All Aboard: Conference Session Sneak Peek 3
This spotlight is the final installment of a three-part series published throughout the month of July. Visit the All Aboard page to check out the other two spotlights.
Welcome to All Aboard. Brought to you by the members of ACT’s DE&I Committee, this content strives to highlight people and their stories in a more holistic approach to show how these contributions move our industry forward.
This month, ACT’s DE&I Committee is giving you a sneak peek on a couple of conference sessions that highlight efforts to integrate DE&I in their projects. Let’s welcome to the blog the panelists of the Inclusive University Design to Support Equitable Access to All Commuters conference session. Today we have feature on the blog:
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Jessica Kramer, Colorado State University, Environmental Graphic Designer and Landscape Architect
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Aaron Fodge, Colorado State University, Director of Active Transportation and Fleet Services, TDM-CP
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David Sorrell, San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, Senior Planner, TDM-CP
Where should an agency/organization/business start in introducing DEI efforts?
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Jessica: Each organization has to determine is your mission to help people? Who is being excluded from the service you provide? This is a hard look that isn't easy to remember. Does your leadership truly understand the value of inclusion to the organization?
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Aaron: You may have to hire a third-party to audit your organization with an unbiased review. This has to be a defined, prioritized initiative with dedicated internal resources. You can't copy/paste inclusion into your organization.
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David: Leadership and everyone. Organization-wide. Elimination barriers to access regardless of mode of transportation. Getting support of higher-ups—VP, Chancellors. You have to address DEI. Cater to those in underserved communities and their gap to access (digital divide, no credit cards, etc). Responsibility to engage as a steward of the State (of California).
How do you handle challenge or adversity?
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Jessica and Aaron: At CSU, we attempted to institutionalize DEI through policy and an updated mission statement. In response to a student survey regarding the need for All-Gender restrooms, we coalesced around a working group to institutionalize policy for the physical and virtual environment (https://policylibrary.colostate.edu/policy.aspx?id=750). Further, we updated our mission with the guiding, "Principles of Community" (https://oeo.colostate.edu/colorado-state-university-principles-of-community/). These efforts require difficult conversations, uncomfortable discoveries, and challenging questions. Now, we have departments fighting for inclusive amenities where they would have challenged them previously.
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David: From a UC standpoint, we've been aggressive with live/name policies and building design for inclusivity. Transportation policy with our vendors to address UC inclusivity concerns. I designed a shared-mobility policy to engage campus with new technologies to be environmentally-forward and folx can govern themselves accordingly. SB-712 for storage of e-devices and EV readiness for all campus users.
Make sure to join their Inclusive University Design to Support Equitable Access to All Commuters conference session to learn about:
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Inclusive design as a method to provide a more inclusive space through policy, standards, etc
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Transformative change opportunities for your organization
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Process for stakeholder engagement to build support for policy and standards.
Register for the conference
If you have not registered for the conference, please visit: https://www.actweb.org/events/38th-annual-international-conference
Plan your conference schedule
If you would like to see the schedule and plan your sessions, please visit: https://www.actweb.org/international-conference-schedule
Join the DE&I committee!
If you would like to be part of the DE&I committee, please contact Jonathan Schuppert at jschuppert@meta.com. There will also be an information table set up at the conference if you would like to speak with someone in person.
See you at the conference!!!