♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

I'M YOUR HOST, Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS.

AND TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME AN ARCHITECT AND INTERIOR DESIGNER GABRIELLE EURE.

THROUGH HER WORK GABRIELLE STRIVES TO ADD VALUE TO HER COMMUNITY BY REVITALIZING URBAN AREAS WITH HER DESIGNS.

SO GATHER YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, THEY WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS EPISODE OF BEHIND THE WOMAN.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOME GABRIELLE, HOW ARE YOU?

>> GOOD.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING PLEA.

>> YOU ARE VERY, VERY WELCOME.

I'M SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE BECAUSE WE GET TO BE TWO STATUESQUE TALL WOMEN ON THE COUCH OWNING THE CAMERA.

[LAUGHTER] AND THAT ISN'T ALWAYS THE CASE.

I'M LOOKING HER IN HER EYE.

>> I KNOW.

SERIOUSLY IT'S SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN LIKE EVEN WE HAVE BEEN TALKING A LITTLE BIT MORE.

I FELT MORE CONFIDENT BECAUSE I'M LIKE WAIT A MINUTE.

I DON'T NEED TO SLOUCH.

I'M HERE.

>> NO, NO, AND STAND UP STRAIGHT AND LIKE WE ARE DOING IT.

>> MY BACK FEELS GOOD.

>> RIGHT?

FEELS A WHOLE LOT BETTER BECAUSE OFTEN TIMES, AS TALL WOMEN, WE ARE NOT-- WE ARE LITERALLY, BUT NOT MAYBE NOT EMOTIONALLY, MENTALLY OR SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING DOWN, OFTEN TIMES TO THE FOLKS WE ARE ENGAGING WITH SO THIS IS A RARE OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE ARE LIKE SISTER TO SISTER EYE TO EYE.

SO 1: I'M ALWAYS EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

BUT 2: I'M EXCITED TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND TALK WITH YOU ABOUT YOUR OWN STORY AND SO TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AT HOBART?

>> YES.

>> DID YOU ATTEND THERE KNOWING THAT YOU WERE GOING FOR ARCHITECTURE?

>> YES, I'VE KNOWN SINCE I WAS YOUNG THAT I WANTED TO BE AN ARCHITECT.

AND I THINK I ALWAYS SAY MY DAD GROOMED ME THAT WAY.

WE USED TO GO TO OPEN HOUSES ALL THE TIME.

I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE BUT THEN WE STARTED DOING THE LEGOS AND THEN I HAD A BUNCH OF BARBIE HOUSES AND I'M LIKE HOW ARE THEY BUILT?

THAT'S WHEN I GOT MORE INTO THE LEGO SIDE OF IT AND BUILDING FROM THERE.

I THINK I JUST KNEW FROM A REALLY YOUNG AGE THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

AND I CONTRIBUTE A LOT TO MY FAMILY BECAUSE THEY SUPPORTED ME AND GAVE ME WHAT I NEEDED TO DO THAT.

>> MY BARBIE HOUSE, I WAS ALWAYS FRUSTRATED WITH IT.

PART OF IT WOULD ALWAYS REMAIN IN THE BOX.

>> REALLY?

[LAUGHTER] >> THE PIECES CONNECTING AND PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER, I WAS JUST LIKE, OKAY, MA, I'M DONE.

>> THERE WERE A LOT.

THEY'RE SO ELABORATE, ESPECIALLY NOW.

I HAVE A NIECE WHO IS 5 AND THEY'RE CRAZY.

I THOUGHT THEY WERE CRAZY WHEN I WAS YOUNGER BUT THEY'RE LIKE ELEVATORS THAT-- BEFORE YOU HAD THE ELEVATOR THAT HAD YOU TO CRANK IT NOW THEY LITERALLY HIT A BUTTON AND IT GOES UP AND DOWN.

>> THIS IS EXCITING.

SO GOING FROM BARBIE HOUSE, HOW DID YOU STAY ENGAGED AND CONTINUING TO PURSUE THAT INTEREST?

