Janel LeGard consistently draws on her upbringing, education and career at 澳门足彩app, where she is a Senior Design Manager, to inspire and empower high schoolers to pursue careers in architecture. With her latest project, she’s aiming younger.
Her new children’s book, You Can Be Me Too! A Week in the Life of an Architect, aims to enlighten the elementary school audience about how the world around them is built and how they can play a role in building the future.
“I realized many children don’t know what an architect does,” LeGard said. “Hearing students say they ‘have no clue’ how buildings, where we spend most of our lives, are designed felt like a real problem. I started thinking, ‘What if I, as a licensed architect, wrote a children's book about architecture?’”
You Can Be Me Too, illustrated by artist John Savage, follows a conversation between a mother and a daughter and explains the day-to-day aspects of an architect at work.
LeGard sought guidance from two experienced editors and a panel of trusted consumers, namely her niece, nephew and two children, whose ages range from eight to 11. Encouraged by their love of coloring, the book release included an edition for those who might enjoy adding a personal touch to the story.
“It was a great creative exercise,” she said. “The big takeaway was learning to write from the reader's perspective. I learned to weave what we called ‘juicy details’ into the story to make it more engaging for children. I love teaching and sharing what I’m passionate about. This book will hopefully be another way to encourage students to find what they’re passionate about.”
An advocate for early mentorship, LeGard is active in the Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE) Mentorship Program, guiding high school students as they develop practical skills and explore careers in architecture. She credits the support of her teachers and vocational high school programs for her career choices. As an African-American woman, she understands the importance of representation and support.
“I was lucky to have school programs where I learned about engineering and architecture,” LeGard said. “ I had great teachers and mentors who challenged me to learn and grow. I want to be a similar source of encouragement for students.”
LeGard has promoted the book at community events, where she continually works to raise awareness about architecture, and collaborates with local schools through career fairs and after-school programs.
“Empowering creativity is critical,” she said. “Whether it’s Legos, Lincoln Logs or drawing in sketchbooks, children have creative interests that align with real-world careers, and if we don’t share the spectrum of options with them, we’re missing out on the next generation of talent.”
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