S3 E4 - Construction Inclusion Week with Stacee Barkley, DPR Construction

The podcast episode discusses the origins, goals, and impact of Construction Inclusion Week, with DPR Construction’s Stacee Barkley emphasizing the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the construction industry.
• Origins of Construction Inclusion Week: Construction Inclusion Week was founded by a group of contractors in 2020 to harness collective efforts for meaningful change in diversity, equity, and inclusion within the industry.
• Impact of Social Movements: The murder of George Floyd and the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated conversations around social change, leading to the creation of Construction Inclusion Week.
• Inclusive Participation: The initiative aims to be inclusive, allowing firms of any size to participate without cost, ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion are accessible to all.
• Resources and Maturity Model: Construction Inclusion Week provides free resources and a maturity model to help firms assess their progress and access relevant materials, making participation practical and manageable.
• Themes and Activities: The initiative includes themes like commitment, accountability, belonging, workplace culture, and community engagement, with activities suitable for various work environments.
• Global Reach: In 2023, Construction Inclusion Week registered over 5,000 firms, reached 6,500 project sites, and impacted approximately 750,000 people globally.
• Personal Responsibility: Stacee emphasizes that diversity, equity, and inclusion are everyone's responsibility, encouraging individuals to be their authentic selves and support others in doing the same.
• Future Growth: The initiative continues to evolve based on feedback, aiming to reach more people and improve resources each year.