(Far too many exist around the world.) Promising Examples The Historic Fourth Ward Park in Atlanta serves as an excellent example of positive infrastructure development. The project initially started as a typi- cal stormwater manage- ment and flooding control project, but then, it was turned into a solution that addressed not only that problem but also resulted in much needed economic and community develop- ment, environmental res- toration, and the creation of a public amenity. This project earned an Envision Gold award for sustain- ability from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastruc- ture in 2016.
Albion Riverside Park
Same with the South Los Angeles Wetland Park (Envision Platinum) and the Albion Riverside Park (Envision Gold) projects. These projects are great examples of turning historically underdeveloped or previ- ously contaminated lands into neighborhood revitalizing amenities that bring people together and protect the environment. Musqueam A relatively recent infrastructure development that brought people to- gether to create a more harmonious and prosperous future is the formal agreement made between the Musqueam Indian Band and the Vancou- ver International Airport. The Airport and Musqueam Indian Band are located in the same community on land that is Musqueam traditional territory. The agreement is “based on friendship and respect to achieve a sustainable and mutually beneficial future”. The 30-year agreement includes jobs, scholarships, annual revenue sharing, and identification and protection of archeological resources. Moving Forward Infrastructure alone cannot fix systemic racism, but infrastructure de- velopment that focuses on the equitable distribution of benefits and incorporation of public-consultation— which genuinely considers the historical context of equity and social justice— can go a long way in addressing and correcting past injustices. Moving forward, the architecture, engineering, and construction (A/E/C) industry can— and must— do its part to formulate and imple- ment plans, policies, and programs to tackle social equity, discrimina- tion, and unconscious bias in the workplace. Organizations must also adopt hiring processes that focus on diversity and inclusion while
resolving pay-equity issues, and they must consider how their projects impact everyone in the community. Organizations and Equity What’s exciting is that many organizations are stepping forward with firmer commitments already— and some are true stand outs. Consider the following: • The American Society of Civil Engineers affirmed their support for racial justice in a statement of unity published online. • luuceoa small women-owned business based in Vancouver, Canada, has made formal commitments on taking action against racism and discrimination. • New York City’s Department of Design and Construction (NYC DDC) reaf- firmed the organization’s commitment to building equitable and just infra- structure in an internal memo to staff. The memo made specific references to ONENYC 2050 – New York City’s official strategic plan based on the principles of growth, equity, sustainability, and resiliency – as well as the Envision sustainable infrastructure framework, which explicitly addresses social equity and justice in credit QL1.3 within the Quality of Life credit category and also in credits that address stakeholder engagement within the Leadership credit category. As for ISI, we are tenacious in our pledge to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are also creating educational courses on how the Envision framework specifically addresses racial and social justice and inequality in the built environment, and we hope to partner with other organizations to champion these ideals. The way we view it: the first step toward change is awareness; the next step is action.
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csengineermag.com
october 2020
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