As a Black woman of a certain age, equity is important to me and has become a passion for me professionally.
When HGA presented the opportunity to join the firm as Director of Equity this past year, I learned that I was not alone. There already were many people across the firm engaged in the process to help make all feel valued. Through the existing firmwide National Equity Advisory Group and an amazing team of volunteers, HGA was well on the way to bringing fresh voices to the design conversation and opening opportunities for other perspectives.
I was able to slip into a new role where processes were already put in place. Yet this new role has not been without bumps in the road. Those bumps showed me that we need to have open dialogue about what equity means and how we achieve it—and how we measure it.
Equity Retreat
This past October, members from the Advisory Group across 12 offices gathered for our first annual Equity Retreat. The two-day retreat was a shot in the arm to help build passion and set goals for 2023.
We outlined three basic take-aways:
- It’s important to have metrics so we can measure success.
- Equity is a process of continuous and constant conversation that we need to consistently manage.
- We can’t make assumptions about people’s knowledge base—we must have ongoing training.
Equity is not an option—it is a business imperative. Our clients want us to be partners in equity. They are requiring us to be engaged with the communities we serve and the buildings we design for these communities. As such, we want a diverse team that will increase creativity and reflect the diversity of our clients and communities.
Five Pillars of Equity
With that, we have developed Five Pillars of Equity that will help elevate an equitable business model and translate into how we serve clients.
Internal
We build on our internal culture and capacity by growing our infrastructure where all employees can thrive professionally and personally.
External
We develop and nurture authentic partnerships to ensure an ecosystem for meaningful work.
Industry
We push the industry forward through thought leadership by researching and establishing best practices and knowledge sharing.
Community
We contribute to the resiliency of our communities by addressing inequities and disparities.
Practice
We practice holistic design by putting equity into practice through our design process and outcomes.
Looking Onward
We are poised to do the same with equity as we do with designing beautiful buildings, planning efficient energy systems, and promoting sustainable outcomes. Equity is integral to who we are and how we do business. Ultimately, equity is about building mutually beneficial relationships with our clients, our communities, and our team members.
My first year at HGA has been an exciting year—and there is more to come.
For more information, visit our Equity page.