Advancing Regional Equity
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Advancing Regional Equity The Second National Summit on Equitable Development, Social Justice, and Smart Growth May 23-25, 2005 Pennsylvania Convention Center Philadelphia, PA Summit Program PolicyLink is a national nonprofit research, The Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and communications, capacity building, and advocacy Livable Communities works to inspire, catalyze, organization, dedicated to advancing policies and strengthen philanthropic leadership and to achieve economic and social equity based on expand funders’ abilities to support organizations the wisdom, voice, and experience of local working to build more livable communities constituencies. through smarter growth policies and practices. PolicyLink Headquarters Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and 101 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607 Livable Communities Telephone: 510/663-2333 1500 San Remo Avenue, Suite 249 Fax: 510/663-9684 Coral Gables, FL 33146 [email protected] Telephone: 305/667-6350 Fax: 305/667-6355 PolicyLink Communications [email protected] 1350 Broadway, Suite 1901 New York, NY 10018 www.fundersnetwork.org Telephone: 212/629-9570 Fax: 212/629-7328 www.policylink.org Dear Colleague, Welcome to Philadelphia and to Advancing Regional Philadelphia is the perfect location for a conversation Equity: The Second National Summit on Equitable about advancing regional equity. Rich in historic Development, Social Justice, and Smart Growth. We neighborhoods, home to great natural assets, and are all here because we share a commitment to boasting some of the nation’s top educational increasing economic, environmental, and social institutions, the city is in the throes of change as it justice in America. Over the next two-and-half days, grapples with declining population as residents in plenary sessions, workshops, caucuses, and follow opportunities and amenities to the suburbs. informal conversations, we will share the work we do Philadelphia also nurtures a rich tapestry of to create communities, regions, and indeed, a nation, organizations working to restore greatness to the city where everyone has the opportunity to participate and the region, and thus is a unique backdrop for and prosper. Innovative strategies for building conversations about the possibilities of the regional affordable homes and apartments, connecting jobs equity framework for achieving positive change. and transportation, improving community health, strengthening rural economies, and promoting more Your presence here among such a diverse group of equitable infrastructure decisions, are just some of people who represent community organizations, what we will discuss, debate, and develop. Our time foundations, government, and businesses from together will allow us to adapt and apply these urban, suburban, and rural areas reflects the belief strategies wherever they are needed, especially to that realizing full economic and social inclusion is benefit low-income people and working families. more than a dream. Sharing what we know and what we are doing will bring us closer to making it a reality. Regional growth and development patterns profoundly impact the life circumstances and outcomes of low- income people and communities of color. Too many people are isolated in neighborhoods without living wage jobs or public transit to reach employment in other parts of the region. Too many children struggle in poor quality, deteriorating schools. Too many people live in communities with poor air and water quality and disease-causing toxic sites. Too many neighborhoods lack basic services like supermarkets, banks, safe parks, and inviting public spaces. In the coming years, the American population will continue to grow and decisions will be made about how, where, and what to build in response. We must work to ensure that growth and development now Angela Glover L. Benjamin Starrett and in the future increases opportunity for all people. Blackwell Executive Director, Without such vigilance, the pattern of poor decision- Founder and CEO, Funders’ Network for making that has allowed sprawling development PolicyLink Smart Growth and patterns to take a toll on families and the environment, Livable Communities especially in America’s older communities, will continue. Unless we demand better decisions, it will be difficult—if not impossible—for children, families, and communities to realize positive outcomes for the future. 