Creating Pathways: The Bill Harrison Foundation’s Mission to Inspire and Empower

Building on Bill Harrison’s legacy to inspire and create opportunities for underrepresented students in architecture and design

Photography by Colette Collins

Group of students and volunteers holding certificates in front of a white brick building.

The Bill Harrison Foundation Blueprints to Build students and volunteers

Five people stand in front of a white brick wall and a large window.

Marc Washington, Shaina Lofton, Demaris Davis, Akrem Ahmed, and Shreya Kamal

Six young men stand holding certificates. Jacob Jackson, Amsu Re Eatman, Samuel Washington

Jacob Jackson, Amsu Re Eatman, Samuel Washington, Sabastian Jardine, Micah Phillips, and Akrem Ahmed

Three people standing outside a white brick building. The person in front is a woman wearing a navy

Careshia Moore, Shay Manning, and BJ Banks

Family taking a selfie, one boy holds a certificate.

Lopez Felton Family

Olivia Mosley, Kaitlynn Hayes, and Jaiden Berry

Two teenagers present an outdoor design project with mood boards and blueprints.

Isaiah Carter, Andwele Jobe, and Joel Gomez

Group of young men presenting at a board with fabric swatches and design sketches.

Micah Phillips, Sebastian Jardine, Samuel Washington, Amsu Re Eatman, and Jacob Jackson

Three students presenting design boards, one holding a microphone.

Marleigh Robinson, Eiland Ade, and Anna Bella Madison

Group of people standing and looking to the left.

Shane Persaud, Shaina Lofton, Demaris Davis, Marc Washington, McKenna Dickens, Elenia Tyndale, Duane Tyndale, and Gabriella McGhee

Six young people stand holding certificates.

Marc Washington, Xavier Johnson, Christian Lopez-Felton, Madison Hartley, Mckenna Dickens, and Kingdom Taylor

Five people stand holding certificates. A display board behind them has text that reads 'The

Marleigh Robinson, Brooklynn Ashley Jackson, Eiland Ade, Anna Bella Madison, and Zachery Terry

Three young women stand near a presentation board with design collages and architectural drawings.

Shaina Lofton, Elenia Tyndale, and Gabriella McGhee

Group of people standing outside a white brick building.

Gabriel Layne, Akrem Ahmed, Jordache Avery, Sebastian Jardine, and Micah Phillips

Four people sitting in chairs in front of a large window. A woman speaks into a microphone.

Jonne Smith, Emory Carney, and Emily Schickner

Five people stand holding certificates. A young girl sits to the left.

Joshua Register, Andwele Jobe, Joel Gomez, Shreya Kamal, and Isaiah Carter

Two women talking, one holds a purple tumbler with 'MOM' written on it.

Lisa Brown and Emily Schickner

Man in blue suit and pink shirt shows phone to man in plaid shirt and beanie

Shane Persaud and Idris Jackson

Group of people gathered outside a white brick building with a large window.

Marc Washington, Jonne Smith, Aleigha Montgomery, Careshia Moore, Kelly King, Claudia Stimmel, and John Albanese

Man speaking into a microphone, standing next to a woman in a white dress.

Careshia Moore, Kelly King, Claudia Stimmel, John Albanese, and Mr. Gomez

Five years after his passing, The Bill Harrison Foundation, a non-profit organization, continues to carry forward Bill Harrison’s vision—an architect, mentor, and community leader who believed that investing in young people was one of the most powerful ways to shape the future.

The Foundation is dedicated to preparing middle and high school students for careers in architecture, interior design, construction and industry trade professions.

Through early career exposure, mentorship, hands-on learning, and connecting students to industry professionals, pre-college programs, and scholarships, the Foundation helps young people develop the skills, confidence, and networks needed to thrive.

At the heart of the Foundation is its mission: To create educational experiences that foster exploration, inspiration, and creativity, ensuring the next generation of creative and curious thinkers has equal access to pursue career pathways in architecture, design and the building arts. By linking classroom learning with real-world experiences, students not only gain technical knowledge but begin to see themselves as future leaders in the industry.

The impact is clear. The Foundation has served 300+ students, representing 24 schools across Metro Atlanta, and provided over $200,000 in college scholarships and program support—building a more diverse and inclusive pipeline of future architects and design professionals. Research shows that students who receive early, project-based exposure to architecture and design are 2.5 times more likely to pursue these fields in college, underscoring the value of the Foundation’s programs.

Signature offerings like Blueprints to Build: The Path from Concept to Creation provide students with an immersive, eight-session experience from initial sketches to a physical model and design proposal, based upon an actual house build presentation. Additional programs, including the annual Sketch & Architecture Workshops, continue to cultivate creativity, drafting skills, and mentorship opportunities.

This work is made possible through a dedicated network of industry professionals, Georgia Tech & Kennesaw State University student volunteers, and partners including Harrison Design, Haworth Showroom, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, National Organization of Minority Architects Atlanta chapter (NOMA), Wolf Sub-Zero, and Herrera Studios.

Through its programs and partnerships, the Foundation continues to honor Bill Harrison’s legacy—opening doors, expanding access, and empowering the next generation to imagine, create, and build a better future.

For information on how you can support the mission of The Bill Harrison Foundation, contact us at [email protected] or view our website at thebillharrisonfoundation.org.

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