Summit Agenda - 2012 Opportunity Nation Summit

2012 Opportunity Nation Summit

The following draft agenda is subject to change.  Last updated: Sept 17, 11:30 AM.

September 19th, 2012 Agenda:

7:00 AM - 8:45 AM  Summit Attendee Registration and Continental Breakfast
The George Washington University
Marvin Center, Grand Ballroom

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM  Welcoming Program
The George Washington University
Lisner Auditorium

11:15 AM - 1:00 PM  Breakout Sessions and Working/Networking Lunches
The George Washington University
Marvin Center

1:15 PM - 3:30 PM  Closing General Session
The George Washington University
Lisner Auditorium

Welcome Program

9:00 - 11:00 AM - The George Washington Univeristy, Lisner Auditorium

Speakers and Panelists:

Closing General Session

1:15 - 3:30 PM, The George Washington University, Lisner Auditorium

Speakers and Panelists:

This document will be mentioned in David Nagel's remarks

Breakout Session Descriptions

Staying Ahead of the Curve: Training for Tomorrow's Jobs

The US economy is facing a growing skills gap, with many young adults lacking the necessary skills or education necessary for jobs that pay a middle-class wage. In fact, by the year 2018, there will be a projected shortage of three million workers possessing post-secondary degrees and 4.7 million workers possessing post-secondary certificates. The long term forecast is clear – if America wants to remain competitive in the global economy, we will have to expand our supply of middle- and high-skill workers.  Career and Technical Education (CTE) can serve as a critical pathway to employment, financial security, and opportunity for American workers. To boost this critical segment of the US workforce, CTE must be considered as a viable and well-respected option for students. Leading experts will discuss the investments and reforms that are necessary to ensure CTE provides relevant education that equips students with the ability to make choices about their careers.

Confirmed Panelists: 

Moderator:

Covering the American Dream: Media and Mobility

The 4th estate is a critical player in framing and legitimizing issues in the national dialogue, including education, poverty, economic inequality and mobility. The welfare of our nation and its people have been driving headlines for the better part of this century, but has the public dialogue successfully elevated pragmatic and potential solutions that set the stage for change?  Leading journalists will discuss the role of the media in defining the parameters of the debate, the changing nature of hard news, and how social journalism is making a difference.

Confirmed Panelists: 

Moderator: 

Boosting American Business: Strategies for Harnessing Today's Untapped Talent

Ironically, at a time of high unemployment, many jobs continue to go unfilled month after month in America. In a recent poll of U.S. companies, not only did employers cite the inability to find qualified workers as the biggest obstacle to growth, but also forty percent of respondents said they were being held back by the skills gap.  In contrast, just thirteen percent said they were held back by lack of demand.  At the same time, there are millions opportunity youth - of out of work and out of school 16-24 year - seeking pathways to employment. There is a critical discussion in the United States about the nature of the skills gap and how to best solve it, but we do know that talented youth are on the sidelines of the economy and it doesn't benefit anyone. In 2011 alone, the cost to the United States in lost revenues and social services associated with opportunity youth was $93 billion.  These youth can provide a valuable human capital desperately needed by all companies and we must re-double our efforts to educate and train them. 

In this session, participants will learn about and share a variety of approaches that small, medium, and large employers can use to create meaningful pathways for disconnected youth.  For example, participants will learn about a new toolkit that provides four key steps to develop a training or employment program for opportunity youth and other commitments employers are making to this critical population.

Confirmed Panelists:

Moderator: 

The Limit to America's Dream: How Geography Impacts Opportunity

New research, including the Opportunity Index, brings a fresh perspective to a known challenge - that there is more opportunity in some places than others. When a young person grows up in a community with less access to doctors, early education or decent schools, the ladder of mobility is missing important rungs. Or if you have been laid off, trying to find a job in a community with double-digit unemployment, few banks to help you start your own business and limited internet access, the chances for economic security are fewer.  That truth has been at the core of intra- and inter-national migration for ages.  But what is distressing about the current moment is that a child growing up in a community with little opportunity may have fewer chances to succeed elsewhere, through reduced human capital development and social networks. What is the role of geography and opportunity in 2012?

