Incorporating Green Building Into Your Equitable Community Development Plan

Climate change disproportionately affects Black communities in Atlanta. Historically redlined communities are decades behind in investment so during extreme heat events, a handful of city blocks can mean the difference between an 80-degree afternoon and a 100-degree one. AND, Black families are nearly five times more likely than white families to own homes in these communities. But these communities meet these challenges with purpose, strategy, and optimism that buoys climate resilience and invigorates local economies.

Atlanta’s Historic District Development Corporation (HDDC) is a key organization engaged in this work. HDDC was founded in 1980 by Coretta Scott King, Christine King Farris, and John Cox to protect the residential assets surrounding Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birth site on Auburn Avenue. They aim to revitalize the community with an eye toward addressing the inequitable impacts of climate change at the forefront. HDDC has developed and championed the character, history, and legacy of the Sweet Auburn neighborhood in the creation of the Sweet Auburn Green and Equitable (SAGE) District.

Watch this webinar to:

• See how HDDC is using green building infrastructure to create a hub of resilience for residents of Sweet Auburn and beyond
• Learn the history and context that led to the SAGE District framework, values, and goals
• Understand how to engage community deeply for better design and functionality within project development

Speakers:

• Odetta MacLeish-White, Director of Georgia Initiatives, Center for Community Progress
• Cheneé Joseph, President and CEO, Historic District Development Corporation (HDDC)