Lighting Community Unites at LightFair Light Advocacy Social
The Light Advocacy Social, held at LightFair yesterday from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., brought together a diverse group of lighting professionals and advocates for an inspiring afternoon focused on inclusion, equity, and community building. Hosted by Sara Schonour, the event spotlighted key organizations working to make the lighting industry more equitable and welcoming.
Celebrating Collaboration and Impact
Sara opened by thanking sponsors WILD, Light Justice, IES BUILD, Equity in Lighting, and NACLIQ. She highlighted a recent joint effort: the “Why Diversity Matters” webinar, which attracted over 400 registrations. “That’s really a testament to what we can do when we work together,” Sara said. “Tonight is about celebrating the cool things happening in our community that go beyond lumens and foot candles.”
BUILD: Empowering Black Lighting Professionals
Edward Bartholomew introduced BUILD (Black United in Lighting and Design), formed in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd. “BUILD is a Black affinity group for lighting professionals,” Edward shared. “We meet monthly and offer a great networking space. If you know Black lighting professionals, please invite them to join. We’re here to support and uplift.”
IES DEIR: Driving Equity and Inclusion
Next, Mariel Taviana Acevedo spoke about the IES Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) Committee. “We advise the IES Board on ways to make the Society more equitable and inclusive,” Mariel explained. “Even if you’re not an IES member, we welcome conversations on how we can foster change together.”
WILD: Women in Lighting and Design
Lois Hutchinson took the stage to highlight WILD’s mission. “We’re all about retaining women in the industry and pushing them up the ladder,” Lois said. “We have 20 chapters nationwide and several mentorship programs. We started informally 30 years ago and became official about five years back. And remember—always offer a mocktail!”
Light Justice: Lighting for All
Chrisoula Moraitis introduced Light Justice, now an official 501(c)(3). “We believe everyone deserves good lighting and beneficial darkness,” Chrisoula stated. “We’ve been growing since 2020 and just launched a new website. Please come see me or Edward if you’d like to learn more.”
IALD: Global Leadership and Inclusion
Andrea Hartranft, President of IALD, shared updates on the organization’s commitment to inclusion. “We are working hard to embed inclusion across everything we do,” Andrea said. “Globally, we’re forming an inclusion committee with a standing invitation at our board meetings to ensure diverse voices are heard.”
NACLIQ: Building a Supportive Community
Alana Shepherd, founder and president of NACLIQ, reflected on her personal journey. “After coming out as trans, I wasn’t sure if I had a place in this industry,” Alana said. “So I founded NACLIQ to create that space. We’ve grown with chapters in New England, New York, Texas, and more. If you’re interested in starting a chapter, come see us at booth 839.”
Equity in Lighting: A Collective Effort
Although Equity in Lighting didn’t have a representative present, Sara provided a brief overview, emphasizing the group’s mission to build equity across the lighting industry and its collaboration with the other organizations.
A Vibrant Close
Sara wrapped up by encouraging attendees to mingle and connect. “Please enjoy the conversation and community,” she said. “Thank you again to our sponsors—and yes, there’s still ice cream left!”
The Light Advocacy Social showcased how far the lighting community has come in fostering inclusivity and equity—and set the tone for even more collaboration in the future.
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