Event

Event: Amplifying Black Vision in the Sustainable Building Industry

Date: October 11, 2023

Start Time: 11:00 am

End Time: 1:30 pm

Location: June Key Delta Community Center

Address: 5940 North Albina Ave. Portland, OR 97217

Join us for an exciting in-person event at the June Key Delta Community Center, a zero energy building! This event is all about showcasing and celebrating the innovative ideas and perspectives of Black visionaries in the sustainable building industry. Get ready to be inspired by thought-provoking round table discussions, engaging breakout groups, and networking opportunities with industry leaders.

Discover how Black professionals are making a significant impact in creating sustainable and eco-friendly spaces. Whether you’re an architect, builder, designer, or simply passionate about sustainable building, this event is for you! Don’t miss this chance to learn, connect, and be a part of the movement to amplify Black voices in the sustainable building industry.

Presented by the ZERO Coalition and the Portland Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Roundtable participants: Kayin Talton Davis, Partnerships and Design Manager, Albina Vision Trust Kayin Talton Davis’s work centers around her passion for fusing art grounded in Black heritage and culture with graphic design, mechanical engineering, community building and education. Founder of Soapbox Theory™ and co-founder of reBuilding Cornerstones, Kayin is a 2023 Van Evera Bailey Fellow, co-artist of the Historic Black Williams Art Project and the Black Heritage Markers on NE Alberta. Her permanent public installation, “We’ve Been Here” is located in the Portland Building. Kayin is currently the Partnerships and Design manager for Albina Vision Trust.

James Metoyer, Founder and Executive Director, EnerCity Collaborative As executive director of EnerCity Collaborative (ECC), James works with youth and adult construction-training programs, community-based organizations, and other nonprofits to help professionals find careers in weatherization, residential energy auditing, deep-energy retrofitting, and net-zero building, and to ensure that BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) communities have equitable access to healthy, sustainable, and energy-efficient housing.

Chandra Robinson, Principal, LEVER Architecture Chandra is a Principal at LEVER Architecture where she collaborates with communities and institutions to design buildings that elevate human experience and foreground equity. Chandra is currently working on several civic and educational projects, is the Vice Chair of the Portland Design Commission; and is a Founding Board Member of the National Organization for Minority Architects (NOMA) Portland chapter.

Noah Koné, Green Workforce Partnerships Manager, Constructing Hope Noah has 8 years of experience developing, implementing, and managing strategic partnerships for tech startups, influencers, and professional sports organizations. He has facilitated brand partnerships between Fortune 500 companies and NBA athletes leading to digital marketing campaigns making over 6mm impressions on social media. Noah is a hands-on, seasoned creative professional with senior skills across communications, content production, and creative strategy who bridges the gap between emerging tech and culture.

Teshome Eda’e Jiru, Ph.D., CEM, Chief Technical Officer, Burch Energy Teshome is passionate about applying his 15 years of academic and industry experience to amplify energy efficiency and renewable energy as forces for sustainable socio-economic development. Teshome is responsible for establishing and overseeing the company’s strategic technical needs. He is responsible for technical QA/QC for all projects. He helps in planning the company’s strategic direction, development and future growth.