Blog Post

    Black Women Architects : 397th Grad is a Fearless Mentor!

    Willy Mahailet • May 14, 2020

    AFROBIZ & SUCCESS STORIES

    Samantha Josaphat
    Featuring Black Owned Business on AfroBiz World - Black Women Leaders in America:

    Introducing Samantha Josaphat  !

    Samantha continues her commitment to her community in hopes of raising the percentage of black women in the STEM fields as a member of the National Organization of Minority Architect's (NOMA) New York Chapter. Samantha also spearheaded Project Pipeline, an architectural day camp for elementary students. Some of Samantha's work has been exhibited at the United Nations Visitors Center. 

    Her interest in architecture first started when she went house hunting with her mother as a kid. Her mother loved bringing her along because she was her second pair of eyes and would narrate how one would move through the spaces. She was also never impressed with the layouts of the homes; they never seemed to have a good flow! These homes went up very quickly as mass produced cookie-cutter types, leaving Samantha curious as to why anyone would settle for something that didn’t work.

    Applying to and getting accepted at Penn State was the first big milestone. She was actually questioned by the high school guidance counselor why she didn’t choose going to a HBUC - Historically Black University College and University - like everyone else around Her. She responded by telling the counselor that she wanted to go to a school that reflects what the real world looks like - which then became a regretful statement many times along the journey.

    School was a mix of emotions and experiences. Not only she had to learn about architecture, but also about how different her culture was compared to majority of her classmates. These differences helped her to be well aware of how architecture can be used as a tool of diplomacy between cultures, and to this day shape the way she approaches the field. While in school,she studied abroad three times with different programs – a week-long study abroad to Berlin by way of the Sociology Department studying cultural diplomacy, a semester long program in Rome with the Architecture Department studying Architecture, and then a 6 week program in Tanzania with the Landscape Architecture Department studying rural land planning.

    The most valuable lesson she learned from school though was to stay dedicated to your craft and yourself; from there you will gain the ability to help others. While in school she also developed a strong work ethic and understanding of life's imperfections, allowing her to be aware and mentally fit to take on the treacherous yet beautiful journey of being an architect.

    Finally, Samantha, what has been your general approach to your career?

    I’ve held on to two philosophies: "Brick by Brick" and "Less is More". Brick by brick reminds me that I got to where I am today because I saw the journey I was on and understood I couldn’t do everything at once, but I could one step at a time. Less is more was something I learned along the way. Instead of trying to do everything to make myself feel equal to my peers or environment I learned to do less, resulting in more of me. It now shines through in my design, social encounters, fashion, and love for my life!

    Also having a focused mind allows me to emerge in my craft. Time management has taught me to be rational with the complexity of Architecture, in the sense of taking a huge complex problem and breaking it down to where it is manageable to digest without being overwhelming. As an architect and community leader I believe if I remain calm the synergy between my team and I will remain powerful."


    AFROBIZ - Toronto Black Owned Business Blog

    Protests in Downtown Toronto Regis Korchinski-Paquet

    Family of Regis ask those attending Toronto rally against anti-black racism to remain peaceful

    By Willy Mahailet • 30 May, 2020 •
    Thousands of people have gathered downtown demanding answers in the death of a 29-year-old woman who fell from her apartment balcony while police were present.
    Black owned family fitness personal trainer

    The Fitness Industry Migrates Online As Covid-19 Spreads

    By Willy Mahailet • 18 May, 2020 •
    As the coronavirus continues to spread, fitness studios around the country are shutting their doors and adjusting to a new reality. The sudden shift has inspired creativity and flexibility for gyms and studios, which are largely dependent on physical locations and on-site staff.
    Black College Students Gap year and coronavirus

    Coronavirus: College Students Gap Year Exposes Economic Divide

    By Willy Mahailet • 17 May, 2020 •
    More students are considering deferral, and those who do tend to pay full tuition, which threatens campus budgets.
    5 Toronto Black-Owned Businesses You Can Still Support During The Coronavirus Pandemic

    5 Toronto Black-Owned Businesses You Can Still Support During The Coronavirus Pandemic

    By Willy Mahailet • 21 Mar, 2020 •
    Toronto Black-Owned Businesses You Can Still Support During The Coronavirus Pandemic
    Black Owned Hair and beauty products

    As Sephora Closes, Black-Owned Brands Brace For Impact Of the Coronavirus

    By Willy Mahailet • 20 Mar, 2020 •
    Executives explain how consumers and small businesses can navigate this difficult time. Black-Owned Brands Brace For Impact Of the Coronavirus
    La légende de l'afro-jazz Manu Dibango a annoncé être victime de coronavirus.

    Infecté par coronavirus, Manu Dibango hospitalisé à 86 ans

    By Willy Mahailet • 20 Mar, 2020 •
    Le célèbre saxophoniste a annoncé sur sa page Facebook être atteint du Covid-19. Mais a tenu à rassurer ses nombreux fans, il se repose et récupère dans la sérénité.
    Aurlus Mabélé, star de la musique congolaise Decede a Paris du Covid19

    Aurlus Mabélé, star de la musique congolaise Decede a Paris du Covid-19

    By Willy Mahailet • 20 Mar, 2020 •
    La légende du Soukouss congolais, Aurlus Mabélé est décédé, ce jeudi 19 Mars 2020 à l’âge de 67 ans, à Paris. L’annonce a été faite par sa fille Liza Monet, sur sa page Facebook.
    CORONA VIRUS WORLD STATISTICS

    Coronavirus (COVID19) World Statistics

    By Willy Mahailet • 20 Mar, 2020 •
    Latest live coronavirus COVID19 statistics around the world tracking the number of confirmed cases, recovered patients, and death toll by country due to the COVID 19 coronavirus
    The Nile List | Black Girl Buying

    The Nile List | Online

    By Willy Mahailet • 05 Mar, 2020 •
    as posted on The Nile List Black Girl Buying with the Nile List Growing up, the only time I really saw Black people running things was at church, the barbershop, and the beauty salon. Despite this, I regularly heard people talk about why they did not want to support Black owned businesses: it’s too expensive, you get poor quality products, the customer service is terrible, I can’t find a good one, etc. As a child, I could not decide on my own where money was going, so convenience always won (until it was time for this hair to get pressed and curled – Black salon all day long). Moving to Atlanta for undergrad was the first time that I saw different types of Black people leading in different ways. My classmates were ready to take over the world, but I still heard the same comments disparaging buying Black. Then I went to graduate school in St. Louis and Mike Brown was killed and my university with all its resources did nothing. For months, I struggled to find something that I felt I could do to make a differenc
    Plaque depicting warrior and attendants (16th-17th century), Edo peoples, Benin kingdom, Nigeria.

    The fullness of Africa

    By Willy Mahailet • 14 Feb, 2020 •
    The West focuses only on slavery, but the history of Africa is so much more than a footnote to European imperialism.
    Show More
    Share by: