2026 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Update

By Kate Stephenson
NESEA Board Member
NESEA Member
Director of Finance
HELM Construction Solutions

Dear NESEA Community,

Each year, the Board and Staff of NESEA revisit our diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments to reflect on the progress we’ve made and where we’re headed. One of our key strategic priorities in our Strategic Plan is to embrace the work of anti-racism and become more just and equitable. In practice, that means committing to engage individuals who have been historically marginalized because of their identities or abilities; highlighting the linkages between anti-oppression, equity, justice, and sustainability in our programming; and evaluating everything we do through the lens of equity and justice.

This year, NESEA has continued to strengthen this work by:

  • Hosting Diversity Caucus gatherings at both BE Boston and BE NYC conferences to help build community between people traditionally underrepresented in our industries.
  • Providing a climate justice-focused training for NESEA community members facilitated by AORTA, the Anti-Oppression Resource Training Alliance
  • Organizing meet-ups for people traditionally underrepresented in the AEC industry in New York City in May and Boston in November, with more than 65 individuals registered.
  • Welcoming a second cohort of the BE Access program, a grant-funded program which provides women- and minority-owned businesses from Massachusetts with peer network support, networking opportunities, small business training and consulting, and professional coaching. BE Access has supported over 20 companies in the past two years, and we are actively looking to expand this model in other parts of our region.
  • Facilitating the Anti-Racist Action Group, a Community of Practice that has been meeting since 2020 to work together to build community, provide educational opportunities, and support NESEA member businesses in deepening their commitment to anti-racism. In 2025, we opened up the membership in this group from only BuildingEnergy Bottom Lines members to all members of the NESEA community.
  • Establishing a standing committee of the NESEA Board committed to furthering the organization’s DEI commitments and initiatives.
    Providing scholarships to conferences and events for emerging professionals, and engaging with students at the high school and college level through our academic partnerships to introduce them to our field.

This year, we are planning to continue these projects and introduce several new initiatives:

  • Formalizing a program to encourage carpooling to NESEA conferences, Pro Tours, and other events to facilitate access for folks who are car-free.
  • Offering a “first event free” program to lower barriers to participation in NESEA programming.
  • Starting to develop our next Strategic Plan and revisiting our organizational DEI commitments and strategy.

While many organizations and institutions have been forced to change their policies around diversity, equity, and inclusion in light of funding threats and political pressure, I’m proud that NESEA continues to stand strong to uphold and defend our values. In order for us to achieve NESEA’s vision – a vibrant and resilient built environment that supports climate justice and equity – we need to come together to ensure that our community welcomes and supports everyone.

Kate Stephenson
Board of Directors
Board Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Liaison