2015 Summit Topics and Program

Building One America Summit on Suburbs
A National Conference on Sustaining Diverse Middle-class Communities
July 23-24, 2015, Washington, DC
Georgetown University Law Center, 600 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, DC

BOA will hold its next bi-partisan national conference focused on the related themes ofn social and racial inclusion, environmental sustainability, and economic growth with local elected and grassroots leaders, members of the Obama Administration and members of Congress.

This year’s event will have a number of salient and topical themes related to infrastructure investment, inclusive housing, diverse schools and the challenges facing many suburbs around issues of justice, municipal capacity, and changing leadership.

The conference will include workshops and presentations to help practitioners and policy makers better understand their common challenges and advance critical issue opportunities at both the state and national level. It will include plenary sessions, breakout sessions, and workshops led by experts in community organizing, civil rights, and public policy.

Building One America Summit on Suburbs

A National Conference on Sustaining Diverse Middle-class Communities
July 23-24, 2015, Washington, DC

Draft Program Day I

Thursday, July 23

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM - Afternoon opening plenary - Hart Auditorium

3:00 - Summit Opened - Sheryll - Professor Sheryll Cashin, Georgetown Law Center

  • Call to order – Professor Cashin
  • Brief, interfaith, welcoming prayer
  • Welcome, Opening Remarks, and Overview – Professor Cashin

3:15 - State of the suburbs – Myron Orfield
Implications for communities, schools, and families

3:45 – Leader’s Round Table (30)

  • Local elected and community leaders
  • Implications for civil rights and economic justice

4:15 – Civil Rights round table (30)

  • National civil rights and labor leaders

4:45 – Leadership Development and Organizing – Paul Scully (25)

5:00 – Break for Dinner and Relationship Building

6:00 – 7:00 – Dinner – McDonough Hall

7:00 – Introduce Workshops (workshop facilitators)

8:00 – 10:00 – Congressional Reception

Building One America Summit on Suburbs
A National Conference on Sustaining Diverse, Middle-class Communities
July 23-24, 2015, Washington, DC

Draft Program Day II

Friday, July 24

8:00 AM – 4:00 PM - Hart Auditorium

8:00 – 9:00 - Breakfast – McDonough Hall

9:00 - Welcome - Dean William M. Treanor, Georgetown Law Center

Morning Session Preparation and Overview - Hart Auditorium

  • Panel of workshop leaders

9:45 – 11:15 - Morning Workshops - Classrooms

Policy Workshops

  • Education
  • Water
  • Housing
  • Transportation

Workshop Format

  • Challenges and Solutions (local)
  • Updates Success Stories & Best Practices (state and regional)
  • Opportunities for collaboration (national)

11:20 - Report Back

12:00 – 1:00 - Lunch – McDonough Hall
One-on Ones and Relationship Building

1:15 – 2:15 – White House Panel - Hart Auditorium

  • Transportation
  • Water
  • Education
  • Housing
  • Labor

2:15 – 3:15 – Regional and Statewide Caucuses – Classrooms

3:15 – 3:45 – Report Back

3:45 – 4:00 - Keynote and Closing - Hart Auditorium