DEI @Horsley witten group
We recognize that our differences in identities, perspectives, and lived experiences give us a more profound outlook on our work. HW is committed to building an equitable and inclusive community within our offices and in our communities. We established a DEI Committee in 2020 to help carry out this commitment.
IN Our Offices
The DEI Committee’s goals align with our Mission, Vision, and Values. The committee developed a multi-year action plan to help move towards implementing our purpose and achieving our overarching goals. We implemented the following actions in our plan:
- Provided DEI training opportunities for staff
- In-depth training for individuals with Diversity@Workplace
- Company-wide trainings, including discussions on DEI topics and a Diversity @ Workplace training on unconscious bias
- Developed and shared resources for our staff, such as guidance on the use of pronouns
- Developed an internal survey to better understand our staff demographics thus creating a baseline to measure changes over time
- Shared newsletters for our staff to keep them informed of the committee’s initiatives, DEI stories in the news, and upcoming events and celebrations that recognize our diversity
Our work in progress includes:
- Considering inclusive and equitable approaches for our talent acquisition process
- Developing a plan for an internship program that supports transparency and a more equitable approach to identifying candidates
- Continuing to create and distribute newsletters and offer training to staff
MISSION
To address environmental and social challenges with sustainable solutions.
VISION
HW envisions a world where people and nature thrive together.
VALUES
Nature, Sustainability, Innovation, Collaboration, Communication, Commitment, Integrity, Education, Equity, Giving Back.
in our communities
Check out the different ways we are encouraging our colleagues and clients to address the broader impacts of our work and to take action for positive change!
TRAINING with X-Cel Education Conservation Corps
X-Cel Conservation Corps prepares Boston youth for careers in water management and conservation fields. As part of the Corps’ training program, HW and partners facilitate conservation projects to provide hands-on training and experience in green stormwater infrastructure maintenance, environmental field sampling, and wastewater operations.
SUPPORTING the New Urbanism (CNU-NE) 2021 Spatial Justice Fellowship Program
HW sponsored and supported the NE 2021 Spatial Justice Fellowship Program. The program supported the summer work of three fellows and made it financially possible for aspiring young professionals of diverse backgrounds to advance their own careers and broaden their networks while contributing to spatial justice goals in the region. A senior project manager served as a mentor to one fellow.
WEAVING Social Equity into the Comprehensive Planning Process
HW led the development of the RhodeMapRI initiative under HUD’s Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant program. This effort included planning for housing, land use, economic development, transportation, and infrastructure investments. Our team led the most comprehensive and ambitious community outreach process ever undertaken in Rhode Island.
The process engaged 30+ focus groups, dozens of governmental organizations, and thousands of residents. A critical component to meeting the social equity challenge of the plan was the Social Equity Advisory Committee. The committee advised on two major topics – designing an inclusive process for developing the plans, and reviewing the content to ensure that the impact of RhodeMap RI widens opportunities for all.
- The most notable product of the project is Rhode Island Rising, the State’s current economic development plan.
- As follow up to this project, HW developed a conference session entitled Weaving Social Equity into the Comprehensive Planning Process with the Interaction Institute for Social Change, which was presented at the Growing Sustainable Communities National Conference and the Southern New England APA Conferences.
BUILDING Capacity for Community Engagement – Groton, CT
HW is assisting the Town of Groton, CT with building its capacity to engage and forge relationships with community members that do not participate in decisions that can affect them. Working directly with the Office of Planning and Development Services, HW is directing a collaborative process that includes internal staff training. Currently we are addressing goal setting related to DEI, and individual topics such as Unconscious Bias.
