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In Pursuit of an Equitable Workplace

May 17, 2024

This Spring, AFO hosted a panel of experts to discuss the impact of pursuing various different certifications or frameworks that encourage equity in the workplace. The panel primarily discussed JUST, B Corp, and the NOMA PDX Call to Action as examples of such frameworks, and how interested folks may begin and maintain the process. The discussion and audience Q&A deepened to include routes that architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) leaders may pursue outside of these frameworks, what challenges they may face in quantifying their accomplishments, and how to seek buy-in from the whole team. 

The panelists provided a list of resources for leaders in the AEC industry who are interested in advancing their work in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Please find them below. We thank our wonderful panel for leading the way for so many organizations and firms! 

Panelists:

  • Rebecca Goldcrump (she/her), CEO, The Impact Collective
  • Lisa Sato (she/her) OAA, NOMA, Project Designer, Carleton Hart Architecture
  • Abby Dacey (she/her) AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Principal, Mahlum Architects
  • Moderated by Hannah Silver (she/her) WELL AP, LEED AP Homes, EcoDistricts AP, Fitwel Ambassador, Inclusive Design Facilitator, Holst Architecture

Resources

B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. In order to achieve certification, a company must:

  • Demonstrate high social and environmental performance by achieving a B Impact Assessment score of 80 or above and passing our risk review. Multinational corporations must also meet baseline requirement standards.
  • Make a legal commitment by changing their corporate governance structure to be accountable to all stakeholders, not just shareholders, and achieve benefit corporation status if available in their jurisdiction.
  • Exhibit transparency by allowing information about their performance measured against B Lab’s standards to be publicly available on their B Corp profile on B Lab’s website.

Learn more


The Impact Collective

Our mission is to empower whole humans and whole organizations to actualize their vision of a better world.

We empower our clients. We act as partners and guides who shine a light that allows you to confidently move forward and make change happen. We work with whole humans and whole organizations. Organizations are made up of humans, and humans are complex. We don’t shy away from that – we embrace it. Our work allows purpose driven humans and organizations to actualize their vision of a better world. You bring the vision and the passion, we’ll deliver the strategic framework and guidance to make it happen.

Learn more


2024 B Corp Leadership Development Pacific Northwest (BLD PNW) Conference: Progress on Purpose

Leftbank Annex, Portland
June 7, 2024
Register

BLD (B Corp Leadership Development) is an all-day conference intended to strengthen and support the B Corp movement. BLD events provide an avenue for employees of Certified B Corps and others interested in the movement to network, collaborate, and share best practices for business success and maximum positive impact.

Just is a program for people who want to make changes within their organizations. It focuses on employee experience, health, well-being, and meaningful community connections. It uplifts the understanding that it is people who make up businesses and communities and that people are the core of creating a Living Future.

Learn more

NOMA PDX would like to invite every firm and organization within the AEC industry to pledge to the Call-to-Action.

This Call-To-Action is not a legally binding document, but a guideline for firms/organizations to change their current practices of supporting, recruiting/retaining, and promoting BIPOC individuals. This Call-To-Action will be different for all firms/organizations in the Pacific Northwest based on each one’s unique circumstances. NOMA PDX will provide support to firms in sharing of resources and providing forums for firms to work together to help create a more diverse building industry.

We recognize that this work will be difficult, as it will require critical conversations from leadership and staff, internal reflection, and a long-term commitment to systemic changes. This uncharted territory calls upon each contributing firm/organization to brave the daily discomfort and uncertainty, to make mistakes along the way, and to challenge the complacency of the status quo. Ultimately – with courage, conviction, and struggle – collectively we can re-imagine and rebuild our profession, one person at a time.

Learn more

AIA Guides for Equitable Practice

The Guides for Equitable Practice use real-world-derived best practices, relevant research, and other tools to help foster equitable, diverse, and inclusive firm cultures and work environments.

Learn more


The Antiracist Business Book

An Equity Centered Approach to Work, Wealth, and Leadership

The Antiracist Business Book is the first of its kind, as DEI business coach Trudi Lebrón offers business owners real-life lessons on how to build, reshape, and re-envision their work to support and repair the wealth of all people.

By Trudi Lebron
Foreword by Arlan Hamilton

Learn more


Meyer Memorial Trust DEI Spectrum tool

Meyer created the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Spectrum Tool to help organizations assess where they are on their DEI journey and to identify potential areas for future work. It is also intended to provide shared language to help Meyer staff and nonprofits talk together about what DEI currently looks like in an applicant’s organization and opportunities for growth. The tool describes organizational characteristics at different points along a DEI continuum for 12 different dimensions of DEI work.

Learn more