Equity Co:LAB was created by an architect to assist architecture firms define and implement strategies that will support and enhance equity, diversity and inclusion in their practice. It is time to address the enduring lack of diversity in our profession. Unless we take a look at ourselves, the way we practice, the culture and the existing policies that we have defined and use day to day, we cannot move forward into a more equitable future. We have an opportunity to come together on solutions, to test, measure and choose the best path forward for your firm. Addressing this fundamental issue will strengthen the foundation of your company and our field.
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Collaborative Workshops
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Targeted Discussions
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Multimodal Consulting
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Kavitha Mathew, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP
Increase Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Upcoming Programs to Increase Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
A Few Good Firms Cohort + Consulting
​Monthly Consulting with flexible dates and times
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I am searching for firms to take part in a unique and exciting venture. More specifically, firms that are committed to equitable practice and want to reinforce their efforts in a sustainable manner.
Have recent policy changes and political shifts left you confused about how to address diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and beyond? Are you committed to continue or build upon your firm’s initiatives while avoiding common risks and pitfalls? Let me help you reach your goals!
We will focus on enhancing equity and achieving an inclusive culture in the workplace and explore ways to make a positive impact on our communities through project work, volunteerism and philanthropy. I hope to engage both individually and collectively with a small cohort of firms to define goals and connect with a wider network to further inform and expand our reach and our thinking.
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Location
Meetings at your office or on zoom, one virtual meeting per month with cohort​
Equity Leader's Think Tank Series
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The targeted workshop series is specifically geared towards bringing together equity, diversity and inclusion advocates and leaders at firms to help them with tools to create forward momentum within their companies. It will provide a valuable opportunity to connect people working towards similar goals across different organizations. By focusing on individuals who are already in the mindset of DEI work, whether through employee resource groups or other initiatives within their organizations, by supporting and amplifying their efforts we can accelerate progress throughout the industry.
Guides for Equitable Practice and Beyond Series
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AIA's Code of Ethics includes as one of its standards, that “Members should provide their colleagues and employees with a fair and equitable working environment, compensate them fairly, and facilitate their professional development.” The rule of conduct that follows states: “Members shall treat their colleagues and employees with mutual respect and provide an equitable working environment.”
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Architecture as a profession has historically struggled with issues of representation and career advancement for women and BIPOC individuals. AIA has created the Guides for Equitable Practice (“the Guides”) to respond to many of these issues and provide a framework “to overcome inequities and help advance the profession, the careers of individual architects, and the quality of the built environment by creating more diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplaces and interactions.” Architects should work to ensure the health, safety and welfare of those in their workplaces, as well as those in the communities they serve. These tenets go hand in hand as a more diverse and equitable workforce is more likely to be aware of and address the intersectional issues that continue to plague our society. Using the Guides and additional resources, this three-part course will serve as a primer to provide data and research to build a case for equitable practice in the field of architecture. Architects and design professionals are encouraged to attend if they want to develop a foundational awareness of core topics that impact equity, diversity, and inclusion in their workplaces and suggest methods to begin to address them.
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Each session to include following:
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Tips on how to use the Guides
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Terms and definitions
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Key takeaways
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Case studies
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Related resources and data
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Interactive Q&A and feedback
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The starting line is wherever you are.
The finish line is as far as you are willing to go.
recruitment outreach hiring pay transparency promotion pay equity flexible hours remote work firm culture employee resource groups safe spaces peer support implicit bias awareness community engagement advocacy client relationships productivity accountability mentorship cultural competence retention diverse representation