>> I THINK THE TRACK OF ARCHITECTURE IN THIS COMMUNITY IS VERY NOT WELL KNOWN.

SO I THINK IT WAS DEFINITELY HARD IN HIGH SCHOOL.

OUR ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING WAS LIKE SHOP.

MECHANICAL SHOP.

SO THEY THOUGHT YOU WANT TO DO ENGINEERING, MUST WANT TO GO BUILD A CAR AND ALL THAT, WHICH I THINK IS GREAT BUT THAT'S NOT WHERE I WANTED TO GET TO.

I WAS IN TENDS GRADE MY SOPHOMORE YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, I TOOK A COMPUTER AIDED PROGRAMMING CLASS.

AND I HAD THIS TEACHER, HE IS STILL PROBABLY THE MOST INFLUENTIAL TEACHER I'VE HAD.

Mr. ASHLEY, AND HE LITERALLY TAUGHT ME THE BASIS OF WHAT I STILL DO TO THIS DAY.

I WAS LIKE WOW, THIS IS WAY WANT TO DO.

AND WE BECAME VERY COOL AND IT WAS MORE-- I FEEL LIKE ARCHITECTURE IS INCLUSIVE.

IT'S NOT JUST THE LINES THAT YOU ARE DRAWING BUT YOU ARE CREATE AGO I-- YOU ARE CREATING A SPACE PEOPLE HAVE TO BE IN AND HE TAUGHT A LOT.

>> WHERE DID YOU GO TO HIGH SCHOOL?

>> I WENT TO A FEW DIFFERENT SCHOOLS BUT I GRADUATED FROM EAST SYRACUSE VANILLA.

>> IS THAT WHERE YOU MET Mr. ASHLEY?

>> YES, TENTH GRADE.

>> THE IDEA AROUND WHAT YOU LEARNED IN THIS COMPUTER CLASS DID THAT PUT YOU ON TRACK TO CHOOSING THE COLLEGE YOU CHOSE?

>> I LOOK LOOKED FOR SCHOOLS.

I'M A HOME BODY.

I WENT BACK TO SYRACUSE AFTER I WENT TO COLLEGE.

I WANTED SOMEWHERE CLOSER.

A LIBERAL ARTS SCHOOL BECAUSE I'M VERY ARTISTIC NOT JUST WITH MY CRAFT, BUT I'M-- I DO A LITTLE MUSIC, THAT KIND OF STUFF.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO ASK TO YOU SING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THAT'S OKAY.

>> BUT I WANTED TO BE SOMEWHERE WHERE I COULD GET-- I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF TIMES ARCHITECTURE DESIGN SCHOOLS ARE SO FOCUSED ON JUST THAT THAT YOU LOSE FOCUS ON EVERYTHING ELSE SO I WANTED TO GO TO A SCHOOL THAT WAS MORE INCLUSIVE OF MIEF LEARNING ABILITY SO THAT'S HOW I FOUND IT.

I WENT FOR ONE VISIT.

ONE OF MY CHILDHOOD FRIENDS' MOTHER OR I GUESS MY MOM'S FRIEND, SHE BROUGHT ME TO LIKE-- SHE WENT TO SCHOOL TO BE-- SHE IS A NURSE NOW, BUT WENT TO ONE OF THEIR LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND I WAS LIKE OH MY GOD.

THIS IS IT.

>> THIS IS IT.

THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO BE.

>> EARLY DECISION.

NEVER LOOKED BACK.

>> NEVER LOOKED BACK.

SO YOU ACTUALIZE THAT DREAM.

YOU ARE WORKING HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

HAVE YOU HEARD A LOT ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR SYRACUSE CENTRAL NEW YORK REGION AND HOW DO YOU FIND THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE EXCITING FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING?

>> YEAH, SO OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A LOT GOING ON WITH MICRON AND WHAT NOT.

I THINK KNOWING A LOT OF IT IS JUST BEING INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY AND IT'S A LOT OF WORD OF MOUTH THINGS.

SO THINGS LIKE THIS.

MY FAMILY HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY.

