Equity Summit FAQs
Q: Is the event being held virtually?
A: The 2025 Equity Summit will be held in person at the MLK Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, DC. Sign up for our newsletter for all updates about the event.
Q: How can I purchase tickets for the Equity Summit?
A: Tickets for the 2025 Equity Summit: Building Forward are not yet on sale. Stay tuned for the early bird ticket sales!
Q: How do I get to the event venue?
A: The Equity Summit will take place at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, DC (901 G St NW, Washington, DC 20001)—get directions here. The MLK Jr. Library can be easily accessed by both the metro and the bus.
Metro:
The nearest metro station to the library is the Gallery Place-Chinatown station, which is served by the Red, Yellow, and Green lines. From the station, it’s a short, 7-minute walk to the library.
Bus:
Several bus routes include stops near the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, including the D4, S2, S9, and 80 among others. You can check the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) website or use a transit app for real-time bus schedules and routes.
Q: How can I address accessibility needs for the event?
A: Smart Growth America is committed to ensuring that the Equity Summit is accessible to all participants. If you have specific accessibility needs or requirements, please reach out to Smart Growth America directly at [email protected]. They will work with you to accommodate your needs and make the necessary arrangements.
Q: Where should I stay?
A: While there are no partner hotels for this event, there are multiple hotels within walking distance to the event venue.
Q: What can attendees expect from the Equity Summit program?
A: The Equity Summit aims to connect movement leaders, identify key needs within the field, and build a community of mutual support and encouragement among practitioners who may be discouraged by resistance to meaningful progress. At the Equity Summit, we’ll present keynotes, panel discussions, small group sessions, and local organization “field trips.” These activities will allow participants to gain insights into the successes and challenges of racial equity projects in the smart growth space, emphasizing cultural organizing, lived experience integration, and inclusive wealth building.
Q: How can I stay updated on any changes or announcements related to the event?
A: To stay informed about any updates, announcements, and additional information regarding the Equity Summit, check the Smart Growth America website, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on social media.
At Smart Growth America, we deeply believe that advancing racial equity is at the core of a smart growth approach. But what does that mean? How does it work in practice? And how can smart growth advocates do it better?
The Equity Summit—SGA’s largest event of the year—is a gathering of thought leaders and practitioners who work to ensure that racial equity is a key priority in any smart growth approach. Since the Equity Summit’s inception in 2021, our annual event has brought together an amazing lineup of speakers to discuss the intersections of racial equity and the smart growth movement, making the case that smart growth without a focus on equity isn’t smart growth at all. Learn more about our past Equity programming: