Incorporating Diversity and Equity into How we Think and Plan the Future

APAC3*22 Conference in El Paso - Session Proposal 
Topic: Incorporating Diversity and Equity into How we Think and Plan the Future
Participants: 
•Texas Department of Transportation El Paso District : Marty Boyd – Director of Advanced Transportation Planning
•CDM Smith: Liza Amar –  Associate; Sara Varvarigos – Transportation Planner

Abstract
Now more than ever, institutions are rethinking how they approach their goals and long-term planning objectives. Organizations such as Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and CDM Smith are ingraining diversity and equity into the fabric of their culture, as well as their collaborations on long-term transportation planning projects. 
Diversity can be defined as the practice or quality of including or involving people from a range of different social or ethnic backgrounds, genders, and orientations. Equity recognizes that each person has a different set of circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome. 
During this session, TxDOT and CDM Smith will delve into the practical ways that they have succeeded in ingraining diversity and equity into 1) their organizational practices and 2) their transportation planning projects. They will also share lessons learned from areas where they have acknowledged a need for improvement. The session will be divided into two presentations, with each one followed by a breakout discussion and question and answer period with the audience.