Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition’s Post

🎉 Recognizing Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom and Reflection for the Construction Industry 🎉 Today, we honor Juneteenth—a pivotal moment in American history that marks the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, bringing the news of freedom to enslaved African Americans over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Juneteenth is not just a day of celebration but a reminder of the ongoing journey toward equality and justice. Historical Perspective: Juneteenth is a testament to resilience and the relentless pursuit of freedom. It symbolizes the struggles and triumphs of African Americans and underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing systemic inequalities that still exist today. Impact on the Construction Industry: The construction industry, like many others, has a diverse workforce. Recognizing Juneteenth provides an opportunity to reflect on our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Here's how this impacts us: 1. Fostering Inclusive Work Environments: It is crucial to create workplaces where all employees feel valued and respected. This includes acknowledging and celebrating significant cultural and historical milestones in our workforce. 2. Promoting Workforce Diversity: Embracing diversity leads to stronger, more innovative teams. By actively recruiting and supporting underrepresented groups, we can build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. Supporting Career Growth: Providing equal opportunities for training, advancement, and leadership development ensures that everyone, regardless of background, can thrive and contribute to the industry's growth. 3. Our Role in Addressing Systemic Inequalities: The construction industry has a significant role in creating a more inclusive society. By engaging with local communities, supporting minority-owned businesses, and participating in social justice initiatives, we can actively contribute to dismantling systemic inequalities. As we commemorate Juneteenth, let's not just celebrate the past, but also commit to shaping a more equitable future for our industry. By making meaningful changes and placing equity and inclusion at the forefront of everything we do, we can honor the spirit of Juneteenth in the construction industry. #Juneteenth #ConstructionIndustry #Diversity #Inclusion #Equity #WorkforceDevelopment

Have you heard of the Gateway Initiative? Here's your chance to learn more about this program and how it support newcomers in #YYC.

Our February #DEICandidConvo event was focused on the impact of the Supreme Court’s recent decision on affirmative action. While it may not directly impact the construction industry, the ripple effects are far-reaching, especially when considering the challenges many M/WBE companies face simply in getting started. The opportunities available to certified M/WBE firms are often not accessible until the firm has been in operation for a number of years to qualify for that certification. In the meantime, they need focused support from Owners and other industry partners who are intentionally working to help them build capacity. Once certified, M/WBE firms need a sufficient labor force to be sustainable and increasing diversity in the workforce is a critical step to make this happen. But our work doesn't stop there-- retention will only be possible when we create and maintain support systems for women and minorities on construction sites and within all facets of our industry. We can individually make an impact by getting involved in the DEI initiatives within our companies and industry groups. When we all prioritize DEI, we can minimize turnover and maximize retention of happier, more engaged and more productive employees.   Thank you to our Gold Sponsors at Graycor for hosting us for this important conversation—stay tuned here for more Professional Women in Construction Chicago Chapter news and events! #ProfessionalWomeninConstruction #ProfessionalWomeninConstructionChicago

In honor of #pridemonth2024, I wanted to share some relevant financial and estate planning guidance throughout the month: 7. Educate yourself on the values and lived experiences of your clients (and family members). When it comes to inclusion, education and a willingness to learn from, and communicate with, others is critically important. As advisors for the LGBTQ community, we can have better conversations with our clients when we know about their values and lived experiences, as well as those of their family members. Consider talking with other advisors about their experiences working with similar types of clients, but also appreciate that each client relationship might differ for their preferences and circumstances. One example is how coupled clients refer to one another (i.e., spouses, wife/wife, partner or by name). Using the same language when referring to them in conversation and correspondence can reinforce that you hear and see them. For further education, consider attending a Philadelphia Estate Planning Council Roundtable on June 17, 2024 at noon titled "The Rainbow Legacy: Estate and Charitable Planning for the LGBTQ+ Community" that Thomas Moore, CAP®, Rachel Kieser, CPA, MT and I are leading: https://lnkd.in/ej-V_Dw4. #LGBTQplanning. #chosenfamily. #LGBTQeducation. #inclusion.

TBT - Did you know that Sargent Shriver drafted the Equal Opportunity Act, signed into law in 1964? Then, President Johnson asked Shriver to assist in setting up the Office of Economic Opportunity. #WeR1000Strong #CommunityAction60 Learn about Semcac, Community Action Agency's history at https://lnkd.in/dEYwgg8

Last Thursday, 1 August, Mark Wilson, Director of the Probation Service, launched our Statement of Strategy 2024-2026: ‘Changing Lives in Our Communities for Safer Futures’. The Strategy is constructed around five pillars:   1.      Enhancing Community Safety 2.      Empowering our Team 3.      Building collaboration and engagement 4.      Enabling Social Inclusion 5.      Future-proofing our Service 📽 You can watch Mark's speech below

On the need to factor in on diversity and inclusion.

The construction industry is lucky to have brilliant women like, Liz Castro, CPA, Principal at Plante Moran and the Construction Education Foundation of Colorado, Treasurer, leading the way and guiding others to achieve success! What drives her: "What drives me at work is fostering relationships and providing guidance to staff in the last 18 years at the firm. What drives me outside of work are my faith and trust in God, and my loving parents." - Liz Castro, CPA, Principal at Plante Moran and the Construction Education Foundation of Colorado, Treasurer #womeninconstruction #womeninconstructionweek #wicweek #wicweek2024 #womeninconstructionweek2024

Understanding the Intersection of Community Engagement and Grievance Management. I wanted to share a key insight from a recent meeting that highlights the interconnectedness of community engagement and grievance management within corporations. During our recent gathering, which included our top manager, district environmental personnel, legal representation, and RUWASA personnel, we experienced a moment of joy amidst discussions that often revolve around addressing grievances. This underscores the importance of recognizing that effective community engagement is not merely about managing grievances but rather about building meaningful relationships and finding moments of shared satisfaction and progress.

Dive into our latest blog post featuring Tom Schwenk, an advocate of equal housing opportunities, as he shares his insights on the challenges and progress in fair housing. #FairHousingMonth https://bit.ly/3PMiKD3