In line with the LAF’s New Landscape Declaration, the goal of the event was “to advance the conversation by building the business case for diversity, illustrating how a focus on equity and inclusion results in more robust spaces.”

“Our founder’s legacy is rooted in the belief that diversity is a driver of creativity and innovation,” Michael Grove, principal and landscape architect at Sasaki and LAF board member, said in his opening remarks. He further encouraged design professionals to play a more active voice in shaping the dialogue of inclusion in the industry.

Diana Fernandez moderated the panel. “In the same way that we take responsibility for ecological and sustainable approaches to design, we have to do the same with these issues of equity and inclusion,” said Fernandez. Fernandez, a landscape designer at Sasaki, previously presented on the topic of diversity at the ASLA Annual Meeting and Expo.

The panelists included:

• Barbara Deutsch; CEO, The Landscape Architecture Foundation
• Beka Sturges; Principal, Reed Hilderbrand
• Gina Ford; Co-Founder and Principal, Agency Landscape + Planning
• Kaki Martin; Klopfer Martin Design Group
• Kimberly Driggins; Director of Strategic Planning, City of Detroit
• Shauna Gillies-Smith; Founding Principal, Ground

Over 100 guests attended, and the event was live-streamed. Scroll down for photos, and watch the full discussion here.

Thank you to all who joined and led us in this important conversation! Sasaki extends a special thanks to our event sponsors: the Sasaki Foundation and the Boston Society of Landscape Architects.