2013 Summit Topics and Program

TOPICS

TRANSPORTATION FOR ALL AMERICANS – A transformative transportation agenda has yet to be realized in part because of ideological divides that pit urban against suburban and roads against transit. Americans and American industries want and use all modes of transportation. The conference will explore opportunities at the state and national level for a comprehensive approach to transportation investments to promote sustainability, reduce social disparities, and drive regional economic growth.

SCHOOLS AND DIVERSE, MIDDLE-CLASS SUBURBS – The current policy debate around education often ignores the great strengths as well as huge social and fiscal challenges of these rapidly changing and important communities. This conference will explore a path to school reform that recognizes and leverages the realities of diverse middle class suburbs and school districts.

WATER INFRASTRUCTURE – The conference will highlight the largely hidden yet enormous pressures - fiscal, physical, and regulatory – on municipalities and residents to maintain and upgrade waste and storm water systems and the unexplored opportunities to promote jobs and economic growth, social equity and environmental sustainability through investments in water infrastructure.

HOUSING – As suburban poverty grows, it’s often the most diverse, residential suburbs that absorb a disproportionate share of low-income and affordable housing, contributing to widening social disparities and neighborhood instability. The summit will present best practices and strategies for addressing regional stability and social mobility through housing policies that promote stable and inclusive middle class communities.

DETAILED PROGRAM

Building One America Summit for Inclusive Suburbs and Sustainable Regions

THURSDAY, JULY18

3:00 p.m.

Welcome,Overviewof Agenda and Purpose of the Summit

SheryllCashin,GeorgetownUniversityLawCenterRev.EdCrenshaw,VictoryChurch

WilliamM. Treanor, Georgetown University Law Center

Hart Auditorium

3:25 p.m

OpeningSession: The State of America’s Suburbs

Introduction

AmyLiu,MetropolitanPolicyProgram, Brookings Institution

 

 

Suburban Poverty and Regional Opportunity

AllenBerube, Metropolitan Policy Program, Brookings Institution

 

 

InclusiveSuburbsand Segregated Regions

JohnLogan,BrownUniversity

 

 

GrowingPowerof Suburbs

Myron Orfield, Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity, University of Minnesota

 

 

PanelResponse:

ConanSmith,Michigan Suburbs Alliance

FredAbousleman,National Association of Regional Councils

V.ElaineGross, ERASE Racism

EvaHenry,Adams County, Colorado Marie Lopez Rogers, Avondale, Arizona

 

4:45 p.m.

OrganizingtoBuildInclusiveand Sustainable Communities

SheryllCashin,GeorgetownUniversityLawCenterPaulScully,Building One America

Hart Auditorium

5:30 p.m.

Dinner and Relationship Building

McDonough Hall

7:00 p.m.

Feedback

ModeratedbyMikeKruglik,Building One America

Hart Auditorium

7:30 p.m.

BuildingOne America Policy Priorities, Strategies and Solutions

DavidRusk, Building One America

 

8:00 – 10:00 p.m.

 

FRIDAY,JULY19

CongressionalDessert Reception

Washington Court Hotel Grand Ballroom

8:00 a.m.

ContinentalBreakfast

Hart Lobby/McDonough Hall

9:00 a.m.

Panel:Sustainable and Inclusive Communities

Moderator:David Troutt, Center on Law in Metropolitan Equity, Rutgers School of Law Randy Blankenhorn, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

Jon Carnegie, Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, Rutgers University Salin Geevarghese, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Sandra Mordecai, West Orange Board of Education, New Jersey

DavidRusk, Building One America

Hart Auditorium

9:30 a.m

POLICYWORKSHOPS

Classrooms

 

Housing and Sustainable Communities

Moderator: Philip Tegeler, Poverty & Race Research Action Council Danielle Bastarache, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Mayor Brian Levine, Franklin Township, New Jersey

Room 1

 

 

Housing and Sustainable Communities  (continued)

Rev.NateGoodson, Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania Demetria McCain, Inclusive Communities Project

Lisa Rice, National Fair Housing Alliance David Rusk, Building One America

 

