Plenary Sessions
This year's plenary sessions will include an interactive crash course in design thinking; an Ignite-style presentation on business-model innovations at the nexus of community leadership; a compelling discussion on the effect of national politics on local communities; and more.
Check back here often as more will be announced!
Opening Breakfast Plenary - Designing our Future
Presenters: Carol Bebelle, Co-founder & Executive Director, Ashe� Cultural Arts Center; Brian T. Byrnes, President and CEO, The Santa Fe Community Foundation; John Kania, Managing Director, FSG; Grant Oliphant, President and CEO, The Pittsburgh Foundation; Vikki Spruill, President and CEO, Council on Foundations
How Citizen Engagement Shapes Today�s Political Landscape
Monday, September 10, 12-1:30 p.m.
Politics is always a hot topic of conversation, but never more so than during a presidential election year. Join Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Washington Post political columnist Eugene Robinson for an exciting conversation on the current political landscape, how citizen engagement influences that landscape, and what it all means for community foundations.
Presenters: Javier Alberto Soto, President & CEO, The Miami Foundation; Antonia Hern�ndez, President and CEO, California Community Foundation; Eugene Robinson, Political Columnist, The Washington Post Company; Kelly Lucas, President and CEO, Community Foundation of South Wood County
Moderator: Christopher T. Gates, Executive Director, Philanthropy For Active Civic Engagement (PACE)
The Power of Design Thinking
Tuesday, September 11, 8-9:30 a.m.
The Stanford Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, more affectionately called "the d.school," is a world-renowned, multidisciplinary hub for innovators tackling some of the world's messiest problems through �design thinking��a methodology for creative problem-solving that has been at the heart of product breakthroughs at Proctor & Gamble, patient care at GE Healthcare, and decreasing infant mortality in Nepal. Join a hands-on learning experience in the basics of design thinking and learn the power of human-centered design, iteration, and collaboration. Creative confidence is built through learning-by-doing, so be ready to roll up your sleeves.
Moderator: Evelyn Huang, Lecturer, Executive Education, Hasso Plattner Institute of Design At Stanford
Movie with a Mission - The Interrupters
Tuesday, September 11, 12-1:30 p.m.
Join us for lunch and a thought-provoking and idea-igniting dialogue around violence in our communities. With the powerful award-winning film, The Interrupters, as a backdrop, engage with fellow funders and other key leaders in meaningful conversations where we identify strategies and solutions to stem this violence. The Interrupters is the powerful story of Ameena, Eddie, and Cobe, three antiviolence crusaders from CeaseFire Chicago who use bravado, humility, and humor to protect their communities and �interrupt� the cycle of violence they once perpetuated. Shot over the course of a year, the film captures their profoundly important work and reveals their inspired journeys from criminals to courageous allies for peace. From acclaimed producer-director Steve James (Hoop Dreams) and best-selling author Alex Kotlowitz, The Interrupters has �put a face to a raging epidemic and an unforgivable American tragedy,� according to the New York Times. Saving young people from self-destruction and reclaiming our communities from the grip of violence is everyone�s business. The Interrupters is the catalyst for this important conversation. This event is cosponsored by the Council on Foundations and Media Impact Funders.
Moderator: Leon Andrews, Senior Fellow, Institute for Youth, Education & Families, National League of Cities
Presenters: James Carter, Criminal Justice Commissioner for the City of New Orleans, New Orleans City Hall; Alex Kotlowitz, Author and Filmmaker; Ellen M. Lee, Senior Vice President, Programs, The Greater New Orleans Foundation; Ricardo "Cobe" Williams, National Community Coordinator, CeaseFire
Wednesday Morning Plenary Sessions
Wednesday, September 12, 8-9:30 a.m.
For the first time ever, we�re featuring four plenary sessions simultaneously. Choose from:
Divided We Fall: Moving from Silos to the Commons
After spending several years creating civic engagement programs to deal with misperceptions of Muslim Americans, philanthropic leaders will discuss the lessons they�ve learned, the opportunities they�ve discovered, and what philanthropy can do to bridge these and other social divides and develop an agenda for the common good. You�ll also hear from community foundation representatives and others about building inclusive processes for marginalized populations, creating �bridges of cooperation and understanding,� and stemming the tide of division and intolerance.
Presenters: William E. "Bill" Lowry Jr., Special Assistant to the President, The Chicago Community Trust; Fatima Shama, Commissioner, New York City Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs; Elica Vafaie, Project Director, One Los Angeles, One Nation, California Community Foundation; Henry Izumizaki, CEO, One Nation Foundation
Coming Home: Responding to the Needs of Today's Veterans
Community foundations are well positioned to respond to the needs of a new generation of American military veterans as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan come to an end. But who are these new vets, what challenges do they face on the home front, and how are their needs different from previous generations? A nationally recognized veteran and advocate will answer these questions and others during this session. In addition, it will double as a �listening session� for the White House�s Joining Forces initiative and the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and will mark the launch of the Council�s new Veterans Philanthropy Community of Practice�a dynamic learning community that attendees can join on the spot.
Presenters: Barbara Bartle, President, Lincoln Community Foundation; Teri A Hansen, President & CEO, Gulf Coast Community Foundation; Lt. Col. Anthony Henderson, Special Assistant to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff for Warrior and Family Support; Len McNally, Program Director, The New York Community Trust; Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director and Founder, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; Brigadier General Marianne Watson, Director of Manpower and Personnel, The National Guard Bureau
ArtPlace: The Nationwide Movement Toward Creative Placemaking
ArtPlace is a collaboration of national foundations and the National Endowment for the Arts to accelerate creative placemaking across the United States.Join us to learn more about this growing network of funders and others who are bringing the arts to our nation's cities.
Moderator: Douglas F. Kridler, President and CEO, The Columbus Foundation
Presenters: Carol Coletta, President and CEO, CEOs for Cities; Joe Cortright, President and Principal Economist, Impresa Consulting and Senior Fellow at Brookings Institution; Dennis Scholl, Vice President/Arts, John S. & James L. Knight Foundation
Transforming Communities Through Higher Education: The Louisville Experience
Louisville, Ky. has transformed its community using a multi-fold higher education strategy that:
- creates a college-going culture
- leverages the business community�s unique points to accelerate attainment
- prepares students for success in college, career, and citizenship
- makes postsecondary education accessible and affordable
- increases educational persistence, performance, and progress
Moderator: James Applegate, Senior Vice President for Program Development, Lumina Foundation for Education
Presenters: Susan A. Barry, Esq., President and CEO, The Community Foundation of Louisville;
Celebrating Food, Culture, and Healthy Eating in the Big Easy
Wednesday, September 12, 12-1:30 p.m.
Food often defines our nation�s cities, and New Orleans is no exception. But despite the Big Easy�s reputation for calorie-laden gumbo and crawfish �touff�e, there is a growing focus throughout the city on healthier eating. Join us as we combine a look at New Orleans� rich culinary culture with a discussion about confronting, and winning, the war against obesity as identified in the documentary �The Weight of the Nation��and how philanthropy is occupying a key seat at the table.
Moderators: Melissa Harris-Perry, Professor, political science, Tulane University, and host of MSNBC's "Melissa Harris-Perry�; Nicole Taylor, President and CEO, East Bay Community Foundation
Presenters: Leah Chase, Executive Chef, Dooky Chase�s Restaurant; Brian Landry, Executive Chef, Borgne; Syrena Johnson, Besh/Bride Chefs Move Scholarship Recipient
