How can you foster inclusivity in a transportation organization?

2 Educate yourself and your team

Inclusivity is not something you can achieve overnight or by yourself. It requires continuous learning and collaboration among your staff, partners, and beneficiaries. Invest in training and resources that help you and your team understand the concepts and principles of inclusivity, such as diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, intersectionality, and allyship. Learn from the experiences and perspectives of marginalized and underrepresented groups in the transportation field, such as women, people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, and low-income people. Seek feedback and guidance from experts and advocates who can help you avoid common pitfalls and biases.

3 Co-create with your community

One of the best ways to foster inclusivity in your transportation organization is to involve your community in the design and delivery of your services and products. Co-creation is a participatory approach that empowers your customers and stakeholders to share their needs, preferences, challenges, and solutions. It also helps you build trust, respect, and mutual understanding with your community. Co-creation can take many forms, such as surveys, focus groups, workshops, hackathons, prototyping, testing, and evaluation. The key is to ensure that your co-creation process is inclusive, accessible, and responsive to the diversity of your community.

4 Adapt and innovate

Inclusivity is not a static or fixed state. It is a dynamic and evolving process that requires constant adaptation and innovation. As your organization grows and changes, so do your customers and stakeholders. You need to monitor and evaluate your inclusivity practices and outcomes regularly, and be ready to make adjustments and improvements as needed. You also need to embrace new technologies, methods, and opportunities that can enhance your inclusivity efforts. For example, you can use data analytics, artificial intelligence, or blockchain to improve your accessibility, transparency, or accountability.

5 Celebrate and share

Fostering inclusivity in your transportation organization is not only a challenge but also an achievement. You should celebrate and share your successes and learnings with your team, your community, and your peers. Recognize and reward the contributions and achievements of your staff, partners, and beneficiaries who have supported your inclusivity goals. Share your stories and best practices with other transportation organizations and networks who can learn from your experience and join your efforts. By celebrating and sharing your inclusivity journey, you can inspire and motivate others to follow your example and create a more inclusive transportation sector.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?