Latin America. Promising to help drive positive change in the professional AV industry, AVIXA introduced the AV Industry Commitment to an Equitable Future, an agreement that any individual or company can sign to promote inclusive behavior in their company and in the industry.
AVIXA calls on all members of the industry to favor greater equity and full representation in all aspects of the AV world, with the understanding that the thinking and experience of women, LGBTQ+ people, people of all ethnic groups, people with disabilities and of any age; they expand industry knowledge, workplace success, business performance and innovation, and represent a better future for the audiovisual community.
"Together we have the opportunity to create a world in which we welcome people from all backgrounds," said David Labuskes, CTS, CAE, RCDD, CEO of AVIXA. "We recognize that there is a lot of work to be done and this commitment is just the beginning. I am sure we are laying a cornerstone on which at least a small part of the world can be built and changed for the good of all. And that's how big changes start."
The AV Pledge for an Equitable Future seeks the following:
Raise awareness: Positive change begins with understanding and acknowledging the existence of systemic racism, initiating difficult conversations and looking at how we can contribute to creating a better world.
Take action: Commitment to setting measurable goals, following up on observations, and allocating resources to achieve the goal.
Be responsible: Share individual and business advances, with AVIXA and with their industry peers, both from challenges and successes, so that everyone can learn.
Those who sign the pledge are asked to consider joining AVIXA's Diversity Council and getting involved in future council events, participating in diversity and inclusion surveys, as well as attending future Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) events to examine industry engagement, resources and tools, and how this effort has impacted the industry.
AVIXA has put together a list of resources to help AV industry professionals embark on this journey, including an inclusive language style guide that can help avoid biases perpetuated by words and phrases that can reinforce stereotypes and create false power dynamics; as well as a 30-minute training video on unconscious biases created in partnership with NonProfit HR. For more information, visit the site: https://www.avixa.org/about-us/a-culture-of-inclusion/diversity-inclusion-resources
Aiming to share both resources and research, the AVIXA Diversity Council is also launching its DEI survey. This survey solicits important, yet sensitive demographic information such as gender identity, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation, and delves into the availability of resources and programs provided by employers in the AV industry.
The survey was developed by AVIXA's Independent Diversity Council, and when combined with the results of AVIXA's annual member survey, will help set a benchmark in the AV industry to measure future progress. This survey is 100% secure and anonymous. To access the survey, visit https://avixa.org/av-diversity-survey
