The concept of what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day means to us evolves each year. In the A/E/C industry, companies observe the holiday differently. Some make it a day off. Some label it a floating holiday. Recently, leading firms have taken it as an opportunity to educate their staff and/or serve their communities.
It is an indication that our industry is changing…and for the better.
As your SMPS Atlanta Chapter President – and a white woman – I have struggled with how to effectively lead our chapter on this topic of racial reckoning in our industry. I used to be too nervous to speak up and ask questions, fearing how others would judge my lack of knowledge. To overcome my naivety, I found myself doing two things: listening and educating myself. And that approach has served me well.
I challenge our Atlanta A/E/C community to continue to listen and learn, for it could be the pathway to a better understanding which will impact how we deal with one another on the job and in life.
There is much work to be done on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our community needs to continue listening, educating, and acting within your sphere of influence whenever you can. We can no longer be afraid to talk about it anymore. We can no longer be complacent about learning on our own. We can do more.
Here are three things I’d like to share in the spirit of MLK Day:
Start with yourself. Part of the journey to inclusiveness is understanding where you are on inclusiveness. I suggest looking at implicit or unconscious bias, reading about what that means and how you can apply that knowledge to how you function. There are many resources out there on this subject, but one of the most impactful tests I’ve seen is the Harvard Implicit Association Tests. You can also reflect or expand your knowledge on the civil rights movement by visiting a virtual museum.
Volunteer. The SMPS Atlanta Chapter is planning to highlight ethnic and cultural awareness by forming a DEI Council under the leadership of our DEI Advisor, Felita Bunn of Brown & Caldwell. All active members are encouraged to participate in this group. These volunteers will be charged with planning opportunities to raise DEI awareness. The goal is to elevate knowledge of our membership so it that can be fully equipped to advocate, enlighten, and connect to promote change in our industry.
Celebrate. The Amplify A|E|C Annual Conference will be coming to Atlanta in 2022! We are kicking off the conference by hosting a welcome networking event at the National Center for Civil & Humans Rights on Sunday, July 17th. We chose this venue to highlight Atlanta as a place and our chapter as an organization that embraces inclusion – and to remind our members on where we’ve been and where we are going. This is also a great opportunity to network with national marketing leaders and celebrate being in Atlanta for 40 years! Click here for more information.
Dr. King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” I like to think of the “you” in that statement as a wholly inclusive “you,” meaning that all of us can act. No action is too small. It all starts with us being willing to listen and learn and then support and act.
Laura McDonald, CPSM | Terracon, Senior Marketing Specialist | SMPS Atlanta Chapter President
