Lift As You Climb: How the Events Industry Can Support Social Justice

June 12, 2020

Amanda Simons

Amanda Simons is a Sustainable Event Consultant and Principal at Honeycomb Strategies, a sustainability consulting firm specializing in the events, venue and hospitality industry. Specializing in sustainable business operations for tour operators and hotels, and in the event and trade show industry for more than 16 years, Simons focuses on identifying strategies and helping clients execute successful sustainable event management programs, implement sustainable destination management, lead industry research and analysis projects, and create benchmarking and corporate sustainability reporting programs.

Diversity at events encompasses more than just race and ethnicity. It includes people of different generations, physical abilities, genders, education levels and more. When everyone is welcome, more inclusive events result in greater conversation and insights, increased community and a broader, more engaged audience.

Last year at Greenbuild 2019 in Atlanta, I had the opportunity to hear George Bandy Jr., Chief Sustainability Officer of Mohawk Group, speak. He said, “We have a profound sense of responsibility to believe in humanity and nature and advance our shared mission of a more sustainable future.” As he spoke, he emphasized the importance of taking into account the social aspects of sustainability. Though harder to measure, we must still own the responsibility for the impacts of our actions. We have a duty to support our communities and people, to lift each other as we climb and move forward as human beings.

His words left me feeling inspired, hopeful and empowered. When I returned home, I wrote on a sticky note “Lift as you climb” and affixed it to my computer monitor to serve as a constant reminder to show empathy, patience and support as I move through my life and work. Now more than ever, those words have become a guiding light.

As we start the long, hard road to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and continue the fight for social justice and equity in this country, we must lift all of those around us as we climb. As we rebuild our communities and businesses and bring events and groups back together, we must incorporate this tenant of human rights and educate ourselves on how to be better humanitarians. The resources are there, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, EIC Sustainability Certifications – both offer guidance on diversity, equity and inclusion for sustainable event management. In addition, we have compiled a shortlist of practices that you can start implementing to promote greater diversity and inclusion at your events, to be part of the change.

  1. Develop a sustainability policy that includes language to support diversity, inclusivity and accessibility. This policy should include guidance in giving preference to diverse suppliers and vendors such as certified women and or minority-owned business. Start with registration by including questions regarding attendee accessibility and dietary needs.
  2. Start with registration by including questions regarding attendee accessibility and dietary needs.
  3. Confirm the event website and registration process meet accessibility needs with alternative formats available.
  4. Offer gender-inclusive options during registration or refrain from requesting gender information. Make sure to include on name badges, as well!
  5. Make sure marketing materials reflect people with diverse ethnicities, age, mobility and religions.
  6. Re-design your event planning committee to reflect diverse representation. How about your panels and speaker sessions?  Don’t fall prey to “manels,” i.e., all-male panels that are primarily Caucasian.
  7. Make sure your educational programming includes sessions that address diversity for your industry or organization. Consider offering diversity networking opportunities such as happy hours, luncheons, etc.
  8. Include accessibility questions and criteria in your venue and accommodation selection. Review room sets and ancillary events to ensure they are easily navigable by people with disabilities.
  9. Design sessions to accommodate hearing-impaired delegates by offering captioning, listening devices, and/or sign language interpreters.
  10. When choosing F&B menus, make sure to consider religious and dietary preferences.
  11. Accommodate the needs of delegates by offering comfortable rooms for nursing and worship. If not already in place at the venue, designate some gender-neutral bathrooms.
  12. Train all staff on how to identify and report victims of human trafficking.

In writing these thoughts, I Googled the words “lift as we climb.” I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this powerful phrase was penned by Mary Church Terrell, the first president of the National Association of Colored Women. As one of the most important women’s clubs of all time, it was formed by black women in 1896 for the advancement and empowerment of black communities

I find it incredibly meaningful that this phrase, which I took from a keynote on sustainability, actually came from a group of black women who were fighting to stop racial injustice more than 200 years ago. As we face what we hope will be a crucial turning point in our society, I am frustrated that Terrell’s words, which do bring me hope, are still as relevant a rallying cry today as they were then. We can and must do better.

It’s difficult not to feel scared or powerless when faced with a daunting challenge such as overcoming systematic oppression, but we can all play a role in working together to create change. This includes having tough conversations with our children, standing up when we witness injustice, fostering respectful dialogues with others with whom we disagree, and figuring out how we can implement change in our work. By acting intentionally to achieve the goal of sustainable events that support social justice, inclusivity and diversity, we as an industry will lift as we climb – together.

 

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Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact