We’re thrilled to have supported Brenda Palacios Rodriguez’s journey to the ASLA 2025 National Conference in New Orleans through our Emerging Professionals Giveaway. Hear how the experience fueled her creativity, strengthened her storytelling, and inspired her continued passion for the profession.
Reflecting on ASLA 2025: Honoring Indigenous Voices and Community Centered Design
Attending the ASLA 2025 Conference this October was a very inspiring experience. I was immensely grateful for the opportunity to facilitate and speak at several events with the Indigenous Collective Group (ICG), all of which were deeply meaningful to me.
Indigenous Collective Group Sessions
Each of the four ICG gatherings stood out as a highlight: the Indigenous Youth Workshop on October 10, where I had the privilege of guiding conversations with young voices and families in imagining the landscape for a very important community hub, the Dulac Community Center, a cultural space for the United Houma Nation (one of the many First Nations in Louisiana); the ASLA Affiliation Network Gathering on October 11, where I helped support an open and caring dialogue around sharing ideas, support and collaboration across community-building groups in landscape architecture; the Healing the Circle: People, Land, and All (Basecamp Session) on October 12, where I assisted in fostering reflection and connection among participants; and the Indigenous People's Day Gathering on October 13, where I was honored to join a circle of conversation and celebration with Cody Blackbird, the first Native flutist to be featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, and Chuck Sams, the first Native American to serve as head of the National Park Service.
I was also invited to share a piece of my story as a first generation student and Indigenous designer and planner on this special day to form connections with so many people who believe in the importance of uplifting diverse voices across the fields of design and planning. Each event reminded me of the power of listening, learning, and creating space for many perspectives to be heard and valued.
Centering Cultural Narratives and Intentional Community Engagement
From the conference educational sessions, one theme that resonated with me was the growing focus among firms on centering cultural narratives and intentional community engagement, which reaffirmed the meaningful work my teams at Design Workshop continue to support every day. I also came back inspired to continue exploring ways to support multilingual communication and storytelling in public projects.
The Future: Voices Shaping the Landscape Around Us
I am deeply thankful to Tournesol for believing in my work and supporting the emerging professional scholarship that made attending this historic conference possible. Their generosity allowed me to participate, learn from others, and bring these insights back to my shared work in thoughtful and meaningful ways.
ASLA 2025 was more than a conference, it was a reminder of how much we can grow when we listen, reflect, and honor the many voices shaping the landscapes around us. Tyoxhtu’ (Thank you so much in Awakatek, a Qa’yol Mayan language)."
-Brenda Palacios Rodriguez
Related Posts
Building Tomorrow's Landscapes Together: ASLA Visits Tournesol's Port Orchard Facility
ASLA leaders toured our Port Orchard facility to witness firsthand how manufacturers and landscape architects are partnering to advance sustainability goals.
-meghan_545x5370d1e.jpg?w=545&h=537&fit=crop)
ASLA Insights from an Emerging Professional - Meghan Obernberger
We are thrilled to have sponsored Meghan Obernberger's trip to the ASLA '24 National Conference through our 'Sow Seeds of Change' giveaway which focuses on supporting emerging professionals. We are grateful to Meghan as she shares her thoughts and experiences from her time at ASLA 2024 in Washington, DC.