Go For Your Dreams
By Carla Flagg
Licensed 2021

My architecture journey is one of perseverance, grit, and never giving up on your dream.

I graduated from California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo in 1994 (Go Mustangs), excited by my accomplishment of earning my Bachelor of Architecture degree and looking forward to the next phases of life.  During college, I was introduced to the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) and through networking at conferences and finding mentors, I landed my first architecture job with NOMA founder, Harold Williams, in his downtown Los Angeles office.  He, along with so many others spoke to me about the importance of licensure and being counted as an African American Architect within the profession.   I was pumped, I was excited, and in 1999, began this journey towards licensure.  I know what you’re thinking…1999 that’s 22 years ago.  Well, yes, it is, but this is after all a story about perseverance and never giving up on your dream.  So, what happened?