Our Beginning

The DLF began our work through a pilot program developed with Mississippi State University, to address the needs of students in their Architecture, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture schools. Now entering our fourth year, we have seen tremendous success, shown through:

• Awarding more than 100 Technology and Materials Awards to students in need

• Conducting over 471 mentorship sessions with undergraduates studying architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture

• Providing full-ride scholarships for 56 students to attend our Professional Horizons Summer Work Experience in New York City

Our Growth

Building on our success, we are thrilled to have introduced two new programs in the past year, growing our commitment to provide local opportunities for design professionals to engage in their communities:

Mentorship Opportunities in Chicago

Through a partnership with Chicago-based non-profit One Million Degrees, we provide opportunities for design professionals to mentor local community college students interested in pursuing a career in design. For the 2024 - 2025 academic year we are excited to be supporting 24 students in their professional journey through the mentorship program, in addition to a larger group of students through professional development events throughout the year.

Santa Monica Community College Workshop

Our first workshop at Santa Monica Community College in Los Angeles brought in over 20 design professionals and 50 students to take part in a day of professional development events, with huge success - and we are thrilled to be back on campus this upcoming April 4, 2025!

And this is just the beginning!