Today is the day: Registration for the 2018 California Economic Summit is now open. Hundreds of public- and private-sector leaders from across the state will gather in Santa Rosa on November 15 and 16. Register for the Summit today.
“You cannot sit on the sidelines,” said Oscar Chavez, assistant director at the Sonoma County Department of Human Services and 2018 co-chair of the Summit's Steering Committee, in announcing Sonoma County as the site of the 2018 statewide gathering. “This state needs you.”
New for 2018 are policy-related tours hosted by Sonoma County partners on November 14, as well as highlighted activities to explore Sonoma County over the weekend following the Summit. It's a great time to get registered, as early bird rates for the 2018 Summit are in effect only until September 1.
The 2018 Summit will be the seventh annual statewide gathering of the growing network — the largest group of business, equity, environmental, and civic organizations working year round to improve upward mobility, build more housing, create a strong workforce, and strengthen the state's water sustainability.
“There's been no other entity that's been able or willing to take on that challenge but California Forward and the Economic Summit have done just that,” said Ashley Swearengin, CEO of the Central Valley Community Foundation and 2018 co-chair of the Summit's Steering Committee.
The Summit gathers a diverse set of leaders — from government to the private sector, from nonprofits to higher education — at each of the statewide Summit events.
The network has made steady progress along the 2018 Roadmap to Shared Prosperity, which was created with input from hundreds of Californians:
1. Setting goals consistent with California values. The Summit supports legislation defining tangible metrics for upward mobility – and establishing a system for tracking progress.
2. Advancing solutions that meet the triple bottom line. The Summit will continue ongoing initiatives to close gaps in skilled workers, livable communities and well-paying jobs.
3. Ensuring rural CA prospers. The Summit will launch a statewide collaborative committed to advancing the sustainable development of rural regions.
4. Modeling resiliency for every region. The Summit event will focus on the need for resiliency in every region – whether it is from natural disasters, climate change, or economic uncertainty.
“These fire storms that came and took over not just Sonoma County, but the other four surrounding counties, showed us that our complacency and our desire to make marginal changes was not enough,” said Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore, 2018 Summit Co-Chair. “It also showed us that the jurisdiction doesn't matter whether you're talking about fires or the Summit priorities like workforce, housing and water resources.”
It’s time for action.
Get more information and register for the Summit today. And be sure to sign up for our newsletter to receive alerts as more news and events surrounding the Summit are announced.
Join us in the solution space. See you in Santa Rosa!
