My BHAG is 50% of the environmental industry will be led by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) people, including philanthropic, governmental, and NGOs. This will include board, executive leadership and staff representation at all levels by 2045.
Why this goal? The environmental industry employs under 20% BIPOC people, paling in comparison to the tech industry that employs 40%. According to Brookings, the racial demographics of the U.S. by 2045 will be 50.3% non-white. And BIPOC and low-income communities have the most first-hand experience with environmental hazards and climate change impacts.
A more basic goal is to change the face of environmentalism by fostering a critical mass of environmentalists of color through workforce program pathways that serve a dual purpose of addressing underfunded maintenance of public green space.
This column is part of “25 big ideas for Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin’s future,” a feature included in the BizTimes Milwaukee 25th anniversary issue. To read other contributions, visit biztimes.com/bigideas