Los Angeles Region
Los Angeles Regional Leadership Advisory Board
Los Angeles Regional Leadership Advisory Board
The Los Angeles Regional Leadership Advisory Board (RLAB) is led by inspiring leaders throughout our diverse local communities to take action on climate change, public health, and environmental justice while educating, developing, and empowering a diverse talent pipeline through our training, mentorship, and direct-to-community programs. We connect by merging interdisciplinary perspectives and collaborations to create positive systemic change. We advocate through promoting innovative, impactful policy solutions addressing the most urgent environmental and social challenges of our time.
Leadership
- Regional Leadership Advisory Boards (RLABS) are comprised of passionate leaders who advance transformational communities in their regions across California.
- RLABs build local capacity by developing an initiative (programs or events) that directly benefits members in the region and serves as an active pipeline for community engagement, network development, and impact.
- RLAB members are responsible for generating ideas and initiatives that address local community needs while aligning with USGBC-CA’s mission. RLABs will direct and advise on regional advocacy while providing feedback on statewide or federal policy.
Are you a passionate leader dedicated to transforming communities in your region? Now is your chance to make a lasting impact!
History
USGBC-Los Angeles began in 2002 as a Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), when a group of local AEC leaders recognized the need for better practices in the built environment. Some of them were the early leaders of USGBC, a nationwide network of groups with similar interests and goals. The region was originally L.A. County. With the size and spread of the L.A. region, USGBC-LA eventually grew to include local branches covering the San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, Long Beach, South Bay, West Side, and the Inland Empire.
Executive Director Lance Williams served as the first USGBC-LA Executive Director from 2005 to 2011. Dominique Hargreaves, who started with USGBC-LA in 2008, later led USGBC-LA as Executive Director until 2018. She oversaw significant growth of the chapter – with local branches extending its spread from the Pacific Ocean to the Arizona border – as well as the growth of innovative and impactful regional programs, including the Green Janitors Certification Program, the Building Resilience-L.A. initiative, the Greenbuild LA Legacy Project (renamed the Environmental Justice Project), Women in Green Leadership and Green Apple Day of Service events. During this time, USGBC-LA hosted Greenbuild in L.A. in 2016, and subsequently was awarded L.A. County’s 2017 Green Leadership Award from the L.A. County Supervisors.
Additionally, in 2015, USGBC-LA solidified its independent status from USGBC, with its own regional mission, programs, board, and staff.
Over the years, as the industry and policy drive towards the most advanced sustainability trends, local membership interests have broadened to discussions of net positive influence, impact investments, climate change, and resiliency regulations.
In April 2024, USGBC-LA, originally founded in collaboration with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), unified with the other regional communities across the state to become USGBC California, an independent nonprofit. The USGBC-LA Chapter of USGBC California will be led by volunteers selected as the Regional Leadership Advisory Board, supporting the long-standing chapter’s strength of knowledge and local leadership.
Milestones
- 2001: Los Angeles Chapter Organizing Group forms as a chapter of the US Green Building Council with co-chairs Lisa Matthiessen and Jim Weiner.
- 2001: USGBC-Los Angeles Chapter Articles of Incorporation filed
- 2001: IRS Status Granted as a 501(c)(3) public benefit nonprofit corporation.
- 2007: USGBC-LA established an office in downtown Los Angeles at 444 S. Flower St.
- 2009-11: Local geo-branches of USGBC-LA are established, including Long Beach (launched by Lance Collins), Westside, Inland Empire, San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, and finally South Bay. The Branches create their own programming and initiatives to support the Chapter’s mission.
- 2010: The Existing Buildings Committee was established, one of the first groups to focus on the enormous impact of the current building stock and its climate impacts.
- 2015: As the USGBC network evolves, the Los Angeles Chapter chooses to maintain its own 501(c)(3) designation and continue to align with the US Green Building Council network.
- 2016: USGBC-LA is invited to share space at BuroHappold’s offices in downtown L.A.
- 2019: Ben Stapleton joins USGBC-LA as Executive Director. There are two staff, a contract employee and an intern. USGBC-LA moves to the La Kretz Innovation Campus in downtown L.A.’s Arts District.
- 2021: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, USGBC-LA moves to completely remote and transitions to hybrid operations with virtual education and events.
- 2024: USGBC-LA unifies with the other green building groups across the state, creating the California Green Building Council dba USGBC California. USGBC-LA staff becomes staff of USGBC California. USGBC-LA will become a new volunteer-led regional chapter of USGBC California.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
Our workshops, events, and hands-on sessions focus on sustainability, green building practices, and leadership in the built environment. Join us for expert-led learning opportunities, networking, and real-world strategies that empower professionals to drive change and advance sustainable solutions in the industry.
Committees
Our community is authentic, inspiring, and purpose-driven, and we want you to be part of it! We work alongside each other with a sense of collective purpose, a focus on higher learning, and an ever-present awareness of the impacts of the work we do.
The Environmental Justice Project Committee is rooted in the recognition that climate change disproportionately impacts marginalized communities. The issues faced by these neighborhoods range from environmental concerns like tree canopy inequity and air quality to social challenges like housing access and funding for essential services. This committee seeks to strengthen climate resilience across the state by working in partnership with community-based organizations at the local level to share resources, foster advocacy and educational efforts, and support projects that combat these inequities.
The Environmental Justice Project Committee is also the new home of the Environmental Justice Project. By merging the Environmental Justice Project and DEI+B committees, project volunteers are given the necessary context and training to be effective community partners, while DEI+B committee members are offered a way to translate their values into action.
Provides a forum for women+ and allies to make an impact in Los Angeles, build networks, celebrate women leaders, and create healthy, inclusive, sustainable, resilient communities for all.
Convenes fresh new perspectives from some of the brightest minds in our sector. This group helps to support all of our committees and serves as a pipeline for emerging talent to grow into leadership positions within USGBC California and their own organizations.
Become a Member!
Become a Member!
Our community is authentic, inspiring, and purpose-driven, and we want you to be part of it! We work alongside each other with a sense of collective purpose, a focus on higher learning, and an ever-present awareness of the impacts of the work we do.
Join our LA Community Hub!
Ready to connect and collaborate? Access the San Diego Community Hub today and join a network of passionate individuals driving positive change. Be part of the conversation, share ideas, and help shape the future!
Contact Us!
Want to learn more, have questions, or need additional information? We’re here to help! Whether you’re seeking more details about our programs, events, or membership, we’re just a message away!
