Following our 2023 Shine the Light campaign, SMBW explores impacts and causes of the housing crisis in our article, "The State of Housing."

For the last interview in our Shine the Light Chats, SMBW sat down with LYNX Ventures Principal Bernard Harkless to discuss how developers can impact the housing crisis and help create a more equitable community. ⁠

For the next in our series of Shine the Light Chats, SMBW sat down with the Partnership for Housing Affordability's Executive Director Jovan Burton to discuss the housing crisis in Richmond, Virginia. One of the region's leaders in housing policy, PHA advocates for affordable housing and fair housing practices through community partnerships and research. ⁠

For the next in our series of Shine the Light Chats, SMBW sat down with Urban Hope's Executive Director Sarah Hale to discuss the housing crisis, its roots in Richmond, Virginia, and how her organization is working to provide access to affordable housing and financial literacy to the Church Hill community. According to Hale, "Urban Hope's mission is to make home a cornerstone of opportunity by keeping it affordable. We envision a thriving community where everyone can find a home."⁠

In this Shine the Light Chat, we speak to HomeAgain's Director of Shelter Programming Antonio Edgerton about how the housing crisis has unfolded in Richmond, VA and how he is working to help those experiencing homelessness find a home, again.⁠

We're so excited to share the first in our series of conversations with housing experts who are dedicated to finding solutions to the ongoing housing crisis and advocating for more equitable housing practices.⁠ For our first Shine the Light chat, we spoke with HomeAgain's Executive Director Mandy Herbert about how the significance of housing and how HomeAgain advocates for people experiencing homelessness. ⁠

As part of our 2022 Shine the Light program, SMBW is engaging in research on designing inclusive spaces.

SMBW sat down with Chris Burton from the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities to discuss his role at VCIC and how we can create inclusive environments.

SMBW sat down with Jessica Hawthorne from the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities to discuss her role at VCIC and how we can create inclusive environments.

SMBW sat down with Charm Bullard from the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities to discuss her role at VCIC and how we can create inclusive environments.

Following SMBW’s Shine The Light campaign, an initiative spurred to raise awareness of local black creatives, we investigate the state of the design industry from a diversity perspective.

By amplifying this generation of leaders, we can raise awareness of professional paths in the arts and design for future generations.