your life.”

Grace Carter

STEPHEN LAWRENCE BURSARY STUDENT

‘Growing up with a single parent as a mixed raced girl, I have seen how hard life can be. My mum brought me up to work hard and to believe in myself so I applied for an internship in London, knowing I would struggle to find and pay for accommodation. It seemed like an impossible task to afford to live in London and pursue my career however thanks to the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation I have been able to flourish in London. I have been able to access my current workplace without any hassle due to the support the Foundation has given me. I’m eternally grateful for this generosity and still can’t believe I’m able to stay in such nice accommodation that is so close to my workplace without worrying about finances.

Stephen Appiah Kubi

As a Scholar, one of the ways I take advantage of the power of learning is that I am encouraged to develop a commercially aware outlook that follows current socioeconomic, political, legal, and technological issues. In analyzing how these issues affect businesses, we develop a more entrepreneurial mindset.

The power of learning extends far beyond tackling business challenges. It equips us with the knowledge and understanding needed to address inequality and drive positive change for a more inclusive society. Embracing an attitude of learning forces us to let go of lazy assumptions and ignorant generalisations, ones that divide our society.”

DAN HORNER

STEPHEN LAWRENCE BURSARY STUDENT

‘The accommodation bursary granted to me was the biggest anxiety relief, moving down to London and pursuing a placement opportunity was daunting enough without the added pressure of finding accommodation. The bursary has allowed me to enjoy what London has to offer as well as learning new skills on my placement that can enhance my career prospects in the industry I love.

The accommodation is perfect for my needs, safe and well located with transport links, I am forever indebted to the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation for allowing me to have this opportunity with minimum worry.

Thank you again for all the support.’