Cristina Garcia
Username
cristina garcia
Proposer First Name
Cristina
Proposer Email
crisgar90@gmail.com
Proposer Last Name
Garcia

Boston 2021 Areas of Focus

Proposer Company/Organization
BEI
Proposer Job Title
Assistant Director
Proposed Session Description
A 45 minute panel which touches on the important and need to diversify the sustainability industry. As the country’s demographic continues to diversify, why is that same diversification not represented in every sector that influences change? A 2014 study of 191 U.S. conservation and preservation organizations, 74 government environmental agencies and 28 environmental grant-making foundations found that ethnic minorities do not exceed 16 percent of board members or staff of environmental organizations. Another report of 2,057 U.S. environmental nonprofit organizations, analyzing voluntary diversity data between 2014 and 2016 found that 3.9 percent of organizations revealed their data on racial diversity; on average, 80 percent of their board members and 85 percent of their staff were men, majority white. In order to maximize energy solutions in low income and marginalized communities, methodologies of inclusion, true inclusion must change. This panel will provide an insight from women of color who are radically changing the status quo by creating pathways to include underrepresented populations at the table.
Diversity and Inclusiveness
Our presentation focuses on the work being done to increase inclusivity and equity in the sustainability sector and the need for these efforts.
Learning Objectives
Be able to consider key factors for success in advancing racial equity within sustainability in your own organization.
Learn about strategies in action for increasing equity in NYC that can be replicated and considered elsewhere.
Consider opportunities for accountability amongst your organization and others in the sustainability sector.
Has this session been presented before?
Yes
When and Where?
NYSERDA Low Income Forum on Energy
Target Audiences Level of Expertise
Level 1 - No prior knowledge needed.
Session Format Details
a 30-45 minute moderated panel discussion.
Recommended Length
30-minute session

Strongest Content Connection - Boston 2021

Comments about your speaker roster
Daphany Sanchez is the executive director of Kinetic Communities Consulting (KC3) an M/WBE Certified B Corp, which works with energy & affordable housing partners, to connect, educate, and simplify energy efficiency opportunities for under-represented communities. KC3 works in the intersection of finance, engineering, planning, and organizing; a sweet spot that helps us understand how to systemically drive change for a just clean energy transition. KC3 wants to help the community save money, feel safe, and live in a cleaner environment and works to reclaim New Yorkers seat at the table in every aspect of Climate Action. Cristina Garcia founded Latinos in Sustainability, a subset of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) in 2017. Latinos in Sustainability was created to bring awareness to Latinx engineers about sustainability. Latinos in Sustainability, made up of Latino engineers working or interested in sustainability, focuses on: a. Educating fellow SHPE professionals on sustainability practices and efforts b. Informing SHPE students or young professionals of sustainability careers and opportunities c. Connecting and growing the community of Latino engineers in the sustainability and energy sector. The goal is to nurture and grow a community within SHPE that strives for a sustainable world while working to diversify the sustainability industry which is predominantly white.
Reviewer 1
Wright, Daryl
Reviewer 2
Cater, James
Curator
Washington, Maria
Proposal #
182
Session #
616
Committee Decision
Accepted

Presenters

Full Description
This session is important because we need everyone that's currently at the table to help intentionally pull up a seat for others. We need our leaders to make inclusivity and equity a priority not only in their organization but in their services. The marginalized communities that are disproportionately affected are disproportionately excluded from the conversation about climate change. We want attendees to be informed about what they can do to increase diversity and equity.