SO I THINK JUST WORD OF MOUTH AND OUR COMPANY AND EVERY COMPANY TRYING TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY WORK BUT I THINK IT MAKES THAT MUCH MORE OF AN IMPACT WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN IN IT FOR SO LONG.

IT IS NICE BEING FROM HERE AND BEING ABLE TO BE PART OF WHAT YOU WANT BUT I'M ABLE TO TRANSLATE WHEN THE COMMUNITY WANTS INTO ACTUAL BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT AND SPACES WHICH I THINK IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE IT GETS LOST IN TRANSLATION.

HAVE YOU TO HAVE THE RIGHT VOICE TO... >> AND BEING PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

BEING INVOLVED AND BEING ABLE TO TRANSLATE IDEAS BACK INTO SOME PROJECTS IS REALLY AWESOME WHAT PROJECT HAVE YOU WORKED ON THAT YOU HAVE BEEN REALLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT LIKE FROM START TO END?

>> OKAY.

WELL, I WON'T SAY START TO END BECAUSE IT'S NOT DONE YET BUT DEFINITELY THE BEST PROJECT I WORKED ON AND IT'S REALLY WHAT INTRODUCED ME.

I STARTED AT CNS COMPANIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SO I WAS OUT ON SITE A LOT OF THE TIMES WHICH I THINK IS A WHOLE OTHER STORY WE GET INTO BUT I WAS ON SITE TRYING TO CONTROL CONTRACTORS, WHICH I'M SURE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE... [LAUGHTER] I CAME BACK INSIDE.

BUT I WORKED ON THE VISION WORKS MERCY WORKS PROJECT AND ABUNKED ANTER-- HIVE ABUNDANT LIFE IS PART OF THEIR FOUNDATION THEY HAVE.

AND IMPACT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE ON THE COMMUNITY WITH THE STEM WORK BUT WITH THE SPACE FOR FOR THE COMMUNITY BEING WHERE IT'S LOCATED AND THE CHILDREN.

IT HAS SO MANY FACETS THAT ARE GOING TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY.

IT WAS ONE OF THE HIVE-- IT IS THE BEST PROJECT I'VE WORKED ON AND YOU ADD THE FAITH AND LITERALLY EVERYTHING THAT I, CORE VALUES THAT I HAVE, ARE IN THAT PROJECT.

>> RIGHT.

AND YOU GET DO THAT RIGHT AT HOME.

AND THAT MUST FEEL REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

>> YEAH.

>> I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SOME YOUNG PROFESSIONALS HAVE IS LIKE THEY OFTEN HAVE TO LEAVE HOME TO GO AND DO WHAT IT IS THEY LOVE TO DO.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO FOLKS THAT ARE LIKE, THEY ASK THAT QUESTION, LIKE WHY ARE YOU HERE?

>> AND I WILL SAY, LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT.

LIKE I FEEL LIKE THE PROBLEMS OR ISSUES OR WHATEVER YOU THINK ARE HERE ARE JUST GOING TO FOLLOW YOU.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO HAVE A STRONG FOUNDATION AND BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND HOW THE IMPACT YOU WANT TO HAVE AND YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT NO MATTER-- I COULD BE IN ANTARCTICA AND I WOULD PROBABLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE THERE BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT WHAT IS INSIDE OF ME, NOT NECESSARILY WHAT IS AROUND YOU.

DOES IT HELP HAVING A NICE ENVIRONMENT?

SURE.

BUT I THINK HERE, TOO, HAVE YOU TO FOSTER THOSE TYPE OF RELATIONSHIPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE-- ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNGER GENERATION-- ARE SO USED TO-- WE HAVE OUR PHONES.

EVERYTHING COMES TO US BUT THEY'RE NOT USED TO MAKING THE PERSONAL CONNECTIONS, GETTING OUT, NETWORKING.

BUT THAT'S THE KIND OF STUFF THAT'S IMPORTANT AND I LOVE DOING SO I THINK THAT'S... >> RIGHT, RIGHT.

SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A LOOK.

