Announcing a new Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Committee

IIDA New England recognizes we must become more inclusive than we have been in the past. We need to bring more voices together when discussing our expectations of the built environment. We strive to be representative of the overall community in which we live, work and dream. To better express these efforts, The IIDA NE Board of Directors has made an important change to our Mission Statement:

IIDA New England is a robust network, supporting the continued advancement of professional, industry, and student members throughout their careers. We celebrate the impact of design on the human experience. We advocate for the legal recognition of the profession and are committed to developing a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive industry.

With our new Mission Statement as direction, our committees are looking at ways to be more inclusive. We want to learn and hear from our community on how we can work towards this goal.  The formation of a new committee focused on equity, diversity and inclusion within our chapter will guarantee these values are ingrained in our practices as an organization.  

EDI Committee Purpose Statement

Across all IIDA NE platforms, the EDI Committee is committed to advocating for the promotion and celebration of contributions by design professionals, regardless of their race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, gender identity, disability and socio-economic status. Our efforts will serve as a foundation for IIDA NE to support current members, expand membership to new individuals, and interact with diverse vendors outside the organization. We advocate for listening and learning to promote the transformation of our industry as a whole.

A special statement on the work ahead…

It is only with inclusivity and open-mindedness that a diverse team succeeds. It is only when we listen, explore and strategize that a diverse team grows. And it is only with self-reflection and purposeful interactions that we better of our community. Our industry has diverse opportunities but lacks demographic diversity. We recognize the work ahead and understand the journey it will take to ensure that everyone feels they belong and can succeed. Together we will create an inclusive community that promotes conversation, listening, introspection, learning, belonging, and change with our members and beyond.

This new EDI committee will set its own focus and agenda, working together with the Executive & Advocacy committees. Stay tuned as more information is released about this new and important initiative.

Questions regarding our EDI Committee? Contact Robina Shepherd, Vice President of EDI, at [email protected]