As part of its Sustainable Community Development Network (SCDN) bimonthly webinar series, Sustainable Pittsburgh hosted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Practical Guidance for Communities on Tuesday, February 11. This informative session explored how DE&I plans can transform communities by promoting equitable access to resources, strengthening local governance, and laying the foundation for long-term social and economic stability. Given the rapid policy shifts resulting from recent executive orders, this conversation was especially timely. At Sustainable Pittsburgh, advancing social equity remains a core priority for our organization. Access the webinar recording here or in the embedded video below.
EVENT OVERVIEW:
Joined by Sustainable Pittsburgh’s Senior Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, John Ukenye, J.D., and Program Manager and Systems Administrator, Sawyer Sidelinger, this webinar featured the following guest speakers:
- Joshua Ash, Assistant Clinical Professor, Director, Environmental Law & Policy Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Law
- Janine Christiano, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE)
- Matthew Yohe, Programs and Services Manager, Vibrant Pittsburgh
After an overview of Sustainable Pittsburgh’s Recognition Programs and an introduction to DE&I, attendees heard from Matthew Yohe of Vibrant Pittsburgh, who grounded the conversation in key definitions-clarifying what diversity is and who is included, while distinguishing between surface-level and deeper, meaningful DE&I efforts. He also touched on the business case for DE&I and the benefits of employee engagement.
Joshua Ash of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law followed with a discussion of the legal implications of DE&I and how to address them. He also talked through the process of defining a goal, understanding barriers, and working toward a solution.
Janine Christiano from the Government Alliance on Race and Equity wrapped up the discussion by emphasizing the importance of being an effective public servant. She provided an overview of GARE’s mission to advance equity in government and explored demographic shifts in rural Pennsylvania, highlighting how diversity strengthens communities and offers tools and resources to support DE&I efforts.
RESOURCES:
- Sustainable PA Municipal Equity Toolkit
- The Vibrant Index 6.0
- GARE Online Community
- Upward Mobility Data Dashboard
- Environmental Law and Policy Clinic
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