Confirmed Panelists: 

Moderator: 

Investing in Change: Collective Impact Approaches, Funder Collaboratives, and Other Shared Approaches Impacting Opportunity Youth

The social sector is forging new pathways for doing more with fewer resources, and finding that it is possible to achieve more and better outcomes by working together rather than acting alone. Many social impact funders are finding that investing in collective impact efforts are among the most powerful investments they can make in order to achieve large-scale social change.  Collective impact is an approach to solving societal problems based on the idea that no organization acting alone can solve complex issues. A collective impact approach requires the commitment of a group of organizations — including nonprofits, government, business, and philanthropy — to coordinate their efforts around a clearly defined goal.  We will discuss the barriers funders face in participating in these efforts and tips for overcoming them, in addition to the range of roles funders can play in catalyzing and supporting collective impact. Panelists will also share lessons learned, including how the role of a collective impact funder differs dramatically from that of a more traditional grantmaker. This panel will also create a forum for both funders and practitioners alike to learn about working together more effectively.

Confirmed Panelists: 

Moderator: 

Pushing through the Gridlock: Working with Congress to Reclaim the American Dream

What opportunities and challenges lie ahead pre-election, post-election and early 2013 for the opportunity movement to advance federal policy?  How can we mobilize together to support pro-opportunity budget decisions and effect policy change?  Leading experts will discuss the opportunities and challenges of the current political environment, and the strategies we can undertake to advocate for bipartisan policies that will create more pathways for young people looking to gain a foothold in the economy.

Confirmed Panelists:


Moderator:

  • Heather McGee, Vice President of Policy and Outreach, Demos

Starting Early: Preventative Strategies for Keeping Kids on Track

While it is vital that we identify promising, innovative pathways for young adults to reach their potential, we know many of the challenges they face manifest themselves earlier in life.  A long-term solution requires a comprehensive approach that includes an eye toward prevention and smart, early intervention strategies that keep kids on track.  Engage in interactive discussions with your tablemates and the broader room to share and learn about the critical steps we must take to support our children early.

Confirmed Panelists:

Moderator: 

The Benefit and the Burden: Going to College in the Generation of Soaring Prices

Frequently on our community listening tour, teens and young adults shared their anxieties over the rising cost of higher education and the fear of having more debt and no diploma to get a good job to pay off their debt.  It’s a serious challenge that seems to only be escalating as college costs continue to rise and the unemployment rate for youth is at its highest level since World War II.  Discuss the current challenges and solutions around college access and affordability with leaders from a variety of sectors, including the youth themselves, in small group settings as well as the broader room.

Confirmed Panelists: 

Moderator: 

Taking ACTION: Expanding Opportunity through Volunteerism

To maximize collective impact in our communities, we must harness all of our assets.  This includes volunteerism - a critical avenue for engaging a broad cross-section of community members to create more opportunity in a community.  Our sister campaign, ServiceNation, focuses specifically on expanding opportunities for people to serve, and we at Opportunity Nation have launched our ACTION Communities Initiative (Areas Committed to Increasing Opportunity Now), which calls upon local civic leaders and organizations to partner together to improve their community’s score on the Opportunity Index.  Engage in an interactive discussion with your tablemates and the broader room around how volunteerism can increase opportunity at the local level, and how they can utilize the Opportunity Index in their efforts.

Confirmed Panelists:

Opening Remarks: 

  • Michelle Nunn CEO, Points of Light; Co-Founder, HandsOn Network

Moderator: 

  • Malikah Berry, Vice President of Community Impact Programs, Points of Light

National Congress of Young Leaders and Allies Gathering

Join the conversation!   Contribute your personal expertise and hear what young leaders from across the country have to say about what makes the most difference in creating pathways of opportunity.  Over lunch, come to “The Situation Room” where each table will explore the biggest challenges and put forth policy recommendations.  Then come together to launch the National Council of Young Leaders, a permanent body that will advise the White House, Congress, philanthropists, business leaders, and other policymakers on issues affecting low-income youth and their communities.  Meet the Circle of Allies and Champions, an informal network of influential leaders in public policy, political, business and entertainment realms, who will help raise up the voices of young adult leaders and support them in their endeavor to expand opportunity for young people in America.  This program is led by the newly forming National Council of Young Leaders (sponsored by several active national organizations dedicated to creating a pathway into civic engagement, service, and leadership for low-income young people. The sponsoring organizations include YouthBuild USA, Year Up, Public Allies, The Corps Network, Jobs for the Future, Youth Leadership Institute and Opportunity Nation).

Confirmed Panelists: