Showing up in the communities we help shape, during Black History Month and beyond

From the projects we build, to how we engage and serve our communities, our commitment to D&I is ever-present.

Looking back at this past year, we’ve journeyed with a variety of individuals making a difference for D&I and a plethora of important causes year-round. Here are a few highlights.

Creating lasting diversity across the sector starts with inclusion as a foundation.

New director commits to supplier diversity

In a Q&A with Construction Dive, National Director of Vendor Diversity Jocelyn Yue emphasized the need for supply chain diversification.

She also provided a window into Skanska’s ongoing work to ensure follow through on supplier diversity goals. Overall, she shares how companies like Skanska have enormous opportunity to benefit from prioritizing this aspect of their work.

“For owners, bringing new and diverse firms to the table helps drive competition and innovation,” says Jocelyn.

Learning from a general manager’s approach to inclusion

“You get the best ideas when you listen to everyone,” says Executive Vice President and General Manager Michael C. Brown in this interview with Tampa Bay Times.

As he manages projects in and around Tampa Bay, Florida, he’s guided by a constant commitment to inclusivity. For him, that journey toward more inclusivity is meant to be balanced and strategic.

“It’s really about improving our business as much as it is including others who have been historically excluded,” he says.

Investing in a team solely focused on diversity across the board

In 2022, Skanska brought on several new leaders to accelerate our supplier diversity ambitions. With added capacity and individuals focused on specific regions, we have greater visibility into local opportunities.

Team members’ priorities center around bringing greater emphasis to subcontractor development, community engagement and outreach.

A variety of partnerships are key to project success

Diversity doesn’t look one way. In Atlanta, Georgia, for example, Skanska’s work with Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport continuously offers opportunities for embracing diversity in partnerships.

In this Atlanta Business Chronicle piece, Vice President and Account Manager Matt Frey shares how pursuing partnerships of all types is vital.

Committing to inclusion means ensuring future industry professionals reflect the communities we build in.

Bringing construction to a public school program empowering Black youth

On the West Coast, the Office of African American Male Achievement (AAMA) within Seattle Public Schools, is a “driver of systemic change” working to “dismantle systemic racism” in public education.

Teams out of our Seattle, Washington, office, regularly partner with AAMA on a program called Youth in Construction. The partnership exposes young Black students to construction career paths.

To kick off the 2022-2023 school year, Skanska continued building on that partnership with a BBQ event for kids and their families. Earlier in 2022, 40 students visited our Lynnwood Link Extension L300 project and connected with Skanska staff on site.

University partnership creates pathway for local businesses to expand employees’ capacity

Making a lasting change in supply chain diversity must start at the source. In our partnership with the University of South Florida and their Office of Supplier Diversity, we’re doing just that.

For the second year in a row, several diverse firms have been selected to participate in a free 10-week program that expands their training, development and partnership skillsets.

The mentor-structured program guides business through industry areas like field management and business development.

Reaching students of all backgrounds early on

Many Skanska employees have ACE Mentor Program of America (ACE) to thank for giving them a positive introduction to the construction and development industry.

Today, several Skanska team members serve as mentors to student participants across the country every year.

Sixty-nine percent of ACE participants come from underserved communities and backgrounds, giving our employees a chance to be a part of positively impacting our future talent.

Often, we must step off the job site to serve communities down the road.

Portland team supports foster care community

In Portland, Oregon, personal experiences and a resolve to make a difference where we build results in our team impacting foster families.

Team members recently gathered donations for Every Child Oregon and With Love to support kids’ transition period into or out of the foster care system.

Contributing and packing fresh essentials together was a chance to reflect on the needs of those in neighboring communities.

Los Angeles team supports ending women’s homelessness

Our USA Commercial Development team prioritizes supporting the great work of Downtown Women’s Center (DWC), a non-profit in greater Los Angeles, California.

Recently, they prepared personalized lunch boxes for homeless women relying on the organization’s services. Partnering with DWC’s mission gives the team a chance to see small actions make a big difference.

King Boston’s work for racial justice invites Skanska into the picture

Recently, team members in Boston donated their time in the construction of a new memorial, The Embrace.

In partnering with the non-profit, King Boston, the journey to completion involved learning more about Martin Luther King’s connection with Boston and his fight for racial inequity.

The location of the memorial was vital ground for the civil rights icon.

Partnering with School for the Deaf builds on efforts to shape all types of communities

In constructing a new academic center for the Washington School for the Deaf in Vancouver, Washington, the important work of those committed to supporting the deaf and hard of hearing community is taking center stage.

Our team out of Portland, Oregon, is seeing the significance of adapting building design to meet diverse learning modalities.