Invisible Factors Impacting Efforts in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: Addressing Climate Change and Sustainability*

Multiple factors influence minority and disenfranchised communities. These are invisible agents - blocking progress in efforts to obtain diversity, equity, and inclusion. One such invisible area is climate change and sustainability. Poorer nations or disenfranchised groups (racial and ethnic minority groups, women, people with disabilities, first-generation college students) have less access to clean, sustainable energy, and are more impacted by pollution, power outages, and sanitation which create detrimental health outcomes that further increase their marginalization. Our team has developed a 4-pronged model of how to develop inclusive environments and programs based on an engaged research model; 1) Conduct social research integrated to engineering to understand the unique context and feelings of the minority group without making assumptions, 2) Work with the marginalized and minority group to do-develop a solution that leverages their strengths, 3) While building the program or educational opportunity, consistently consider the realities faced by the group/s and accommodate them through logistics and planning, 4) Integrate and encourage minority and disenfranchised groups to become a part of the solution by working to tackle these issues within their own communities.