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    1. Association Solutions

    NIBS Convenes Built Environment Leaders for Social Equity Roundtable

    Aug. 23, 2021
    Targeting Sept. 30, group is urging industry leaders to sign 'CEO Action Pledge' already endorsed by such firms as Black & Veatch, Carrier, Fluor, Johnson Controls, Mortenson, Trane Technologies, etc.

    PRESS RELEASE  

    WASHINGTON DC, August 12, 2021 – The National Institute of Building Sciences recently convened an executive Social Equity Roundtable, meeting with dozens of leaders to help move the needle on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the built environment.

    The late July meeting was a follow-up to a December 2020 executive roundtable entitled “Improving the Workforce of the Built Environment Through Social Equity.” The goal of these meetings is to discuss workforce, industry sustainability, review data and best practices, and partnerships.

    “We must work together as an industry to focus on steps that will impact real change,” said Lakisha A. Woods, CAE, President and CEO of NIBS. “Committing to take specific action as it relates to developing a diverse leadership pipeline is the key to future success.”

    Next Steps and Group Commitments

    NIBS will sign the PwC CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion Pledge, joining 2,000 CEOs who have signed the document. The pledge aims to cultivate trusting workplaces that can have complex, and sometimes difficult, conversations; implement and/or expand unconscious bias education; and share best—and unsuccessful—practices.

    NIBS also will compile and share best practices with industry leaders who participated in the roundtable.

    The goal: To have all building industry organizations commit to the CEO Action Pledge and other recommended steps, including committing to building a diverse leadership team and promoting members, by the end of September.

    • Signatories from engineering and construction already include the CEOs of Black & Veatch, Boldt, Burns & McDonnell, Carrier, CFMA, Fluor, Greeley & Hansen, Johnson Controls, Mortenson, Owens Corning, Trane Technologies, and USG Corp.

    Background

    After the December roundtable, NIBS partnered with independent market research and consulting firm Avenue M Group to study the current demographics and culture of the building industry. Among the findings: Sixty-five percent of respondents indicated it is important or extremely important to increase the diversity of the built environment. Other highlights: 43% of employed respondents indicated their company has a program or initiative dedicated to DEI; 28% of respondents indicated they have experienced discrimination or prejudice based on age; and 66% of respondents indicated they have experienced discrimination or prejudice based on gender (women).

    Learn more about NIBS’ commitment toward cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness.

    About NIBS

    National Institute of Building Sciences brings together labor and consumer interests, government representatives, regulatory agencies, and members of the building industry to identify and resolve problems and potential issues around the construction of housing and commercial buildings. NIBS is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization. It was established by Congress in 1974. For more information, visit nibs.org or follow @bldgsciences on Twitter and Facebook.

    Media Contact: Christine Cube, Social Media & PR Manager, [email protected]