The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announces Winona LaDuke, international thought leader and lecturer in climate justice, renewable energy and environmental justice, as the opening keynote speaker of the USGBC Live: Twin Cities Forum. LaDuke, Executive Director of Honor the Earth, has been an advocate for protecting indigenous plants and heritage foods from patenting and genetic engineering and will host a session titled After the Time of the Seventh Fire, A Green Economy Emerges. 

 “USGBC Live is USGBC’s event platform to help prepare and inspire building industry practitioners and changemakers to accelerate the transition to green buildings, cities and communities,” said Kim Heaver, VP Conferences and Events, USGBC. “With the Twin Cities Forum, we are engaging with the green building community in the Midwest as we look to the future of USGBC and LEED.” 

 Additionally, the closing keynote session will feature a conversation on Greening our Economy: Perspectives on Equitable and Innovative Urban Development, and a panel with Channon Lemon, Founder, Intent Energy, LLC; Monte Hillman, SVP of Real Estate Development, Saint Paul Port Authority; and Natalie Self, SVP of Equitable Economic Impact, Cortex Innovation Community. 

 In addition to the keynote events, USGBC Live will include sessions focused on LEED, the certification process, how to use LEED to achieve your sustainability goals and debunking myths about LEED. The USGBC Live: Twin Cities Forum offers 6.5 Continuing Education (CE) hours for attendees. CE hours are needed by LEED APs and LEED Green Associates to maintain your professional credential. All registrations include digital access, for an additional 20 plus on demand CE hours. 

 Attendees will learn how to implement LEED, meet others in the industry, discover new green building strategies that help with real-world issues, and to explore the latest in green building technology platforms, including updates to LEED Online. 

 Media are invited to attend and can register here using code MEDIATWINCITIES22. More information on USGBC Live and the full agenda can be found here.