Schools and Diverse, Middle-Class Suburbs

Moderator: Sheryll Cashin, Georgetown University Law Center

SusanEaton,Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard Law SchoolSenatorJoyceElliott, Arkansas State Senate

Jackie Kapushion, Mapleton School District, Colorado

Dr.SamLee,BristolTownshipSchoolDistrict,PennsylvaniaLynnRuffner,ShakerHeightsCouncil, Ohio

Elaine Weiss, Broader, Bolder Approach to Education Clara Williams, Teaneck Board of Education, New Jersey

Room 2

WaterInfrastructure

Moderator: Lawrence Levy, National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University Roxanne Brown, United Steelworkers

John D. Cameron,CameronEngineering,NewYork

Joanne Denworth, formerly with Governor Ed Rendell’s Office of Policy, Pennsylvania Senator Jamie Eldridge, Massachusetts State Senate

Art Haywood, Cheltenham Township Commission, Pennsylvania Karen Kellen, Lakewood City Council, Colorado

DebbieWilliams,SaukVillage,Illinois

Room 3

Transportationforall Americans

Moderator: David Troutt, Rutgers University

Randy Blankenhorn, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Nick Donahue, Transportation for America

EvaHenry,Adams County, Colorado

JeffreyKnueppel,SoutheasternPennsylvaniaTransportationAuthority

Myron Orfield, Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity, University of Minnesota Law School Mayor Brad Sellers, Warrenville Heights, Ohio

Room 4

11:00 a.m.

WorkshopReview

SenatorJoyceElliott, Arkansas State Senate

Hart Auditorium

11:30 a.m.

RepublicanMain Street Partnership Perspective

SteveLaTourette,RepublicanMain Street Partnership

Hart Auditorium

12:00

Lunch

Hart Lobby/ McDonough Hall

1:00 p.m.

FederalPanel

Moderator: David Agnew, White House director of intergovernmental affairs Salin Geevarghese, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

John Frece, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Sustainable Communities Greg Nadeau, Federal Highway Administration

KenZimmerman,Open Society Foundation

Hart Auditorium

2:00 p.m.

Call to Action/Next Steps

Mayor Marie Lopez Rogers, Avondale, Arizona Mayor Brad Sellers, Warrensville Heights, Ohio

Hart Auditorium

 

Stateand Regional Caucuses

Assigned Locations

3:00 p.m.

ReportBackfromStateand Regional Caucuses

Hart Auditorium

3:30 p.m.

Closing

Hart Auditorium

4:00 p.m.

Adjourn

 

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Fred Abouslemanis the executive director of the National Association of Regional Councils in Washington, D.C. He leads a professional staff in representing the interests of Metropolitan Planning Organizations and Regional Councils, large and small, urban and rural, across the country.

David Agnewis the deputy assistant to the President of the Unit- ed States and director of intergovernmental affairs. In this role, David oversees the Obama Administration’s relationship with state, city, county, and tribal elected officials across the country.

Alan Berubeis a senior fellow and deputy director at the Brook- ings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program, and co-author ofConfrontingSuburban Poverty in America(Brookings Press, 2013). He has authored numerous Brookings publications on topics such as metropolitan demographic and economic trends and social policies.

Randy Blankenhornis the executive director of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). Under his leadership, CMAP developed and is now guiding the implementation of GO TO 2040, metropolitan Chicago’s first comprehensive regional plan in more than 100 years.

Roxanne Brown is the assistant legislative director for the United Steelworkers (USW), and serves on the Steering Committee of the Blue Green Alliance, a national partnership of major labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean energy economy.

John D.Cameron, Jr., P.E., is the founder and managing partner of Cameron Engineering, a full service multi-disciplined consulting engineering firm. He is the chairman of the Long Island Regional Planning Board and Past Statewide President of the New York Water Environment Association.

