As a profession and as an organization, we strive to be representative and reflective of the communities we serve. Unfortunately, the reality has not yet caught up to the ambition.
According to U.S. Census and Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ data, approximately 18.5 percent of the U.S. population identifies as Hispanic or Latino, while only 6 percent of Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ members do. 13.4 percent of the U.S. population identifies as African American, but only 2.14 percent of Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ members do. 1.3 percent of the U.S. population identifies as Native American or Alaska Natives, but only 0.45 percent of Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ members do.
Closing the gaps requires concentrated efforts on all sides. Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ is committed to fostering equity and inclusion within our profession, membership, staff, and leadership. Here is just some of the work we're doing to make that happen.
Diversity involves celebrating difference based on gender, race, sexual orientation, sexual identity, culture, or ethnicity. Equity is defined as fairness, and inclusion means "for all people."
Would you like to get involved? Please contact Lisa J. Jennings, Manager, Career Discovery and Diversity at Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ, at 202-216-2376 or discover@asla.org