Three Chicago ACE Mentor teams make the grade in the 2023 Construction Industry Round Table (CIRT) National Design and Construction Competition. The contest encourages ACE Mentor Affiliate teams to tackle specific challenges to improve “the quality of American life, while understanding the issues and challenges the industry faces to deliver on this legacy.” (Learn more about CIRT Competition.)
ESD’s history of exploring new approaches and creative solutions starts with a culture based on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
ESD has a long reputation of innovation, creativity, and professional excellence. At the heart of this entrepreneurial spirit is its people. At ESD, we are committed to building a diverse team, fostering an inclusive culture, and investing in equity across our organization. Over the past year, we have taken tangible action toward the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) objectives we committed to, such as listening, donating to non-profits that further DEI, offering a Community Service Day to all employees, and consulting a Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) expert.
Arin N. Reeves, Ph.D., has conducted learning sessions, participated in several calls, and has responded to many emails gathering feedback from ESD employees. Dr. Reeves suggested the development of an infrastructure to develop and pursue DEI goals. Our first objective was to create a committee of individuals whose experience and diligence reflect a wide range of perspectives working to ensure the advancement of DEI at ESD.
Since its formation, ESD’s DEI Council has conducted in-house discussions on topics such as microaggression (an everyday exchange that cues a sense of hostility or subordination based on any one of a number of social identities, including race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, nationality, religion, and disability). The council provided useful resources to learn more about microaggression including:
- Microaggressions Are A Big Deal (National Public Radio)
- You’ve Been Called Out for a Microaggression. What Do You Do? (Harvard Business Review)
- When and How to Respond to Microaggressions (Harvard Business Review)
The DEI Council regularly solicits recommendations from employees on related resources they have been reading, listening to, or visiting. Some of these include:
- Research: How Socioeconomic Status Impacts the Way We Network, Harvard Business Review
- Let’s Go Together, podcast hosted by Kellee Edwards
- Afterlives: Recovering the Lost Stories of Looted Art, exhibit at The Jewish Museum running through January 9, 2022
For more information about the ESD’s culture, mission, and values, visit our website.
To learn more about our DEI Council, please reach out to co-chairs LaSundra Brown and/or Jeff Kemp.
