Results from our focus groups

BACKGROUND

In March 2021, Diversity in Sustainability (DiS) hosted a series of focus groups to gather feedback on DiS’ emerging service offerings in order to help refine and prioritize its programs. Over the course of three sessions attended by approximately 20 participants from across Canada, United States and the United Kingdom and facilitated by two of DiS’ co-founders, Marie Jurcevic and Michael Harvey, we explored questions including:

• What have been your experiences relating to diversity in the sustainability sector?

• How inclusive do you think the industry is of diverse voices?

• What (if anything) is holding the sector back from creating belonging and inclusion?

• What are your thoughts on the program offerings being proposed by Diversity in Sustainability? Is there anything missing?  

• How would you prioritize them?

FEEDBACK SUMMARY

Given the sensitive and personal nature of some of the information shared, we have only focused on summarizing the input provided by the participants as it relates to DiS’ program offerings and priorities.

What are your thoughts on the program offerings being proposed by Diversity in Sustainability? Is there anything missing?  

The participants generally expressed support for all of DiS’ programs. The full list of programs can be found here https://www.diversityinsustainability.com/programs.  

• Additional opportunities suggested by participants include:

  • Youth engagement – looking for opportunities to engage the next generation of sustainability practitioners through the work of DiS

  • Organizational commitments – working with companies to encourage them to develop commitments on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI)

  • Pathway programs – helping develop programs that are designed to build the skills, knowledge and qualifications that will help promote a diverse range of candidates from breaking into and advancing in the field of sustainability

  • Resources – developing resources such as toolkits to help organizations address EDI

  • Webinars – monthly fireside chats on various topics including career spotlights, open forum for members to share their experiences, sustainability-focused sessions

  • Thought leadership – looking for opportunities to engage the broader public and beyond on EDI and sustainability

  • Allyship – clearly defining what that means to the organization to work with allies

 How would you prioritize them?

• Most of the participants were generally supportive and interested in all of DiS’ proposed programs

• The top three programs that were identified that DiS should consider prioritizing include mentorship, profile building and thought leadership

• The program that generated the least interest and not considered a priority was the jobs board given that there are various platforms already available for this purpose. However this was seen as more of a benefit for companies.

DiS also sought feedback on its funding model. The general consensus was for DiS to pursue a mixed funding model with funding from corporations, membership fees, sponsorships and grants. Participants suggested that the organization’s funding model will likely change over time as the organization matures and can be re-evaluated accordingly.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS

For questions or comments about these focus groups and/or DiS and its programs please contact marie@diversityinsustainability.com or michael@diversityinsustainability.com.  

Image credit: Chris Montgomery via Unsplash.