BEFORE WE CONTINUE ON WITH THIS CONVERSATION LET'S TAKE A LOOK NOW AT SOME OF THE WORK THAT GABRIELLE IS DOING IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

SO HERE WE ARE ON THE SOUTH I'D OF SYRACUSE, A LOT OF LIKE-- A LOT OF WHAT I LIKE DO IS KIND OF HELP OUR COMMUNITY AND WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON WITH MICRON AND REVITALIZING SYRACUSE AND ALL THE DIFFERENT ZONING, A LOT OF HOUSES THAT ARE IN THIS AREA NEED TO GET REVAMPED AND RENOVATED SO THAT THERE IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THOSE THAT ARE AROUND THE COMMUNITY.

AND THIS IS MY FOURTH HOUSE THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN.

WHAT GOT ME STARTED IS I HAVE BEEN FROM SYRACUSE MY WHOLE LIFE.

I DRIVE AROUND THE CITY ALL THE TIME.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF AND I THINK DRIVING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND SEEING THINGS LIKE THIS AND KNOWING THAT BECAUSE OF MY PASSION WITH ARCHITECTURE, I CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT THAT WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT GOT ME GOING AND IT'S SOMETHING I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT.

I HOPE THE FINISHED PRODUCT LOOKS LIKE WHAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY.

I THINK SAY LOT OF TIMES WE ARE TRYING TO REVITALIZE THE COMMUNITY.

BUT RESTORING IT BACK TO THE HISTORICAL LOOK, SYRACUSE HISTORY, THEY HAVE A LOT OF DATA ON WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD USED TO LOOK LIKE, SO I THINK WE ARE REVITALIZING IT AND GOING BACK TO THAT IS WHAT I HOPE FOR AND SOMETHING THAT IS LIVABLE.

IF YOU PARTNER WITH THE LAND BANK, THERE ARE DIFFERENT PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES YOU CAN TAKE.

SOME GET RENTED DIRECTLY TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THEY HAVE PEOPLE LINED UP LOOKING FOR HOUSING.

AND IT'S KIND OF BUYERS BACK PROGRAM SO THEY'LL PAY RENT FOR SO LONG AND A PORTION OF THAT RENT WILL GO TOWARDS BUYING THE HOUSE SO THEY BECOME HOMEOWNERS.

THEN THERE IS JUST OTHER PROJECTS LIKE SOME PEOPLE JUST RENT THEIR OWN HOUSES AND RENOVATE AND THEY LIVE IN IT THEMSELVES.

IT DEPENDS ON THE AVENUE BUT I THINK MY FAVORITE ONES TO WORK ON ARE THE ONES THAT ARE THROUGH THE LAND BANK AND KNOWING THAT SOMEONE WHO HASN'T OR DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HOME OWNERSHIP, CAN HAVE IT.

MY 9-5, I DO A LOT OF MORE AIRPORT HANGARS, CORPORATE THINGS, THINGS THAT I WON'T NECESSARILY USE EVERY DAY BUT WHEN I GO TO THE PROJECTS, IT'S SOMETHING I DRIVE BY AND SOMETHING I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT AND SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY KNOWS ABOUT.

IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M CONTRIBUTING TO MY COMMUNITY AND WHERE I GREW UP.

THERE IS A LOT OF HELP YOU CAN GET WITHIN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE RIGHT NOW WITH PROJECTS LIKE THIS.

I WOULD SAY DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP.

THERE ARE SOAP DIFFERENT PROGRAMS.

LIKE I MENTIONED THE LAND BANK BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER PROGRAMS IF YOU HAVE A PLAN, YOU HAVE AN IDEA, YOU HAVE A HOUSE THAT YOU SAW AND YOU WANT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN WITH IT, GO, HAVE A CONVERSATION, SET UP A MEETING AND THEY WILL LEAD YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

BUT I WOULD SAY DON'T GET DISCOURAGED BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE HOUSES LOOK REALLY CRAZY ON THE OUTSIDE BUT THEY'RE REALLY BEAUTIFUL ON THE INSIDE.

