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EARLY CHAPTER HISTORY

The North Carolina Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects was founded in the late 1980s by Joseph Yongue, AIA, MBA, NOMA along with founding board members: Douglas Freeman, Kenneth Martin, Philip Freelon, Clinton Gravely, Major Sanders, Kevin Montgomery and Montell Mitchell. Joseph Yongue remained the chapter president for the first six years of the organization’s history.

The NC Chapter of NOMA decided purpose and accomplishments were to bring together the relationships and support of Black professionals in architecture, establish themselves as an organization, and expose North Carolina's Black Architects who were performing notable work, but not receiving deserved recognition. These notable NC architects at the time of NCNOMA's founding included: Harvey Gantt, AIA; Clinton Gravely, AIA; Phil Freelon, AIA; William Edward "Blue" Jenkins, AIA; William A. Street, AIA; Gerald Gray, AIA and Dr. Charles Fountain, ASLA. 

In addition to recognition, NC NOMA's primary purpose in its existence and founding was to become a political organization for networking, dialogue, and advocacy for equitable contracting laws. The powerful influence of a group/organization was needed in regard to black architects being recognized; particularly, during earlier stages of planning and design for minority participation and getting more contract work from the Public Sector. Previously minority participation on state construction projects was not a percentage counted during the planning or design phases but later only after construction bids and/ or after construction started with subcontractors. NC NOMA also helped the state of North Carolina develop its process for defining the consolidated directory of firms of Minority Businesses and Enterprises.

In its early founding, NC NOMA events included statewide-meetings, awarding of significant architectural designs, networking mixers, social events, banquets and summer cookouts at member's estates and offices. It's important to highlight that the very first national convention for NOMA in North Carolina was in Charlotte, NC under the first NCNOMA administration soon after being established. That same administration won NOMA National's Chapter of the Year Award with supporting members: Kenneth Martin, Kevin Montgomery, George WIlliams, Ron Bailey, Robert (Bob) Powell, Anthony Hunt, Tim McMullen, Patricia Harris, Lolalaise Clark, Darryl Williams and others.  

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Joseph Yongue

Clinton Gravely.jpg

Clinton Gravely

Douglass Freeman.jfif

Douglas Freeman

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Major Sanders

Ken Martin.jfif

Kenneth Martin

Phil Freelon.jpg

Philip Freelon

Kevin Montgomery.jpg

Kevin Montgomery

Montell Mitchell

Image by Pawel Czerwinski

MM

If you have an information on additional NCNOMA history or would like to report an update to any information featured here, please reach out to ncnoma@gmail.com. Thank you!

©2025 NCNOMA | The North Carolina Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects 

All Rights Reserved | contact: ncnoma@gmail.com

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