1 Our Sponsors We greatly appreciate the foundations and institutions that provided financial support, grassroots scholarships, and numerous regional delegations. The visionary leadership and generosity of these sponsors made the summit possible. The Ford Foundation The William Penn Foundation W. K. Kellogg Foundation The Rockefeller Foundation Annie E. Casey Foundation Hewlett Packard Company Bank of America The Boeing Company The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation The California Endowment The California Wellness Foundation Marguerite Casey Foundation Claneil Foundation Dade Community Foundation Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation Fannie Mae Foundation Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia George Gund Foundation The Gifford Foundation Grand Victoria Foundation Grantmakers in Film and Electronic Media (GFEM) Kaiser Permanente The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) The McKnight Foundation The Meyer Foundation Miami Dade County Task Force on Urban Economic Revitalization Herman & Frieda Miller Foundation Charles Stewart Mott Foundation New York Community Trust The Philadelphia Foundation Prince Charitable Trusts The Prudential Foundation The San Francisco Foundation The Skillman Foundation Surdna Foundation Washington Mutual Sponsor list as of May 2, 2005 2 3 We acknowledge with gratitude the numerous partners who helped PolicyLink and the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities in the planning, outreach, and programmatic development of the summit. Your support and guidance helped shape this important national event. Thank you for making the summit a success. 2 3 Table of Contents 4 5 Themes Summit Themes 6 Agenda Agenda at a Glance 8 Workshops Workshops and Caucuses 14 Monday, May 23rd Tuesday, May 24th Wednesday, May 25th 15 21 29 Book Signing Authors’ Showcase and Book Signing 32 Screening Room Screening Screening Room and i-Café 36 Schedule 37 Multimedia at the Summit 39 Speakers Speaker Biographies 44 Map Venue Map 72 4 5 Advancing Regional Equity: The Second National Summit on Equitable Development, Social Justice, and Smart Growth Summit Themes 6 7 The Changing Face of Regions More than ever, the only constant in many regions is change. Economic and social opportunity is being impacted by dramatic shifts in immigration, racial composition, the location of employment, and urban, suburban, and rural growth and development. Summit participants will explore these trends further Themes and learn how regional equity strategies are being tailored to respond to changing regional dynamics. Strategies that Build Power To achieve regional equity, smart growth proponents, environmental justice advocates, labor leaders, community organizers, civil rights champions, community developers, those in philanthropy, the private sector, and academia must build leadership for policy change that makes economic and social equity a central goal of all efforts to create a more inclusive society. Summit participants will discuss effective power-building strategies that advance regional equity agendas. Innovative Policy and Practice During the last decade, the commitment and accomplishments of advocates nationwide have resulted in progress toward achieving regional equity. The summit will highlight projects and policies that are improving outcomes for low-income people and communities of color at the local, regional, state, and federal levels. Campaigns, Policies, and Politics Social and economic change is achieved through hard work and political engagement. Regional equity advocates are learning important lessons from their campaigns, struggles, and achievements. The summit will showcase a diverse array of equity campaigns across the country and discuss strategies for successfully confronting political challenges. 6 7 Advancing Regional Equity: The Second National Summit on Equitable Development, Social Justice, and Smart Growth Agenda at a Glance 8 9 Monday, May 23 time event venue 8:00am Continental Breakfast Ballroom B 8:45 – 10:30am Opening Plenary Ballroom B Agenda Progress, Opportunities, and Challenges in Advancing Regional Equity 15 minute break 10:45 – 12:15pm Workshop Series One The Context for Advancing Regional Equity Concurrent Sessions Understanding Regional Dynamics: Implications for Social and 201A Economic Justice New Realities in Federal and State Funding 201B Civil Rights Leaders Explore Regional Equity 201C The Leadership Role of Public Officials 204A Infrastructure: The Next Equity Frontier 204B Politics, Power, and Land Use Policy 204C Building Shared Perspectives: The Intersection of Smart Growth, 202 Regional Equity, and Environmental Justice 15 minute break 12:30 – 2:30pm Luncheon Plenary Ballroom B The Role of Philanthropy: Making a Sound Investment in Regional Equity 15 minute break 2:45 – 4:15pm Workshop Series Two Trends in the Field Concurrent Sessions Achieving Prosperity and Opportunity in America’s Older Core Cities 201A On Track: An Analysis of Transit-Oriented Development 201B Promoting Equitable Development in Rural Communities 201C Building the High-Road Economy: Labor, Jobs, and Smart Growth 204A