Are You Wild?

By KELLY ROBERTS

Advocating for Equity with EEquity in Lighting.

Elaine is an unapologetic lighting enthusiast, currently blending a passion for engineering with her skillaine Cook

What does it mean to be WILD? Women in Lighting + Design immerses you in a vibrant community that champions inclusivity, equality, and diversity within the dynamic landscape of the lighting industry. Elaine Cook, a trailblazing member of WILD NYC, not only embodies these values, she propels them into action through the organization l in sales as the NYC Regional Sales Manager at Lumenwerx. Growing up surrounded by the intricate workings of her family's lighting fixture factory, Elaine imbibed a spirit of innovation and resilience. “I was always tinkering, because I was always shown that my ideas had value. I was taught that if I made a mistake, it wasn't the end of the world. It’s just part of the process of learning and finding a solution,” she recalled.

From playing hooky during primary school in order to build things from scraps, to pursuing her fascination with robotics as a mechatronic systems engineer, Elaine's trajectory has been dynamic. She was inspired to succeed professionally by the strength of her mother, the CFO of the family business, and her grandmother, an immigrant, who built a thriving antique business in Toronto. Later, finding Women in Engineering at university and WILD in NYC, Elaine's experiences cemented her belief in the capabilities of women in our industry and the importance of community.

“[Women in Engineering] was such a great network. It brought so many incredible females into one room, and I met my best friends and mentors there. When I moved to New York, I knew there had to be something like it for the lighting industry. I was so excited when I found WILD.”

FOUNDERS

Through WILD, Elaine met Lana Lenar and Francesca Bastianini. And in the summer of 2020, they founded Equity in Lighting (EIL). Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, EIL started as an effort to quantify the diversity in the lighting industry and create actionable measures to increase it. The three founders also recognized the need to diversify the industry's narrative beyond the white male perspective.

“When you think of who gets credit for designing the light bulb and how the lighting design industry started, for example, you realize that lighting design itself was historically created through the lens of a white male. So of course the industry now is only going to know and understand that point of view,” Cook said.

As EIL came to understand the baseline of the industry better, their strategic vision became more focused. EIL’s mission now is to provide the lighting industry with the knowledge, the frameworks, and the skills to successfully illuminate every community in our world. This includes diversifying voices across all sectors of the industry, and ensuring that the unique experiences and needs of different communities are considered.

PROGRAMS FOR CHANGE

As Executive Director, Elaine is responsible for providing the Equity in Lighting team—Zachary Pearson, Dominique Davis, Narali Prajapati, and Austin Young—with the resources to fulfill their collective mission. EIL's Research team is currently identifying gaps in industry guidelines and guiding research efforts on initiatives from understanding lighting on different skin tones to catering to neurodiverse experiences. Collaborations, such as the 2023 joint panel with IESNYC, “Lighting and Skin Tone,” showcase how EIL can integrate into the industry. They work with existing organizations to support their causes and enhance opportunities and education for their members.

"The strengths of WILD, IES, IALD, etc. are the communities they have built and the boots they have on the ground." - Elaine Cook

Through the Primary & Secondary educational outreach programs, EIL is introducing lighting as an accessible and exciting field to young minds. Their goal is to inspire a more diverse group of individuals to join the industry.

Fun educational modules, which are currently in beta testing, include lighting equipment for the students to explore. The fully guided program can be run by anyone,

whether they have experience with lighting or not. EIL is seeking more schools and teachers to participate in the beta program prior to the national launch. For Elaine, working directly with these students is the most rewarding part of EIL. Witnessing their "light bulb" moments, as they grasp the magic of lighting and its potential, is what fuels her determination.

BUILDING COALITIONS

Elaine is always on the lookout for volunteers willing to contribute their time and ideas to further the cause. She is not necessarily expecting a full commitment (although that is welcome too!). She prefers strategic project volunteers with a smaller fixed timeline. She especially is looking for more opportunities to collaborate with existing industry organizations.

“The strengths of WILD, IES, IALD, etc. are the communities they have built and the boots they have on the ground,” she said. “However, before Equity in Lighting there was nothing connecting the lighting industry’s DEIR efforts. Now, EIL can be the hub that helps share resources and avoids each group having to reinvent the wheel. Partnering with organizations and communities inside and outside of lighting is so important for Equity in Lighting’s success, and for the success of the various advocacy initiatives in the industry.”

Elaine's involvement with Equity in Lighting and her tireless efforts to advocate for equitable practices within the lighting industry highlight her dedication to breaking barriers. Her commitment to fostering inclusivity is paving the way for a more diverse and innovative future in lighting design.

As she puts it, making that small light bulb moment happen, even occasionally, is undeniably worth the effort. We are proud to call her a Women in Lighting + Design member! ■

Equity in Lighting

www.equityinlighting.org • hello@equityinlighting.org @equityinlighting

Women in Lighting and Design

www.womeninlightinganddesign.org • info@womeninlightinganddesign.org @womeninlightinganddesign