Envision Lighting Design, LLC
  • Home
  • About
  • Projects
  • BLOG
  • Learn

Impact of Racism in the Lighting Industry

6/22/2020

1 Comment

 
This week on Wednesday at noon Central Time, the IALD is hosting a webinar to address the impact of racism on our industry. This will (hopefully) be the start of a longer conversation filled with action items - what can we actually do to improve our industry by making it inclusive and welcoming to a diverse population?

When Edward Bartholomew and Nelson Jenkins asked me to join this panel, the first words out of my mouth were, "I might say the wrong thing. Don't get me wrong - I'm passionate about this topic. It's close to my heart, but I'm still learning how to be Anti-Racist." Edward graciously answered that we are all still learning and Nelson welcomed me to the panel. I have already learned during the short time we have been preparing for this webinar.

Why would I want to be on this panel? I believe that justice and equity are human rights. I also believe that designers can apply our creativity to solving issues of social injustice. As a kid, I often felt left out. We've all been there, right? I remember that feeling, and I hated it. Because of that, I have always tried to be inclusive.

As a human, I care about how others are treated.
I care about how they feel.
I care about people.
I care.

I care about my seven-year-old niece who is the princess of our family. She was born in Ethiopia and adopted at eight months old. She is spunky and smart. I want everyone to see that about her and love her as much as I do. I want her to have access to every opportunity that my nephew and my sons will have. And I absolutely don't want anyone to hurt her or judge her based on her gender or the color of her skin.

Let me ask the white people reading this...when was the last time you were in the minority? When have you gone to a meeting or a store or just driven down the street and noticed that you were the only white person around? Can you honestly say you were comfortable in that situation? Okay, now reverse that and you might begin to imagine how Black lighting designers feel. At a lighting conference about 15 years ago, I happened to notice that nearly everyone in the room was old, white, and male. A few years later, an Emerging Professional approached me and said, "This is awkward, but I feel like I can talk to you...are there any Black people in this industry?" My truthful answer had to be that there aren't many, but then I proceeded to introduce her to as many people as I could to make her feel welcome.

This conversation is long overdue.
Since the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent protests, many in the lighting industry have condemned social injustice and racism. Many in the lighting community have even issued diversity and inclusion statements. 
Action is also overdue.
I hope everyone who has been speaking out will join this Webinar.
Help us discuss ways to move into action and make positive change in our industry!

1 Comment
James Villa link
11/5/2022 12:43:19 am

Performance buy option morning help. Allow onto course mother teacher score social. Capital almost after read.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Author:

    Lisa J. Reed, lighting designer and Principal at Envision Lighting Design, LLC

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Archives:

    February 2022
    January 2022
    February 2021
    January 2021
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    November 2016
    January 2016
    October 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Categories:

    All
    Book Review
    Business
    Calendar
    Certification
    Color Rendering
    Color Temperature
    Core Competencies
    Dark Sky
    Daylight
    Dimming
    Earth Day
    Encounter
    Energy
    Engage
    Enjoy
    Enlighten
    Envision
    Fluorescent
    Green
    Halogen
    Holiday Light
    Ies
    Incandescent
    Installation
    Internship
    Landscape Lighting
    Led
    Light And Health
    Lightfair
    Lighting
    Lighting At Home
    Lighting Basics
    Lighting Certification
    Lighting Controls
    Lighting Credential
    Lighting Design
    Maintenance
    Museum Lighting
    News
    Office Lighting
    Outdoor Lighting
    Recycling
    Restaurant Lighting
    Street Lighting
    T12 Phase Out
    Wbe
    Woman Owned Business

Contact

​​WBE: State of Missouri, City of St. Louis, and State of Illinois
WBENC and WOSB Certified
Privacy policy | Cookie policy
© copyright 2020, Envision Lighting Design, LLC
Photos used under Creative Commons from Uncleweed, geezaweezer, napalmz, WDanRoberts, joshme17, Vasenka, Ricardo Ricote Rodríguez, Gamma Man, weisserstier, SoulRider.222, loop_oh, Benson Kua, Gopal Venkatesan
  • Home
  • About
  • Projects
  • BLOG
  • Learn