Greetings, NESEA Community,
I am writing on behalf of the NESEA Board of Directors in reflection and review of our diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments. This includes our progress over the past year and our plans for the year ahead. I am exceptionally proud of our continued and evolving understanding and willingness to not only see tough steps, but honor any missteps that bring us new insights.
We hope you have become aware of, or participated in, efforts over the last year. These have included:
- The launch of the first cohort in BuildingEnergy Access Cohort #1, a new grant-funded program to provide resources, trainings, and access to NESEA programming to WMBEs (women and minority-owned business enterprises). The first cohort continues to serve 12 women-led companies and will run through summer of 2026.
- Building upon the work of members who have been leading a Diversity Caucus as part of our Boston conference since 2019, we ran our second Diversity Caucus at BuildingEnergy NYC. These events are dedicated time during the conferences to foster connection between people traditionally underrepresented in our industries.
- The theme of our March BuildingEnergy Boston conference, Build the Movement, resulted in many sessions that centered diversity and inclusion work.
- We welcomed record numbers of conference scholarship recipients to both of our conferences last year, as we continued to support the participation of students and emerging professionals in our programs
- Last May, we organized our first community meet-up around equity and inclusion, to continue to create space within our organization for marginalized individuals to find support while enriching our community
- All NESEA program and content committees were asked to look at submissions through a lens of diversity and equity, in service to the NESEA strategic plan
In reflection, I have seen education, meet-ups, and new programs that beautifully underscore our intentions and strengthen NESEA as an organization. We commit to continuing this vital work over the coming year and in the years ahead.
Some specific goals:
- We are searching for providers to implement justice and inclusion training for our board, staff, and program leadership to improve our leadership and our planning.
- Members of our board will be hosting additional meet-ups for people in our community from underrepresented backgrounds.
- We will launch BuildingEnergy Access Cohort #2, serving BIPOC-led companies, later this month.
- We are establishing a standing Diversity and Inclusion Board Committee, and I am humbled to take part in that effort in my last year of Board service.
I love the belonging I feel in NESEA’s community of practice, and recognize that belonging must be cultivated and cared for to ensure everyone is integral to the work, celebrations, and discoveries ahead. We have so much work to do, and we always will need to learn, iterate, and re-commit. Thank you for reading, and please lift our community members and new friends that would welcome this support, and tell us how to support you as we face what may be a challenging year, together.
Best regards,
Jodi Smits Anderson
Our Mission
NESEA advances sustainability practices in the built environment by cultivating a cross-disciplinary community where practitioners are encouraged to share, collaborate and learn.
Jodi Smits Anderson has a passion for community-informed, cross-system activated solutions and deep experience in codes and policy, embodied carbon, team cultivation, and process work. Jodi is a FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL-AP, regenerative practitioner, NESEA Board member, past regional and national U.S. Green Building Council committee member, wife, mom, hiker, kayaker, knitter, and storyteller. She has worked for a national think tank, a renowned A+E firm as Managing Principle of a 70-person office, and for nearly 15 years as the first Director of Sustainability in NYS government.
...
Recent Posts
