Volunteer Spotlight: Duong Le

Meet NDC Volunteer Duong Le, an architectural designer at Hord Coplan Macht. For over two years, Duong has donated his time, skills, and expertise to serving communities in Prince George’s County.

A couple of his projects:

My Lor Greenhouse Wayfinding Design

Duong Le and Larissa Hawkins worked with the founder of My Lor Greenhouse, an operational greenhouse in Old Goucher which aims to be both a storefront as well a hub for environmental education in the neighborhood, to develop conceptual designs for signage to help visitors find their way to the greenhouse.

New Horizons Interior Design

Duong Le and Xuan Vo worked with New Horizons Supported Services, an organization that empowers participants with varying disabilities. Our NDC team provided interior design improvement recommendations aimed at creating a more inviting and accessible environment for participants and staff.

“NDC empowers me to think fearlessly when it comes to shifting the needle in the built environment.”

says Duong. he continues:

“As an immigrant, I wholeheartedly view every visiting location as home. Nothing feels strange to me in Prince George’s County as I have dedicated my entire post-graduation to better serve the community at large with my architectural expertise. The visceral and tangible feelings when neighborhood’s livelihood improves always bring a smile to my face.

From transforming a blight property into a community food hub to reimagining a workshop space for individuals with special needs, I aspire to enhance equal access to culture, art, and fundamental amenities.

Volunteering, advocacy, and leadership are the core tenets of civic engagement. My advice is to seek collaboration, foster mindfulness, and stray away from communal isolation. Even the most avant-garde ideas can be actualized, you just need to allocate your mental and intellectual resources in right places. So, let’s start with the love for the immediate community, before venturing to global dreams.”