AND THESE ARE THE KINDS OF HOUSES YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN.

>> THAT IS FANTASTIC GABRIELLE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO ASK YOU WAS HOW DOES IT FEEL TO GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND ENGAGE WITH THE FOLKS AND THEN WALK INTO YOUR OFFICE AND BE A CONDUIT OF THEIR EXPERIENCES?

>> I THINK IT'S A LOT OF PRESSURE, BOTH WAYS.

I'VE BEEN LEARNING, WORKING A LOT WITH THE COMMUNITY EVEN MORE NOW.

I ALMOST FEEL LIKE THERE IS A DOUBLE-- NOT A DOUBLE LIFE I'M TRYING TO LEAD BUT I CONNECT WITH MY COMMUNITY OBVIOUSLY.

BUT ALSO MY WORK, SO KIND OF MAKING SURE EVERYONE IS HAPPY.

I'M A PEOPLE PLEASER, TOO.

SO I'M LIKE, THERE IS SO MUCH-- BUT EVERYONE HAS THE SAME END GOAL.

IT'S JUST DIFFERENT PATHWAYS OF MEETING THERE AND I LIKE TO THINK THAT I CAN BE THAT MIDDLE GROUND TO MOVE US FORWARD.

BUT IT'S DEFINITELY DIFFICULT, EVEN JUST THINKING ABOUT CONTRACTING AND WHAT NOT, THERE ARE SO MANY MWBE REQUIREMENTS OUT THERE THAT GIVE A LOT OF MINORITY BUSINESSES A LOT OF MONEY, BUT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY GIVE THEM A TRAINING OR QUALIFICATIONS OF HOW TO USE IT OR WHAT NOT.

SO ONCE YOU GET DID-- ONCE YOU GET TO THE DESIGN STAGE, THEY HAVE THE MONEY BUT DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE IT AND THEN THE PEOPLE ON MY SIDE WHO ARE FRUSTRATED LIKE HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW BUT THERE IS A GAP.

NO ONE IS TELLING THEM OR TELLING US THEY DON'T KNOW.

SO I THINK IT'S A FRUSTRATING BUT I THINK WE ARE GETTING THERE AND I THINK THERE IS ROOM TO GROW, ESPECIALLY WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

>> I THINK THAT WAS AN ACCURATE DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE YOU ARE TRYING TO BE LIKE ON THE INSIDE TRYING TO THINK OF CREATIVE WAYS TO ENGAGE THE OUTSIDE AND THEN GET THE OUTSIDE TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS OPPORTUNITIES COMING BUT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CONNECT THEM.

>> YES.

>> SO THAT'S PRETTY POWERFUL.

IN YOUR WORK AS AN ARCHITECT, I IMAGINE AS A WOMAN, AS A WOMAN OF COLOR, LIKE HOW HAS THAT IMPACTED YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, FROM THE TIME YOU MET Mr. ASHLEY UP UNTIL THIS MOMENT?

>> SO I FEEL LIKE IT'S-- IT'S HARD.

AND I FEEL LIKE MORE RECENTLY I JUST FIGURED OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE AND BEING THE ONLY ONE IN THE ROOM ISN'T ALWAYS A BAD THING.

IT'S ACTUALLY AN ADVANTAGE.

IT'S JUST HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.

SO I THINK A LOT OF THE TIMES, EVEN IN COLLEGE, I WAS WALKING AROUND-- I MEAN I WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE ROOM AND I WAS VERY TIMID AND THINKING IT WAS A BAD THING.

AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING GOOD TO CONTRIBUTE OR WHAT NOT BECAUSE I'M NOT REALLY BEING SEEN, ESPECIALLY ADDING BEING TALL.

>> YOU ARE ALWAYS SEEN.

>> I'M ALREADY SEEN.

THERE IS JUST THIS DOUBLE-- I DO KNOW WHAT I KNOW BUT YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU CAN SAY IT.

>> IMPOSTER SYNDROME.

>> HEAVY, VERY HEAVY.

>> REALLY?

>> VERY HEAVY.

>> OKAY.

>> GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF A MOMENT WHERE YOU FELT LIKE AN IMPOSTER SYNDROME WAS SHOWING UP.

>> TODAY.

[LAUGHTER] >> SHE'S LIKE YOU JUST WANT ONE IS THIS.

>> OKAY, I HAD A CLIEBILITY MEETING LAST-- I HAD A CLIENT MEETING WHERE WE GOT FLOWN OUT SOMEWHERE AND IT WAS ME AND THIS OTHER MAN IN THE ROOM AND THE CLIENT WAS PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND I THINK THEY WERE LOOKING FOR ME TO ADD MORE AND I MEAN I RESEARCHED LIKE CRAZY.

I KNEW EVERYTHING THEY SAID.

I WAS LIKE ALL RIGHT...

BUT I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING AND I THINK AFTER THE MEETING ENDED LIKE I OBVIOUSLY FOSTERED A RELATIONSHIP.

YEAH, I KNEW THAT.

THEY WERE LIKE WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY ANYTHING?

I JUST FELT LIKE IT'S NOT MY SPACE OR MY PLACE TO SAY ANYTHING.

THEY'RE LIKE GIRL, YOU ARE LITERALLY IN THE ROOM.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

OH YOU ARE RIGHT.

I AM HERE.

SO... >> THAT'S A REAL PLACE, RIGHT?

AND I THINK I'LL NEVER FORGET THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE ASKED ME TO BE ON A BOARD.

AND I WAS LIKE YOU WANT ME LIKE WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO TELL YOU?

LIKE WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO SAY?

EVERYBODY AROUND ME SEEMS TO BE SAYING WHAT COULD BE SAID.

SO WHERE DOES MY VOICE FIT IN?

>> I THINK WITH BLACK WOMEN, WE NATURALLY LEAD, SO I REALIZED, TOO, I DON'T NEED TO TRY THAT HARD.

I OVERTHINK.

I DON'T NEED TO TRY THAT HARD BECAUSE NATURALLY IT WILL COME OUT.

AND IF IT'S SOMETHING I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT, I WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON IT AND I WON'T NEED TO HAVE-- IT WON'T BE AS MUCH PRESSURE SO THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING I'M NAVIGATING RIGHT NOW.

>> THAT'S A REAL PLACE, TOO.

AND I THINK THIS CONVERSATION WE ARE HAVING, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES GROWING AND WE WANT DIVERSE TALENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND WE WANT TO PRESENT THEM WITH OPPORTUNITIES, BUT IT MADE ME THINK OF LIKE WHO IS YOUR MENTOR WHEN YOU-- NOW THAT EXPERIENCE HAS HAPPENED, BUT COULD BE THAT PERSON FOR YOU IN THE FIELD OF ARCHITECT BECAUSE I'M LIKE... WHO DO YOU...

I DON'T KNOW NOBODY.

>> I DON'T KNOW NOBODY.

[LAUGHTER] >> RIGHT.

>> BUT I FEEL THE EXPERIENCE I HAVE, YOU HAVE SO IT'S NOT LIKE -- WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO THE TECHNICAL PART, OBVIOUSLY THERE IS DIFFERENCES, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SPEAKING UP AND BEING IN THE ROOM AND AND A HALF NAVIGATING THOSE ROOMS, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE I CAN LEAN ON FOR THOSE TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS.

>> GOTCHA.

LIKE WHO DO YOU CALL?

>> AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO CHANGE.

I FEEL LIKE-- I DON'T KNOW ANYONE SO I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE WON'T BE WHAT THEY DON'T SEE.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS VERY PREVALENT IN THIS COMMUNITY WHICH IS WHY I GET INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY SO MUCH AND I'M GLAD TO BE ON THIS STAGE WITH YOU BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO SEE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE US.

IT'S FEW BUT YOU CAN BE THERE.

>> YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO INTRODUCE SOME MORE FOLKS.

>> I HOPE SO.

>> RIGHT NOW I'M DOING A LOT OF MENTORING.

