On Wednesday, June 21, 1pm EST, Stephanie Onwenu, ASLA Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) for the Michigan ASLA Chapter and Wendy Fry, ASLA, member of the Michigan ASLA Executive Committee will share timely strategies for ASLA chapters to create and sustain DEI leadership within ASLA and in the profession. This session aims to highlight the importance of leadership and our commitment toward moving the profession in the vision for a better tomorrow. Stephanie and Wendy will discuss how their local ASLA chapter has taken the next steps toward growing the pipeline of our current and future generations of landscape architects. In this session, attendees will learn about how the Michigan ASLA chapter has created their DEI presence, activities, successes and lessons learned, as well as the basics of creating a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation and thinking big about fundraising opportunities for scholarship. 

Date: Wednesday, June 21, 2023 
Time: 1:00pm EST
Registration is required to attend and access the recording.
Register now. 

MiASLA Over The Edge Event. Left to right: Kim Dietzel, ASLA, Kyle Verseman, ASLA, Wendy Fry, ASLA, Stephanie Onwenu, ASLA, Thomas Charney, ASLA. Photo credit: Stephanie Onwenu, ASLA

About the Webinar Presenters
Stephanie Onwenu, ASLA
Stephanie Onwenu, ASLA is the inaugural public interest design fellow at the University of Detroit Mercy - Detroit Collaborative Design Center (DCDC). She is an alumna of Michigan State University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and a Master of Arts in Environmental Design. Her work explores the intersections of human needs and the roles they play in the natural and built environment, while also connecting spaces and places to the people who define it. Stephanie’s commitment and drive not only demonstrate her capabilities, but reflect her outspoken personality, which seeks the advancements of others. Inspired by human relationships, interactions and the influence of social change, Stephanie works with communities to challenge and transform cultural and social institutions. In 2021, Stephanie was awarded the Emerging Professional of the Year award from the Michigan ASLA Chapter for her significant contributions to the profession. Currently, Stephanie sits as the vice president of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion leading efforts for the Michigan ASLA Chapter, a co-founding board member of the newly established Michigan Chapter ASLA Foundation, and the emerging leader on the Michigan State University Landscape Architecture Alumni & Advisory Board. 

Wendy Fry, ASLA
Wendy Fry, ASLA, Professional Landscape Architect, owns her own firm, WC Fry Design. She specializes in land planning, landscape architecture and design services for clients in the cemetery and site planning fields. She works primarily in Michigan, but cemetery work takes her across the continent. With over thirty-five years of experience, and more than 75 cemetery projects to her credit, she has honed her skills in creating functional, sustainable and aesthetically pleasing spaces. Prior to focusing on cemeteries, Wendy worked with and gained awards for an impressive list of Fortune 500 companies, America’s Best Health Care Companies, small communities in Michigan’s “Thumb,” college campuses and cemeteries across the country. Wendy understands the unique requirements and sensitivities involved in designing cemeteries and memorial spaces. She creates thoughtful layouts that provide a peaceful and respectful environment for visitors while accommodating the practical needs of the site and the cemetery business. She understands the importance of blending functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability while designing environments that are comfortable, visually appealing, and harmonious with the surrounding landscape. Wendy is a past member of the Michigan ASLA Executive Committee and a founding board member of the recently created Michigan Chapter ASLA Foundation.