US Green Building Council Los Angeles
Transforming California into a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable place for all.
Oya Sherrills first got involved with USGBC-LA in 2020 while working in a public safety
roundtable looking at all of the ways public safety was impacted in her community, the
Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts. Oya leads The Reverence Project, helping survivors
of violent crime and their families with steps of healing. Through this public safety work,
Oya learned the many environmental factors that affect safety and sought ways to make
change. A friend introduced Oya to Danielle Killian, a USGBC-LA volunteer and passionate
advocate for sustainability and environmental justice. Danielle invited Oya to an Urban
Landscape Committee meeting where she was able to meet and build relationships with
others passionate about environmental justice.
Through USGBC-LA’s annual Legacy Project, Oya and the Urban Landscape Committee
brought the Survivor’s Healing Garden to life. Oya shares that bringing green landscape
into a space where survivors are beginning the healing process, “...inspires creativity and
longevity for participants, thinking about how community members can support a
vision far into the future. It provides an outlet for creativity that combats depression and
isolation. People are at the center of everything we do. Putting into action how powerful
humans are as a resource...that has been my experience. It has been a complete joy.”
Oya is excited about the upcoming year because she sees certification opportunities for
people who may have not seen a career path to green jobs before. Oya shares, “It’s really
exciting to see people who are both young and from non-traditional “green”
backgrounds be able to gain real certifications in this field. It means another level of
freedom for them. It means exposure to new avenues of creativity, achievement, and
career development." Oya sees a future where we can all be a part of the “just” transition.
Financials
Programs
Green Schools
The Green Schools program introduces sustainability education to K-12 students
through hand-on workshops, volunteer initiatives, and micro-grants addressing the sustainability needs of school campuses.
Green Building Corps
The Green Building Corps provides real-world job experience to unemployed and underemployed persons who want a career in sustainability
Environmental Justice Project
The Environmental Justice Project is an annual selected project initiated to close the divide between social justice and environmental resilience, as we acknowledge that the impacts of climate change disproportionately affect the communities most in need. Historical injustices, racial segregation, redlining, and the placement of hazardous pollution sources in disadvantaged communities have combined to generate disparities in pollution and access to resources, which are evident throughout California today. Enhancing equity is a crucial element in constructing a more sustainable city for all its inhabitants. Environmental Justice Projects are designed to empower local individuals, communities, and organizations to implement initiatives that promote sustainability and social justice within their neighborhoods, fostering tangible transformation.
Green Affordable Housing Program
The Green Affordable Housing Program (GAHP) provides resources to help multi-family building owners/managers and residents reduce energy and water costs and improve indoor air and water quality while reducing greenhouse gas emissions in lower-income communities.
Our goal is to help fill a market gap by taking a holistic approach to engaging with owners and residents of multi-family properties located in lower-income communities in the Eastern San Fernando Valley (Pacoima, Panorama City, Van Nuys, and North Hollywood) and San Pedro and Wilmington neighborhoods.
Green Janitors
The Green Janitor Education Program (GJEP) addresses the increasing sustainability and health requirements of commercial businesses and campuses. This program offers benefits to property owners, custodial staff, and occupants, all while ensuring adherence to environmentally-friendly cleaning protocols.
The GJEP curriculum, which is also accessible in Spanish, is centered on improving building operations and maintenance procedures. It emphasizes the following key areas:
Green performance standards
Energy efficiency
Waste management
Water conservation
Green cleaning practices
Participants who successfully complete the GJEP program earn accreditation in green building cleaning practices, enabling them to meet the latest sustainable and health-related building standards.
Wildfire Defense Education
The Wildfire Defense Education and Tours Program raises awareness by offering topic-specific resource guides and expert guidance. This initiative empowers our community, construction professionals, property owners, designers, and managers to take proactive measures in reducing wildfire risks and minimizing associated losses. California now confronts a year-round fire season, which poses severe and potentially life-threatening consequences. There are actionable steps that everyone can take to safeguard their properties, mitigate fire risks in the region, and enhance the city’s resilience. Architects, builders, developers, urban planners, and landscapers all have crucial roles to fulfill.
Volunteering + Events
Volunteer With Us!
Are you interested in ways that you can support the green building movement?
Submit your interest in volunteering with us and demonstrate your passion for change that achieves a greener, more equitable built environment for all!