Matt Hurst JEDI Warrior

posted January 22nd, 2021 in 4wrd

by E4H

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Matt Hurst, intermediate healthcare designer from the Fort Worth, TX office and currently on the Intuitive Health & MedDive Hyperbarics project teams, attended the virtual JEDI Conference through the 4wrd initiative.

He gave a recap on the merits of the conference and his takeaways of what he learned at the firmwide 4wrd meeting. Here’s what he shared.

 

What is JEDI?
Joint AIA / NOMA / IIDA initiative with the purpose of advancing issues of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within the architecture profession.

JUSTICE is acknowledging and denouncing racism, removing barriers, and promoting equitable opportunities

EQUITY is allocating resources to ensure everyone has the same opportunities and outcomes.

DIVERSITY is encompassing an array of people to represent varied experiences and perspectives.

INCLUSION is fostering a sense of belonging for all voices and perspectives to feel welcomed, respected, supported and valued.

 

What are some of the Tools used to Encourage Diversity?

Determine baseline metrics and define a common language before discussing diversity. By utilizing industry metrics we can understand progress, set goals, and critically think about it.

Create a diverse representation through office and firmwide activities. Studies show that clients are increasingly seeking firms that mirror the communities they serve. Creating a diverse representation can lead to the creation of more authentic solutions and diverse teams have shown to be 30 percent more effective and profitable than homogenous ones.

Celebrate equity and diversity through office and firmwide activities & provide platforms for encouragement and encourage storytelling. Remember that diversity is inherently the categorization of things that are different from one another. It is crucial to recognize that the intersection of all those things is what creates and drives our unique perspectives. True innovation flourishes when diversity is celebrated and valued.

Understand what your employees’ need is paramount to define and support overall goals of inclusion. As with everything JEDI related, people are the center. Providing varying means of received feedback is very important.

 

What are Examples of Action in the Industry that has Created Change?

• Creation of more job opportunities for Black professionals.

• Partnering with clients on diversity and inclusion initiatives.

• Increasing firm-wide diversity by hiring more Black and POC professionals and providing support to exceed their full potential.

• Funding of scholarships and organizations for people from underrepresented backgrounds.

• UN Global Compact – United Nations collaborative to end extreme poverty, fight inequality & injustice, and protect our planet.

• Partnerships with AIA, NOMA, IIDA

• Creation of JEDI Committees in firms (4wrd)

• Investments in the ‘future talent pipeline’ – K-12 local school and community organizations.

• Pursuing equitable design solution in cities and communities to create positive experience in Black communities.

 

While statements are powerful and important, actions speak louder. The choices and actions we make today will determine our collective future. Multiple firms in our industry (including E4H) have made efforts to better our industry as a whole and these are just to list a few examples of their impact so far.