Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at AASHTO

AASHTO and its members are committed to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion within state departments of transportation so that our workforce is representative of the communities they serve. As stewards of a multimodal transportation system that achieves economic, environmental, and societal goals and as policy makers, state DOTs must listen to and learn from customers in order to make advancements within our communities.

 

To cement this idea, AASHTO’s Board of Directors passed a resolution on “Addressing Race, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion” in November 2020, which the association has incorporated into all its work, both within membership and AASHTO’s offices. This resolution specifically addresses AASHTO’s promise to:

 

  • Strengthen AASHTO’s commitment to the values in the Civil Rights Act of 1964;
  • Enhance decision-making processes focused on advancing DEI in all aspects of transportation;
  • Improve contracting and procurement practices to remove barriers and create opportunities for DBEs;
  • Create additional strategies to improve recruitment, hiring, promotion, training, leadership, development, and retention of and support for a workforce that reflects the communities we serve;
  • Ensure staff are provided workforce development and other training opportunities to develop competencies and create accountability for promoting DEI; and
  • Foster inclusive workplaces where discrimination and bias are not tolerated.

 

AASHTO Strategic Plan

In November 2020, AASHTO also adopted a new strategic plan, highlighting diversity, equity and inclusion as one of its core values.  This value is reinforced throughout the strategic plan with goals to advance equity and social justice, direction to be intentionally inclusive as AASHTO develops transportation policy positions, and commitments to identify strategies to improve diversity as we work to develop the next generation of leaders in the transportation industry. 

 

Memos of Understanding

In 2021, AASHTO and the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize their partnership to promote the advancement of minorities in transportation. The MOU is a step forward in a collaboration between AASHTO and COMTO to explore ways to promote the transportation and infrastructure sectors as a rewarding career choice for minorities. The two groups pledged to:

 

  • Increase member access to information, including business and career opportunities, in the respective fields of both organizations
  • Facilitate and expand the dissemination of that information to each other’s members;
  • Collaborate on topics of common interest and support diversity objectives that ensure a level playing field for training, education, employment, and contract opportunities for minorities in the field of transportation
  • Provide regular consultation among the leadership to review and assess programs and identify opportunities for coordinated efforts

 

AASHTO also signed a memorandum of understanding in 2019 formalizing its partnership with the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS).  The MOU seeks to expand opportunities for women in the transportation industry through a variety of activities including mentoring and professional development.  The two groups agreed to:

 

  • Promote the transportation infrastructure sector as a rewarding career choice for women
  • Further the participation, opportunities, advancement and recognition of women in the transportation infrastructure sector.
  • Support both organizations in the development of programmatic content for meetings and conferences, including identifying candidate speakers;
  • Identify opportunities for jointly-sponsored convening activities, such as conferences, workshops, webinars and meetings;
  • Develop and provide joint professional development opportunities for transportation professionals.

 

Internal Efforts

AASHTO itself prioritizes DEI and is an equal opportunity employer. AASHTO also created a staff forum to focus on ways to celebrate diversity in our organization and promote the critical pillars of equity and inclusion. AASHTO’s IDEA Forum serves as a collaborative, action-oriented effort to discuss and recommend initiatives that prioritize the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion within AASHTO so that the association may connect equity, diversity and inclusion activities to a broader, results-oriented strategy for the organization.

Learn more about what AASHTO and its members are doing here:
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