As part of Architecture Week 2026, AIA Long Beach/South Bay had the pleasure of visiting Accelerated Charter Elementary School (ACES) in Los Angeles—an experience that brought creativity, curiosity, and community together in a truly meaningful way.
The visit was thoughtfully arranged and led by Stephanie Osorio, AIA, Board Director and member of our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, who also designed our Color Your City architecture coloring book. Stephanie introduced multiple groups of students—from kindergarten through 6th grade—to the profession of architecture, sharing how design shapes the spaces we live, learn, and play in every day.
Each student received a copy of Color Your City, along with crayons and colored pencils, inviting them to explore architecture through drawing, color, and imagination. The energy in the classrooms was inspiring, as students engaged with the idea that they, too, can help shape the built environment.
ACES provided an especially meaningful setting for this program. The school’s distinctive dual language immersion model—offering instruction in both Spanish and English—supports not only language development, but also self-expression and multicultural understanding. Through partnerships with organizations such as the American Heart Association, Lorax Teaching Gardens, and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, ACES students are regularly exposed to real-world problem solving and sustainability concepts.
The integration of visual and performing arts into the curriculum, supported by teacher training through Inner-City Arts, further reinforces creativity as a core part of learning—making the introduction to architecture a natural and exciting extension of the students’ educational experience.
We are incredibly grateful to Stephanie Osorio for her leadership and dedication in bringing this program to life, and to the ACES students, faculty, and staff for their warm welcome and enthusiasm. Experiences like this remind us that architecture is not only about buildings—it’s about people, ideas, and the future we build together.
As we continue to share Color Your City throughout the community, we look forward to expanding these connections and inspiring the next generation of designers.
Developed by our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, the coloring book reflects a core belief: design belongs to everyone. By highlighting a range of building types, cultures, and stories, the project encourages young people from all backgrounds to see themselves in architecture and to recognize their role in shaping the future.
We invite you to download a copy, request a printed version, and share your artwork with us in our online gallery. Whether bold and colorful or thoughtfully detailed, each creation is a reminder that creativity starts early—and that the next generation is already imagining what’s possible.
Learn more here!