Over the last couple of months we have seen racism brought into the spotlight in a way we haven’t seen in decades. People and businesses are beginning to look at what more can be done to address the systemic issues that exist today. At AICP, we are no different. We have to ask ourselves what can we do to ensure our AICP community is as diverse as the industry we represent.
After a lot of discussion, we have developed our Commitment to Diversity. This statement, although only words on a page, gives us a place to start and provides focus for our intentions moving forward. It was presented to the Board of Directors on July 17th. As our governing body, the Board discussed how we can put our commitment into action. We know that whatever we do, we need our members to be deeply involved. Every one of you is the voice and the face of AICP.
We made the decision to create a Diversity and Inclusion Committee. This team will be dedicated to examining where we are today, what we can do to be better, and how we ensure our association is as diverse as our industry. And we need your help ensure success. If you are interested in becoming a part of our Diversity and Inclusion Committee, please let us know. We are building this team from the ground up and are looking for our members to step up to the challenge.
In addition to committee members, we are looking for a strong leader to Chair the new committee. We are looking for someone with a passion for our organization, the desire to see people from all walks of life equally represented within AICP, and the skills and abilities to deliver on the direction given by the Board of Directors. If this is something you are interested in, please contact me directly.
Although the challenges in our country today are concerning, I am excited for the opportunities being created. I truly believe that adversity makes us stronger. AICP will continue to grow and thrive, becoming a better version of something that is already pretty great. I hope you will consider joining us on this journey.
Bri Dahl
AICP President
