Practice vs. Theory: Putting Equity First
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Certification Maintenance
Learning Outcomes
- Advocate for equity in project teams, departments, and jurisdictions.
- Prepare equity strategies that anticipate both internal (i.e. institutional) and external (i.e. community) barriers to equitable outcomes.
- Utilize the innovative strategies showcased in example projects.
More Course Details
Recognize the challenges of pursuing equitable outcomes throughout a project, identifying key barriers and actionable strategies at every stage. Speakers encourage moving past conceptual best practices to realistically discuss implementation. Drawing on their own experiences on equity-driven projects, they explain how to anticipate and identify issues, including equalizing access to limited resources; managing institutional barriers; aligning equity goals with project messaging and scope; course-correcting; and moving from process to product.
They offer nuanced perspectives on both innovative and proven strategies, explaining what makes them succeed or fail and how they perform in the field. Strategies include developing an overarching equity plan; setting realistic benchmarks for success; incorporating explicit messaging about systemic injustices; and "closing the loop." Think critically about how projects relate to broader institutional issues and how institutional systems may act as either barriers or resources during project phases from engagement to adoption. Consider how individual projects contribute to a jurisdiction’s long-term relationship with its constituents.
Speakers give practical guidance on identifying equity outcomes, developing a context-appropriate implementation plan, and anticipating potential barriers. Leave with new contacts, case studies, and tools, feeling better-prepared to design equity-focused engagements and policies.