**Happy New Year!**

I hope this message finds you healthy and eager to embrace the opportunities that the new year will bring. My name is Lori Lessem, and it is a tremendous honor to begin my term as your AIA Baltimore President, and I look forward to collaborating with our 2026 Board to advance the goals of our chapter and our local architectural community.

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our outgoing AIA Baltimore president, Madhuri Subramaniam, AIA, for her exceptional dedication and leadership over the past year. Her efforts have established a strong foundation from which we can move forward over the coming year.

A brief introduction about myself, I have been working in Baltimore since the mid-1990’s and started my own design firm a decade ago. Throughout my career, I have worked in firms of various types and sizes, and have been involved in a wide range of projects, both in scale and scope. This diverse background enables me to bring a broad and informed perspective to my role as AIA Baltimore President, and I look forward to applying these experiences to serve our chapter and community.

As we move into 2026, my goal is to build upon the AIA Baltimore Board’s Strategic Plan Initiatives. Our guiding slogan will be: **Connect, Collaborate, Craft.**

**Connect**

This year, we will focus on connecting every individual in our community, leveraging our resources, knowledge, and collective experiences to shape a future we can all be proud of. Our profession thrives on extending ourselves beyond our immediate circles and engaging proactively with each other, our design allies, our local communities, and beyond. These connections will inform our practices, what we build, and how we build.

**Collaborate**

Let’s work together to include the next generation of students, architects, mentors, and design allies. Our chapter will continue to champion the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and progress. We are committed to creating a future where everyone is respected and understood. As we look to the future of our profession, active participation in its development and progress is essential.

**Craft**

To “craft” means “to make” or “process”, which is a fitting description for architects. Our days are spent problem-solving, placemaking, creating, and advocating. We enter this profession with the challenge and hope of conveying its true value to the communities we serve. This year, let’s expand awareness of our profession and the value we bring. We should strive to be included early in discussions, sharing the expertise we possess in this field.

Baltimore’s architectural community is rich with talent and potential. Our programming, advocacy, and priorities should reflect the entire community, and we must actively shape the future of architecture together.

We have exciting programs and events in the works, blending new initiatives with our favorite staples. The success of these events relies on your participation and engagement, so I encourage you to volunteer your time and expertise!

Let’s set the example this year: get involved and participate! Feel free to reach out to me, any board member, or our wonderful Staff Members to learn how you can participate, support, advocate, and help shape AIA Baltimore. Keep an eye out for our bi-weekly newsletter and follow us on social media and LinkedIn for the current events.