Nick Donohue is policy director of Transportation for America, a broad coalition of more than 500 business, environmental, public health, social equity groups and elected leaders committed to creating a new national transportation program. He was assistant secretary of transportation for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Susan Eaton is research director at the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard Law School where she is also co-director of the documentation project,One Nation Indi-visible. She has written and lectured extensively about the causes of and cures for unequal educational and economic opportunities among racial, ethnic and linguistic minorities in the United States.

Jamie Eldridge has served as a Massachusetts state senator for the Middlesex and Worcester district since January 2009. Senator Eldridge is the chair of the Senate’s Water Infrastructure Com- mission where he’s advanced legislation and strategies to assist towns in reducing their debt, developing new sources of revenue and creating public-private partnerships to promote safe clean drinking water and to maintain and upgrade aging storm and waste water systems.

Joyce Elliottis a member of the Arkansas State Senate represent- ing District 33 in Little Rock. She is the Senate Majority Leader and serves on several legislative committees and subcommit- tees including education and city, cunty and local affairs. Senator Elliott served as a state representative from 2001-07 and taught high school for 31 years.

John Freceis the director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Sustainable Communities. Prior to joining the EPA, he was the associate director of the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education at the University of Maryland in College Park. He has been a spokesman, policy advisor and writer on smart growth issues for the past 16 years.

Salin Geevarghese currently serves as senior advisor at HUD, working in the Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities. Prior to his post at HUD, Geevarghese served as senior associate at The Annie E. Casey Foundation with responsibilities in both the Civic Sites and Initiatives unit and the Center for Family Economic  Success.

V. Elaine Grossis founder and president of ERASE Racism, a not-for-profit organization based in Long Island, New York. Since 2001, ERASE Racism has worked to expose forms of racial discrimination and advocate for laws and policies that help eliminate racial disparities, particularly in the areas of housing, community development, public education and health.

David Joyce has been United States Representative for Ohio’s 14th Congressional district since 2013. An attorney, Joyce was previously the prosecutor of Geauga County, Ohio. He is a member of the powerful House Committee on Appropriations.

Jeffrey D.Knueppel is deputy general manager of the South- eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), where his EM&C Stimulus Team has been recognized throughout the industry for working quickly to provide job opportunities on $191 million in ARRA-funded projects that made meaningful improvements to an aging transportation infrastructure.

Steve LaTouretteis the president and CEO of the Republican Main Street Partnership and former congressman from Ohio’s 14th District. For the past 18 years, Congressman LaTourette represented the increasingly diverse middle class suburbs and small towns of Northeast Ohio.

Lawrence Levy is the executive dean at the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University. During his 35 years as a reporter, editorial writer, columnist and PBS talk show host, Levy won many of journalism’s top awards, including being a Pulitzer Finalist for in-depth works on suburban politics, education, taxation, housing and other key issues.

Amy Liu is a senior fellow and co-director of the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution, which produces trends, analyses, policy ideas, and innovative practices that advance the health and prosperity of cities and metropolitan areas. The program works with federal, state, and local policy- makers, in partnership with the private sector, to achieve prosperity in these communities.

John Logan is a professor of sociology at Brown University and among the first scholars to analyze recent U.S. census data on social, economic, housing, and demographic factors for every community in the nation.

Demetria McCainis vice president/deputy director of the Inclusive Communities Project in Dallas, Tx. She previously held positions at Neighborhood Legal Services in Washington, D.C. and at the National Housing Law Project.

George(“Mac”) McCarthy directs the foundation’s Metropolitan Opportunity work. His team focuses on providing low-income people in the United States with better access to jobs and other opportunities by supporting regional planning efforts, transportation investments and housing development policies that alleviate poverty and reduce its concentration within metropolitan areas.

Greg Nadeauis the deputy administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, where he has spearheaded efforts to shorten project delivery time and accelerate the rapid deployment of innovative technology using a state based model. He has previously served as the Maine Department of Transportation’s Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Planning and Communications, and as a member of the Maine House of Representatives representing the city of Lewiston.

Marie Lopez Rogersis the mayor of Avondale, Arizona, and the current president of the National League of Cities (NLC). She is the first Latina to lead that organization and the first Latino president from a suburban community. Mayor Rogers’ own journey is a powerful and inspirational American story.