I HOPE I'M FOSTERING SO THAT IN A FEW YEARS YOU CAN SAY, YOU KNOW, FOUR OR FIVE.

>> MAYBE FOUR OR FIVE.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU ARE DOING TO HELP?

>> I SIT ON THE BOARD OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS AS THE EMERGING PROFESSIONALS DIRECTOR SO I HAVE A LOT OF CONNECTION WITH THE YOUNGER PROFESSIONALS GOING FOR THEIR LICENSE OR STILL IN COLLEGE AND TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT AND I'M ALSO A PART OF OUR DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION TASK FORCE SO THIS SUMMER WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED INTRO TO ARCHITECTURE WHERE WE CONNECT WITH, I THINK IT'S AROUND A DOZEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN SYRACUSE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

AND THEY COME AND IT'S LIKE A SIX WEEK PROGRAM WHERE THEY'RE LEARNING ABOUT ARCHITECTURE.

THEY'RE KIND OF ONE ON ONE WITH THE TASK FORCE'S MAINLY MINORITIES.

SO YOU HAVE THAT.

SO JUST GETTING OUT THERE AND KNOCKING ON THE SCHOOL DOORS AND ASKING THEM IF THEY KNOW PEOPLE.

>> ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING A MEANT' THIS SUMMER?

>> I AM.

I'M ALSO MENTORING SOMEONE AT MY JOB WHICH I'M VERY EXCITED FOR BECAUSE THAT'S LIKE THE REAL DEAL.

LIKE HIGH SCHOOL BUT SHE'S, I THINK SHE IS GOING TO BE-- SHE IS A SENIOR IN COLLEGE.

SO I'M LIKE, I CAN REALLY-- I WISH I HAD SOMEONE TO WALK ME THROUGH WHEN I FIRST GRADUATED AND I'M LIKE, TO JUST NAVIGATE THE WATERS SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

>> OH MY GOODNESS.

WHEN YOU GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, WERE YOU LIKE HOLDING OUT TO FIND SOMETHING HERE OR DID YOU FOSTER A RELATIONSHIP SORT OF KIND OF LIKE THIS PROGRAM YOU ARE ABOUT TO LEAD?

>> I KNEW I NEEDED TO GO WHERE THE JOBS WERE BUT I WANTED TO STAY CLOSE TO HOME.

SO INTERNING AND WHAT NOT, BEING SO JEEF IS GENEVA IS ONLY AN HOUR AWAY FROM HERE, I TRIED TO KEEP CLOSE ON THE FEEL OF WAS WAS GOING ON IN SYRACUSE.

THAT'S WHERE I ENDED UP AT CNS AND ENDED UP NOT IN MY FIELD ORIGINALLY BECAUSE I'M LIKE I NEED A JOB.

>> THAT'S ALWAYS THE REAL WORRY, RIGHT?

I HAVE THESE DREAMS, BUT LET'S BE PRACTICAL.

BUT BEING PRACTICAL LED YOU RIGHT TO WHERE... >> IT DID, YES.

>> RIGHT WHERE YOU WANTED TO BE.

>> AND I THINK CNS, I KEEP SAYING I'LL STAY THERE FOREVER.

THEY HAVE FOSTERED AND SUPPORTED ME THROUGHOUT MY CAREER STARTING WHERE I STARTED AND KNOWING WHERE I WANTED TO GO AND IT HAS BEEN SIX YEARS AND THEY HAVE GOTTEN ME THERE AND SUPPORTED ME THERE.

IT'S REALLY GREAT.

>> THAT IS AWESOME.

SO I'M FLABER GHASTED.

FLABBERGASTED.

YOU WORKED ON THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SIDE.

>> THAT'S A WHOLE... >> THAT'S A WHOLE...

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO SAY THAT.

>> YEAH.

>> BECAUSE SOMETIMES ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU MENTION LIKE THE YOUNG FOLKS TODAY, THEY'RE LIKE SO FOCUSED ON INSTANT GRATIFICATION.

>> YEP.

>> BUT YOU STARTED SOMEWHERE BUT YOU STUCK WITH IT.

