(B02) Sharing a Vision: The Art and Science of Prioritizing Community Engagement to Achieve Improved Environmental Justice

Many companies now are seeking to prioritize consideration of environmental justice issues during the development, design and construction of projects, but capturing the voice of the community itself in that process is often a major challenge. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has committed to helping project stakeholders to capture those community needs in its Urban Development/Good Neighbor Program, and it has recently sponsored new research conducted by Dodge Construction Network with architects and contractors on diversity, equity and inclusion that examines industry strengths, weaknesses and priorities in capturing community input. This session will provide an overview of the findings of that study, and it will share the GSA's tactical approach to encouraging equitable development, smart growth and environmental justice principles on its projects. The information provided on the Good Neighbor Program's principles and resources will offer a clear example of how to engage with communities to learn more about their environmental priorities and challenges. While the program itself applies to federal building projects, the tools and approaches it promotes can provide a useful framework for all who seek to improve their ability to to conduct meaningful community engagement in order to make sure they fully understand the sustainability and environmental justice needs that their projects can address and act upon that knowledge to improve the impact of their projects on the communities that surround them.