AIA Connecticut Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Challenge

AIA Connecticut Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Challenge
The AIA Connecticut J.E.D.I. Challenge is designed to inspire and encourage AIA Connecticut member and Allied firms to increase and support equity, gender and racial diversity, and inclusion both in their organizations and in the overall AEC industry. The Challenge is open to firms of all sizes and locations within the State of Connecticut.

The Challenge is optional and was envisioned to assist in the work of undoing the preconception and reality of the lack of diversity in the AEC industry, and to help AIA Connecticut member firms and Allied members by offering a roadmap to actively produce results, both short term and long term.

Below is a list of suggested action items that firms can take on as part of their own response to the Challenge to best fit their firm size and capabilities. These action items are suggestions, including resources, offer tools to firms on how to make immediate adjustments to their current staff, company culture, practice and policies that will contribute to an increase in diversity.

Pledge Now! The sooner you make the pledge the sooner we can all make a difference!

A surveys will be sent to you in the fall. Results and recognition will be announced by Novmber 20th, 2024.

-The J.E.D.I. Knowledge Community

Wetype firm name*, in support of promoting justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (J.E.D.I.) in the profession of architecture, engineering, and construction, pledge to take part in the AIA Connecticut J.E.D.I. Challenge.

Click on the arrows below to read the action items in each category.

ACTION ITEM: STAFF-RELATED
1. Current and increased employment of individuals from diverse backgrounds for design staff, leadership, and total number of professionals at the firm.
2. Ensure that the salaries of female, BIPOC, and people with impairments are equivalent to national rates or the rates of non-minority employees in similar roles within the firm. .
3. Supporting licensure, training, and career advancement for those from female, BIPOC, emerging professionals, and people with impairments.
4. Promotion of individuals from female, BIPOC, and people with impairments to management leadership and ownership positions.
5. Demonstrate support of the LGBTQIA+ community.
6. Support and advocate for employees from historically marginalized communities to serve as board members in a community or industry association such as AIACT, NOMAct, AIA National, NCARB, CI, PWC, or other industry-related, project-market specific related, or a Connecticut state or municipal government related board or committee.
7. Support and/ or provide resources for all employees to attend events and conferences that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, along with professional development. Share findings with the office and/or prepare a presentation to share with AIA J.E.D.I. Committee.

ACTION ITEM: FIRM
1. Establish firm J.E.D.I. and Women’s Leadership groups or committees to promote diversity within the firm by: improving awareness, fostering communication, and providing outreach and resources to increase participation.
2. Conduct an unconscious bias and/or microaggressions workshop at your firm.
3. Pay in full or provide a stipend to staff for membership in AIA Connecticut, NOMAct, or other association representing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.
4. Promote the involvement of Principals, Associate Principals, Firm Associate sand/or Directors with AIA Connecticut, NOMAct, or association representing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.
5. Define and apply an Inclusive design strategy approach to firm projects. (Similar to the application of sustainability strategies)
6. Make use of professional diversity coaching to identify and establish a firm cultural policy, needs, concerns, and goals.
7. Attend a college career recruitment program at a Historically Black College or University (HBCUs), majority female college or university, or through a NOMA Student chapter at an accredited architecture school.
8. Contribute financially to a college scholarship program or create a new firm scholarship program that will support of female, BIPOC, and people with impairments in AEC-related programs.

ACTION ITEM: EDUCATION/COMMUNITY
1. . Participate in an educational program located in a school district with 25% or above of BIPOC. These would include ACE Mentoring (https://www.acementor.org/), Architecture Workshops (https://www.myarchitectureworkshops.com/), ARC (https://arcdesigned.org/), CT Technical High Schools (https://www.cttech.org/), etc.
2. Conduct career information session at a K-12 school in a historically underserved community.
3. Establish a connection and mentorship with local trade and tech schools.
4. Connect with a historically underserved community where a firm is located or a firm’s project is located, conduct focus group activities or community engagement events.

ACTION ITEM: INNOVATION
1. Achieve a significant or measurable J.E.D.I. improvement using a strategy not addressed above.
  examples:
  
  • Include articles in company/staff newsletter
  
  • Provide ‘pro bono’ work to female/minority non-profit businesses
  
  • An ED&I Book Club

We acknowledge that by undertaking the AIA Connecticut J.E.D.I. Challenge our firm will make good faith efforts to achieve action items listed above and voluntarily report progress on each item to AIA Connecticut, as requested.

Furthermore, we acknowledge that our firm name and logo may be shared with the AIA Connecticut membership for marketing, media, and research purposes.
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