BE4ALL

Launched in December 2021, the Belonging and Excellence for All (BE4ALL) initiative is a joint effort of SMACNA, SMART, and the International Training Institute (ITI). BE4ALL works to positively impact the industry’s work culture, allowing it to attract and retain the best and most skilled workforce possible, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or nationality.

BE4ALL helps the industry meet the real-world demand for the best, and most qualified workforce available for our industry, without quotas or other arbitrary demands.

 

HOW IS “BELONGING” DIFFERENT FROM DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION?

Here’s a helpful way to think about the difference between the three terms:

  • Diversity means that everyone – regardless of their race, gender identity, age or other identity strands – is invited to participate in and benefit from our industry.
  • Inclusion means that everyone has a seat at the table and has a way to make their voices heard.
  • Belonging goes much deeper than diversity and inclusion. It means two things:
    1. That when people come to the table, they feel that they can bring their full, authentic self, ALL part of who they are as a human being and;
    2. Belonging is also about building the table together. It’s about co-creating. To put it another way, transforming our industry and ensuring that we remain relevant and competitive will take all-hands-on-deck. We will only be successful if we’re working on this endeavor TOGETHER. BE 4 ALL is the vehicle for how we do this.

SMART-SMACNA DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT

In recognition that working together on diversity, equity and inclusion within our industry would be the most effective way to effect real and lasting change, SMART and SMACNA have engaged in ongoing discussions about recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce with the skills to meet our needs now and in the future. In an initial step affirming our joint objectives, the SMACNA Board of Directors and the SMART General Executive Council adopted the following statement at their respective January 2021 meetings:SMACNA and SMART recognize that diversity strengthens our workforce, benefits our communities, and makes the unionized sheet metal industry stronger and more competitive by reflecting the communities where we operate and the people we serve. To affirm our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we have agreed to develop, with the help of experts, a coordinated strategic plan with long-term and short-term objectives which will be evaluated and adjusted as necessary. Our unified goal is to shift the mindset of management, labor leaders, and our respective memberships to recruit, welcome, and retain the most competent and skilled workforce available while embracing differences in age, ability, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, national origin, language, marital status, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, and other characteristics that make individuals unique. SMACNA and SMART are strongly committed to take the necessary steps to achieve our goal of a diverse industry with no tolerance of bullying, harassment, or discrimination. We will provide regular updates on our progress on the strategic plan and on our continued work to promote our shared values of diversity, inclusion, and equity.

SMACNA and SMART are now in the process of developing a strategic plan to help us reach our goals and build the foundation of an industry dedicated to equity and inclusion.