Updates from the Code Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Last year the International Code Council Board of Directors appointed a member committee of building safety professionals – the Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) – to evaluate the next steps for welcoming new individuals into the Code Council and for creating a more inclusive community.

The committee members spent countless hours researching, writing and developing consensus around a path forward and proposed recommended actions to the Board. Earlier this year, the Board considered the committee’s recommendations and approved five motions to address our changing industry and the need to welcome a more diverse workforce.

1. Create a Board Working Group to update the Code Council’s current DEI statement as suggested by the DEI Committee. The Code Council’s DEI statement has been updated and can be viewed here. 
2. Conduct a survey of Code Council members and stakeholders on diversity, inclusion, and belonging in the membership association to inform the Board in future decision-making. The survey is now live and can be accessed here.  The deadline to fill out the survey is November 6, 2023.  
3. Update and promote the Safety 2.0 mentor program. The mentor program will be seamlessly integrated into the online member community that will be launching in early 2024, and the mentorship feature will be updated and live later in 2024. The program will make the process of finding and matching mentors easier and more intuitive for members. 
4. Provide training to all Code Council committee and council chairs related to the updated Code Council DEI statement and the chair’s role in fostering an inclusive atmosphere. The new training will be offered in 2024. 
5. Increase the visibility of the diversity of our industry through pictures and stories in our public communications. In addition, the Code Council will celebrate the industry’s diversity through building safety-related campaigns such as Women in Construction Week.

The Code Council has already been busy at work promoting diversity within the industry. The Building Safety Journal regularly publishes articles celebrating events such as Women in Construction Week, features profiles from diverse building safety professionals, and provides content to help readers better understand the importance of improved accessibility.

Be sure to subscribe to the Building Safety Journal Weekly to read these articles, see members celebrate earning their certifications, and more.