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On the heels of the recent Women in Green breakfast, I have been thinking a lot about how fortunate I am to have intersected with this political moment at this stage in my life. On May 22nd, a room full of people (women and men) gathered to talk about the Me Too movement, to listen to established […]

This week I’m at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh, watching and learning as over 3,000 teens from about 82 countries share research and innovative ideas that could change our world – inspiring stuff. There are so many young women at this event. I’m thinking about the opportunities that await those who want […]

At some point in our lives or the life of our organizations, we start thinking about legacy – what it is we can pass along to the next generation – and wonder what impact we will have beyond our personal lifetimes. In the case of my family, there are recipes, sayings, objects, and stories that […]

LOS ANGELES (May 1, 2018) The U.S. Green Building Council-Los Angeles (USGBC-LA)Chapter has selected its 3rd annual Legacy Project, The Discovery Garden, created by the Cityof Simi Valley. The Discovery Garden was selected as the 2018 project with its goals topromote sustainability, encourage equal access to natural wildlife, and help inspire the members of the […]

Seleta Reynolds, General Manager, Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) will give the morning keynote at the Municipal Green Building Conference and Expo on April 19. Los Angeles rose with the age of the automobile, and the city embraced it. We designed our entire urban landscape with it in mind and little appreciation for the […]

Let’s pretend it is the New Year and you are thinking about all the ways you want to improve. Most likely you focus on your health and relationships. You may decide to lose weight, you may decide to get in better shape, or to ride your bike more or say nicer things to your friends.   […]

Although the smart phone sitting in my pocket can help me find the answer to most any question, I don’t think of my phone as the intersection of technology and learning, but simply a tool that I use more often than I’d like to admit. However, a library is truly that space – that intersection […]

Just over a year ago I started this blog to better understand what people think about the concepts and principles of sustainability. Early in the series I wrote an entry on resilience and I haven’t stopped thinking about it. Unfortunately, the experience has been more like marbles rolling around in a labyrinth getting stuck in […]

The Athens Services Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Sun Valley, is one of the highest-tech facilities in the industry, and receives 100% of its materials from Los Angeles. If you didn’t get a chance to go on the USGBC-LA tour, there’s a video tour here that offers a cool peek at the technology they use! […]

It was the summer of 2009 and the ink was still wet on my Master’s degree from the Bren School at UC Santa Barbara. When I went back to school, I was confident that designing and operating sustainable buildings was both what I wanted to do with my life and a growth industry. I just […]

strat·e·gy noun a plan of action  The USGBC-LA Board of Directors and Chapter Leaders have been hard at work this year, post-Greenbuild LA and post-Presidential election to steer a clear path forward. The 10-year strategic plan was crafted in 2011, setting the groundwork for the Chapter’s activities and growth. Looking ahead, the next three years […]

“Don’t let my pretty eyes fool you.” This was said by Jackie Defede, Facilities Director at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. After transitioning to a woman, it is a phrase she’s used with male contractors who have vastly underestimated her technical experience. She described how, using a firm tone, she would have to remind them […]