First Friday Webinar – Equity at Scale: Exploring LEED’s Role in Creating More Just Buildings and Communities

USGBC will once again offer First Friday Webinars in 2025 – but this year with a twist! We’ll still gather online over midday on the First Friday of each month for leading-edge education, but in 2025, we’ll alternate live education sessions with highly rated, previously recorded sessions from past USGBC programming. Gather with peers and colleagues at noon Central Time on first Friday of each month to earn those CEs!

These courses are available for anyone to attend, but are free to local or company USGBC members. That includes Missouri Gateway Green Building Council members!

Access the webinar registration and code here. You will be prompted to login to access the code. Once you enter your login details, it will take you to your Member Dashboard. From there, click Member Only Benefits from the left-hand side menu to view the list of benefits and access code for the First Friday Webinars. You can use the code to register for one or more of the first Friday webinars. Questions? Reach out to your MO Gateway Green Building Council staff at info@mogreenbuildings.org.

REGISTER FOR THE OCTOBER 3 WEBINAR

October 3 | Equity at Scale: Exploring LEED’s Role in Creating More Just Buildings and Communities

The LEED rating systems are applicable across varying scales. But how do we understand the ways in which social equity and quality of life is explored at these differing scales?

This session takes a closer look at sustainability and the development of LEED v5 rating systems through the lens of social impact. Hear perspectives from the U.S. Green Building Council, the LEED Equity Working Group, as well as industry practitioners in design, development, and planning to engage in a discussion around how equity represents itself within the scope of buildings and the larger urban fabric.

Built environment professionals face the dual mission of meeting environmental standards while advancing social inclusivity and justice in the face of climate change. Panelists will review key components of equity embedded within LEED v5 and beyond as LEED for Cities and Communities continues to develop, examining the significance and impact on project development.

Speakers will share practical guidance on the new LEED v5 Social Impact Assessment, providing attendees with tools to drive inclusivity in their work, and equipping participants with essential skills in community engagement and outreach, vital for gaining local stakeholder support. Staying updated with evolving LEED standards is crucial for industry competitiveness, appealing to socially responsible clients and investors.

This session is pivotal for architects, planners, policymakers, and advocates, empowering them to lead positive change by crafting buildings and spaces that are not only environmentally sustainable but also socially inclusive and equitable—a crucial step toward a more just and sustainable future. Gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in advancing equity in the built environment, including potential barriers to implementation, measurement methodologies, and the need for ongoing advocacy and education.

This presentation was recorded at Greenbuild 2024, which took place from November 12-15, 2024 at the Philadelphia Convention Center.

REGISTER FOR THE OCTOBER 3 WEBINAR

• February 7 | Live | Green Careers, Bright Futures: Strategies for Success in the Sustainability and Advanced Energy Workforce Pipeline
• March 7 | LEED v5 as a Tool for Decarbonizing the Built Environment
• April 4 | Live  | Implementing LEED v5 Operations + Maintenance Worldwide
• May 2 | New Launch for Real Estate Portfolios: Accelerating Action, Performance, and Verification
• June 6 | Live | Green Finance Tools and Resources
• July 11 | Making Zero Emissions Buildings the New Normal
• August 1 | Live | LEEDv5 Updates and Discussion
• September 5 | Digging into SITES
• October 3 | Live | TRUE Total Resource Management
• November 7 | Equity at Scale: Exploring LEED’s Role in Creating More Just Buildings and Communities
• December 5 | Live | Information Forthcoming
• January 2026 | Getting Green for Green: Using Sustainable Finance Strategies for Green Building Investments