Supplier Diversity Fair
In honor of Black History Month, LADWP hosted our first Supplier Diversity Fair of 2024 on February 22. The event, designed for networking and creating opportunities for small, Black- and woman-owned businesses, had approximately 300 participants. It also featured a panel discussion with Ingrid Merriwether, President & CEO of Merriwether & Williams Insurance Services, and Gene Hale, Chairman of the Greater L.A. African American Chamber of Commerce, that highlighted opportunities, challenges, and resources for achieving equitable participation on public agency contracts.
Youth Day
For approximately 150 middle and high school students, reaching for the stars has never been easier. On February 24, LADWP hosted Youth Day, an event designed to introduce students to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers at the Department. This year’s event, planned by the LADWP’s National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) chapter and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, featured a showing of “The Space Race,” a film about African-American astronauts. The day also included a downed-wire demonstration from LADWP, STEM exhibits, movie clips of the Tuskegee airmen, and a "moonshot” activity, where participants built “rockets” and launched them to the “moon.” Watch a video of the event on Vimeo.
What is Black Excellence?
Check out our video series highlighting Black employees in leadership positions on Vimeo.
Honoring Dr. King at the 2024 Kingdom Day Parade
LADWP employees spread the message of equity and sustainability with enthusiasm and energy at the iconic Kingdom Day Parade! Employees and members of LADWP-NSBE joined General Manger Martin Adams and Board Commissioner Mia Lehrer to champion a clean energy future Powered by Equity that aligns with Martin Luther King Jr.'s values of equality and community empowerment.