DIVERSITY AT ASLA: Highlighting MSG’s Wendy Fry

By Jenny Hamel, Sustainability Coordinator

This year has been eventful, to say the least. In addition to the impact the pandemic has had across the globe, our society has suffered innumerable losses within the BIPOC community, reigniting momentum for the civil rights movement and continuing the hard work of leaders such as Dr. King, Rosa Parks, Malcom X, and many, many others.

The Michigan Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) decided it was time to take purposeful action, to join the forward movement in creating real change. The result of this effort was the formation of their new 501 (c) (3) foundation for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), which consists of emerging professionals and seasoned landscape architects who are passionate about inviting people from all backgrounds and cultures into the world of landscape architecture; among these leaders is MSG’s own Wendy Fry, ASLA, CLARB, LEED AP BD+C.

Wendy is Vice President of Landscape Architecture at MSG and has spent over 30 years in the field dedicated to designing beautiful, functional spaces across many diverse environments. Much of her work emphasizes urban revitalization, utilizing best practices to create sustainable sites that best serve the future of the community. Throughout her career, Wendy has led engagement events at public meetings, collaborating with cities and towns all over Michigan to create positive, actionable change that is relevant to the people who live there.

The DEI foundation has established five subcommittees: Scholarship, Education, Fundraising, Outreach and Partnerships, and Communications. Each of these subcommittees serves an important purpose in furthering the DEI’s initiative to support underserved demographics looking to pursue a future in landscape architecture.

As a highly involved leader, dedicated to her role as Michigan ASLA’s Executive Committee Secretary, Wendy will serve as Vice President of Scholarship and Fundraising on the newly formed nonprofit foundation board where she will create scholarship opportunities and review entries, develop fundraising events and reach out to potential financial supporters. We look forward to following Michigan ASLA’s progress in creating opportunities for BIPOC landscape architects and seeing the results of these efforts reflected in our built environment.