The Illuminating Engineering Society has released a statement from its board of directors and staff stating its support of inclusion, the Black community, and the principle of uniting and speaking out. LightNOW agrees.
The statement reads:
To IES Members and the lighting community,
George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others have lost their lives because they were Black. Murdered, because they were Black. Unfortunately, due to the deep-seated systemic racism that exists, unless we act now, there will likely be others.
Simply put, Black Lives Matter. This is not a controversial statement. It speaks to the racial injustices that the Black community faces on a daily basis from law enforcement, the judicial system, and more. This is a reality that the IES does not accept.
Unequivocally, the IES supports inclusion.
Unequivocally, the IES supports our Black members, volunteers, employees and the entire Black community.
Unequivocally, the IES supports uniting and speaking out.
The IES is committed to making a difference. To identify ways in which we can create actionable initiatives to enact change, we will be focused on listening and learning. We encourage you to do the same. In addition, the IES will:
- seek strategic partners to identify how we can make a positive impact;
- review our existing programs and services; and
- listen to our members, volunteers, and the lighting community to identify ways to remove obstacles that exist within our industry so that the diversity of the lighting industry mirrors that of the world we live in.
We also want to hear from you about what you believe the IES can do to have a positive impact. Join us in standing together to improve, learn, grow, and create meaningful change. Contact us at President@ies.org and/or Vice-President@ies.org.
Violence against the Black community must come to an end. Racial injustices against the Black community must come to an end. Racism against the Black community must come to an end
The IES Board of Directors
Jennifer Jaques, President
Antonio Garza, Vice President
James Radi, Treasurer
Lance Bennett, Past President
Frank Agraz, At-Large Director
Carl Bloomfield, At-Large Director
Wilson Dau, At-Large Director
Naomi Miller, At-Large Director
James Potts, At-Large Director
Susanne Seitinger, At-Large Director
Antonio Giacobbe, West Regional Director
Rick Paradis, Northeast Regional Director
Michelle Prew, Midwest Regional Director
Billy Tubb, South Regional Director
The IES Staff
Tim Licitra, IES Executive Director
Alex Baker
Thomas Butters
Kathleen Cavanaugh
Dawn De Grazio
Geomara Flores
Samuel Fontanez
Leetroy Fraser
Nicole Giglione
Brian Liebel
Mark Lien
Olga Loukina
Patricia McGillicuddy
Marie Meacham
Zoe Milgram
Katie Nale
Leslie Prestia
Rama Rejman
Charyliz Rodriguez
Rick Rodriguez
Klysha Ross
Samantha Schwirck
Klara Steupert
Albert Suen
Paul Tarricone
Brienne Willcock
Joseph Wood
Fima Zlatsin