AND IT LED YOU TO RIGHT WHERE YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE.

>> AND I GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE FROM DOING THAT, TOO.

SO I THINK EXPERIENCING WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE, IT MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR BUT IT'S WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT IS WHAT YOU GET OUT OF IT.

>> RIGHT.

I DIDN'T LAND IN SYRACUSE THINKING THAT WCNY WAS GOING TO CALL ME FOR A TELEVISION SHOW, RIGHT?

BUT IT JUST WAS LIKE...

THE THINGS YOU CONTINUE TO DO TO LEAD YOU DOWN THAT PATH.

WE HAVE A FEW MORE MINUTES LEFT.

MY LAST QUESTION FOR YOU IS THERE IS A YOUNG PERSON AT HOME WATCHING AND SAYING HEY, I WAS GREAT WITH MY BARBIE DOLL HOUSE, I LOVE LEGOS.

I THINK I WANT TO PURSUE OR GET BACK ON TRACK TO PURSUE ARCHITECTURE OR JUST A DREAM IN GENERAL.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THEM?

>> SO FIRST I WOULD SAY DO YOUR RESEARCH.

DO YOUR HOME WORK.

THERE ARE SO MANY SUPPORTIVE AVENUES OUT THERE THAT WILL HELP YOU, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ARCHITECTURE FOR WOMEN OF COLOR, WE MAKE UP 1% SO THEY'RE LOOKING FOR US TO WANT TO DO THIS.

AND SHOWING A LITTLE INTEREST WILL GET YOU A LONG WAY.

SO I THINK DOING YOUR RESEARCH, PUTTING YOUR NAME OUT THERE, LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT AVENUES AND SCHOLARSHIPS AND ALL THAT CAN SUPPORT YOU AS YOU GO THROUGH YOUR JOURNEY.

I WOULD LITTLE SAY IT'S THE START THAT STOPS YOU.

THAT'S SOMETHING I LEARNED RECENTLY AND SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS STRUGGLED WITH BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS THESE BIG DREAMS.

WE'LL WRITE THEM DOWN, HAVE THESE JOURNALS.

>> VISION BOARDS.

>> VISION BOARDS, BUT STAFORT STARTING IS THE HARDEST PART.

IT'S ANXIETY, YOU ARE SCARED, BUT EVEN THE SMALLEST STEP TOWARDS THE GOAL, WHATEVER THE END GOAL MIGHT BE, THAT'S HOW YOU GET STARTED AND IT'S LITERALLY, IT WILL BE A BALL ROLLING DOWN THE HILL.

YOU'LL GAIN MOMENTUM.

YOU'LL GET MOVING TOWARDS YOUR GOAL SO I THINK NEVER STOP MOVING, OBVIOUSLY YOU WANT TO NETWORK, GET OUT THERE, WORK ON YOUR PEOPLE SKILLS I THINK THAT'S SO IMPORTANT.

I KNOW SO MANY SMART WOMEN OF COLOR, WOMEN IN AND PEOPLE IN GENERAL, PEOPLE SKILLS THEY TEND TO LACK.

AGAIN I BROUGHT UP THE TECHNOLOGY WITH US, THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, WE ARE SO USED TO BEING BEHIND A SCREEN, BUT HAVE YOU TO OBVIOUSLY HAVE THE RESUME ON SCREEN BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THOSE PEOPLE SKILLS OFF SCREEN.

AND THAT'S HOW YOU REALLY GAIN THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

>> IT'S THE START THAT WILL STOP YOU.

I LOVE THAT.

THANK YOU GABRIELLE FOR JOINING ME THIS EVENING ON BEHIND THE WOMAN.

AND ALLOWING US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU AND THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING TO UPLIFT THE COMMUNITY.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW TONIGHT'S EPISODE AGAIN, OR WATCH PAST SEASONS OF THE SHOW, GO TO WCNY.ORG/BEHIND THE WOMAN.

MY NAME IS DOCTOR JUHANNA ROGERS, AND ON BEHALF OF THE BEHIND THE WOMAN TEAM THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.