Myron Orfieldis the director of the Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity, a professor at the University of Minnesota Law School, a non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., and an affiliate faculty member at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs. He is one of the country’s foremost authorities on metropolitan governance.

Lisa Rice is a vice president with the National Fair Housing Alliance, responsible for helping to achieve the organization’s goal of addressing the crisis of segregation in America. Lisa joined NFHA in 2006 after serving as CEO of the Toledo Fair Hous- ing Center and helping to found the Northwest Ohio Develop- ment Agency.

David Rusk is the author ofCities Without Suburbs, hailed by The Congressional Quarterly as “the Bible of the regionalism movement, andInside Game/Outside Game,” dubbed as “a must read for all practicing local government officials, elected or appointed,” by the Government Finance Review. He is a former New Mexico legislator and mayor of Albuquerque. Now a consultant on regional policy, Rusk has worked in more than 20 U.S. communities.

James H. Shelton III is assistant deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Education. Overseeing innovation and improve- ment, he has managed a portfolio that includes most of the department’s competitive teacher quality, school choice and learning technology programs.

Jeffrey Sothis the legislative and political director of the Interna- tional Union of Operating Engineers, a progressive, diversified trade union that primarily represents operating engineers, who work as heavy equipment operators, mechanics, and surveyors in the construction industry, and as stationary engineers. He served as mayor of the Seattle suburb of Snohomish, Washington.

Philip Tegeler is the executive director of the Poverty & Race Research Action Council (PRRAC), which promotes research- based advocacy on structural inequality issues, with a specific focus on the causes and consequences of housing and school segregation. He has written extensively on federal housing policy.

William Michael Treanor is the dean of Georgetown University Law Center, the former dean of Fordham University School of Law, and an expert on constitutional law, having twice been cited in Supreme Court opinions. Still a teaching professor, Treanor has held several high-profile government positions and he is an advocate of civil service.

David Dante Troutt directs the Center for Metropolitan Equity, Rutgers School of Law–Newark. He is professor of Law and Justice John J. Francis Scholar at Rutgers University, and the author of many articles and essays on the crossroads of race, class and local government arrangements. Professor Troutt’s next book isThe Price of Paradise: The Costs of Inequality anda Vision for a More Equitable America.

Elaine Weiss is the national coordinator for the Broader, Bolder Approach to Education, where she works with a high-level task force and coalition partners to promote a comprehensive, evidence-based set of policies to allow all children to thrive. 

KennethH. Zimmerman directs the Open Society Foundation’s U.S. Programs. A lawyer with more than two decades of leader- ship in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, he has devoted his career to justice and equality, focusing on access to opportu- nity for people of color and low-income communities. He was on the presidential transition team preparing the Obama Administra- tion’s strategy for HUD.

THURSDAY, JULY 18
2:00 PM Registration Opens at Georgetown Law School, Hart Auditorium Lobby
3:00 PM Welcome, Overview of Agenda, and Purpose of Summit
Opening Session: The State of America's Suburbs
4:45 PM Community Organizing and the Power of the Suburbs
5:30 PM Dinner
7:00 PM Building One America Policy Priorities Overview
8:00 - 10:00 PM Congressional Dessert Reception at Washington Court Hotel
FRIDAY, JULY 19
8:00 AM Continental Breakfast at Georgetown Law School, Hart Auditorium Lobby
9:00 AM Morning Plenary: Sustainable and Inclusive Communities
9:30 AM Policy Workshops: (Click here to pre-select your workshop, only for registered participants)
  • Housing and Sustainable Communities
  • Schools and Diverse, Middle-Class Suburbs
  • Water Infrastructure
  • Transportation for All Americans
11:00 AM Workshop Reviews and Congressional and Labor Panel
11:30 AM Recognition of Building One America Honorees
12:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM Federal Panel
2:00 PM Call to Action and Next Steps
2:30 PM State and Regional Caucuses
3:00 PM Report back
3:30 PM Closing Keynote
4:00 PM Adjourn