Jared Gilbert
Username
Jared Gilbert
Proposer First Name
Jared
Proposer Email
jgilbert@cookfox.com
Proposer Last Name
Gilbert
Proposer Job Title
Associate Partner
Proposer Additional Info
Jared is Associate Partner and Director of Communications and manages the studio’s external relations and business development activities. With an architecture degree from Ball State University and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School, his research, writing and speaking interests are at the intersections of sustainability, architecture and urbanism, and spirituality and social justice. His writing for COOKFOX includes “The Fifth Façade: Designing Nature in the City” and “Toward the Future City: An Ethical Design Philosophy for Urban Habitats.” His recent speaking engagement included two sessions at Greenbuild 2021 on the topics of social equity, supply chains transparency and architectural practice. Jared currently serves on the Design for Freedom Taskforce on behalf of COOKFOX. Prior to joining the studio, Jared served as Director of Communications and Media at Yale Divinity School. Jared grew up in rural Indiana and now lives in Brooklyn. The juxtaposition of cultural, architectural and ecological landscapes continually inspires his views on the power of the built environment to shape communities and affect social change.
Proposed Session Description
The Design for Freedom Initiative is raising awareness about the pervasiveness of forced and child labor in the construction supply chain. The materials that go into our buildings are heavily reliant on slave labor. We’ll explore the risks and highlight ways you can shape your practice to address this pressing humanitarian issue as part of your social equity goals. Learn about the tools and resources available to use in advocacy, internal operations, client conversations, and pilot projects.
Why is this session important?
At a time when our industry is facing extraordinary pressure to address climate change and social equity, this session will offer participants both strategies and tools for making a difference. Environmental exploitation very often goes hand in hand with exploitation of people. The tools we use to track carbon, chemicals and environmental impact, may be valuable tools for also unveiling labor abuses. In the same way, the relationships and tools we use to address human rights may lead to greater transparency for environmental measures.
Diversity and Inclusiveness
This session aims to connect DEI initiatives in design and engineering practices with resources to address a persistent global human rights crisis, modern slavery.
Learning Objectives
Inspire participants to engage in a human rights movement that is largely invisible in the AEC Industry.
Define the negative impacts of forced labor within the building industry.
Recognize the risks in the building material supply chain and identify strategies for increasing transparency in global supply chains.
Leave the session with an immediate action plan for implementing at least one element of change in your practice.
Has this session been presented before?
Yes
When and Where?
NESEA Boston, 2022
Additional Comments
This session proposal is an updated version of the Boston program. It will include new findings emerging from pilot projects and research from the Design or Freedom Working Group and its recently released toolkit.

NYC 2022 Areas of Focus

Session Format
Interview or structured conversation among panelists

Strongest Content Connection - NYC 2022

Comments about your speaker roster
Nora Rizzo of Grace Farms Foundation, is leading Grace Farms' Design for Freedom initiatives, including supporting pilot projects, developing resources, and convening thought leaders. https://gracefarms.org/team-posts/nora-rizzo/ Jared Gilbert is co-leading COOKFOX's internal Design for Freedom team, is a co-author of the Design for Freedom toolkit, and has led his studio's work to develop design tools and resources. https://cookfox.com/people/jared-gilbert/
Anything else you'd like to tell us about your session proposal?
The Design for Freedom movement is rapidly growing in impact and capacity. This session will include insights from ongoing pilot projects, an introduction to new and evolving tools for implementation, as well as inspirational guide for meaningfully integrating justice and equity initiatives into professional practice.
Reviewer 1
Donnelly, Danielle
Reviewer 2
Smits Anderson, Jodi
Curator
Engoren, Elizabeth
Proposal #
114
Session #
101
Committee Decision
Accepted

Presenters