Home » Resource Hub

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Recruitment, Hiring and Retention

The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide guidance to hiring managers seeking to diversify their sustainability
staff by applying an equity lens. Recent and historical studies have shown that sustainability and environmental
fields lag in their ability to recruit, hire, and retain employees of color.1 This can be due to a variety of systemic
factors including access to social and professional networks and exclusion from the practices of environmental
campaigns and organizations, as well as implicit and explicit racial bias in hiring processes.
As our nation, counties, and cities become more diverse and as the challenges that sustainability departments
face in addressing climate change grow, it is imperative now more than ever that offices build cadres of
professionals that can understand how to work with, support, and galvanize action amongst all diverse
communities. The work of sustainability becomes relevant to more people when the perspectives of people of
color and low-income communities are represented within the organization and individuals are situated to make
decisions that are equitable.
The practices and tools provided in this fact sheet will support USDN members in their evolving practices to
achieve increased equity, diversity, and inclusion in their offices by addressing historical discrepancies in
recruitment, hiring and retention efforts.

Resource Details

Author(s): Desiree Williams-Rajee
Organization: Urban Sustainability Directors Network
Date: 12/14/2022
Resource Type: Publication
Topic: DEI & Anti-Oppression

Related resources (by topic)

Alkeme

Alkeme Health is the destination for the Black community to access the wellness tools needed to empower, heal, inspire, and thrive today while improving generational health for tomorrow. Featuring curated courses and meditations from Black practitioners and respected experts in…

An Open Letter to the Union of Concerned Scientists: On Black Death, Black Silencing, and Black Fugitivity

Ruth Tyson’s open letter to the Union of Concerned Scientists highlights the culture of anti-blackness in environmental non-profits.

Anti-Oppression Principles

The Anti-Oppression principles outlined by the Center for Story Based Strategy provide a guide for narrative strategists and story tellers to adopt accountable practices for advancing equity and justice in their work.

AORTA

AORTA is a worker-owned cooperative of facilitators and strategists devoted to helping our movements renew a stronger sense of liberatory vision, values, and purpose. 

Help us expand the Resource Hub

Share resources that you think would be a good addition to this tool and our team will review them for inclusion in future updates.