Agenda-At-A-Glance
8:30am - 9:00am
Breakfast and Networking
9:00am - 9:10am
Transition to Ballroom
9:10am - 9:20am
Welcome
9:20am - 9:40am
Opening Remarks
9:40am - 10:30am
Morning Plenary
The Power of Place: Reimagining Communities Through Place-Based Economic Mobility Strategies
Where someone lives should never determine how far they can go. This session explores how neighborhoods can become engines of opportunity through intentional place-based investments and cross-sector collaboration. Participants will hear updates on the Rise Coleman Park Initiative, examine successful place-based economic mobility models from across the country, and explore practical tools for revitalizing neighborhoods while improving education, housing, employment, health, and community wealth. The workshop will conclude with lessons learned and a replicable framework communities can use to build opportunity where it is needed most.
- Upendo Shabazz; Chief Executive Officer; RISE Coleman Park
- Keith Fudge; Director of Policy Management; Urban Institute
- Raphael Clemente; Executive Director; Palm Beach Venture Philanthropy
10:30am - 10:45am
Break
10:45am - 11:45am
Safe Communities, Strong Economies: Reforming the Justice System to Support Second Chances and Economic Opportunity
Economic mobility depends on safe communities and fair access to opportunity. This session explores how justice system reforms can reduce barriers to employment, strengthen communities, and improve long-term economic outcomes. Participants will discuss strategies such as second-chance hiring, expungement initiatives, “Ban the Box” policies, reforming fines and fees that create financial hardship, and expanding workforce opportunities for justice-involved individuals. Learn how governments, employers, nonprofits, and community leaders can work together to create pathways to employment that reduce recidivism, increase public safety, and strengthen local economies.
- Taruna Malhotra; Executive Director; PBC CJC
- Orie Bullard; Director; The ReEntry Center
- Daniel Eisinger; Circuit 15 Public Defender
- Elisa Cramer; Director; PBC Youth Services
10:45am - 11:45am
Childcare as Economic Infrastructure: Strengthening Workforce Participation and Economic Opportunity
Childcare is more than a family support service—it is a cornerstone of a thriving economy. Without reliable childcare, parents struggle to enter or remain in the workforce, businesses face labor shortages, and communities lose economic potential. This session will explore how expanding childcare capacity can strengthen workforce participation, increase family financial stability, and fuel regional economic growth. Participants will learn about innovative strategies for developing childcare centers, aligning public policies to support working families, integrating workforce development and employment services into community resource centers, and building partnerships that make quality childcare more affordable and accessible. Discover why investing in childcare is one of the smartest economic mobility strategies a community can make.
Panelists:
Dr. Lisa Williams-Taylor; Chief Executive Officer; Children’s Services Council
Eric Roby; Executive Director; Florence Fuller
Laura Conway; Executive Director; Lutheran Services Florida
Aruna Gilbert; Chief Program Officer; Early Learning Coalition
10:45am - 11:45am
From Housing Instability to Economic Mobility: Affordable Housing Solutions That Change Conditions and Advance Upward Mobility
Housing is the foundation upon which families build financial stability and economic success. This session will explore how affordable housing strategies can serve as powerful catalysts for upward mobility by reducing housing cost burdens, increasing neighborhood stability, and connecting residents to opportunity. Participants will hear success stories from families participating in the Securing Our Future Initiative (SOFI) Cottage Home Program, learn about the Housing Plan for All Progress, and examine innovative approaches including affordable housing development, tiny home communities, rental assistance, and housing navigation. The session will demonstrate how housing, when integrated with employment, education, healthcare, and financial coaching, becomes a platform for long-term economic independence rather than simply a place to live.
Panelists:
Carlos Serrano; Deputy Director; PBC Housing and Economic Development
Carol Jones-Gilbert; Chief Executive Officer; PBC Housing Authority
Natalie Vasquez; Director; PBC CSD - Self Sufficiency
Florence “Flower” Sanchez; Chief Executive Officer, Sunshine Pathways Foundation
Dr. Cristina Lucier; Chair; Homeless and Housing Alliance of PBC
10:45am - 11:45am
Recovery, Resilience, and Opportunity: Creating Systems that Support Brain Health, Recovery, and Economic Mobility
Recovery is an economic development strategy. Individuals experiencing mental health conditions or substance use disorders can thrive in the workforce when communities build systems that support healing, resilience, and opportunity. This session will examine how integrated approaches—including Recovery Community Hubs, Project OVERDOSE, behavioral health services, peer support, and recovery-friendly workplaces—can improve employment outcomes while strengthening communities. Participants will explore how addressing brain health, trauma, and social determinants of health increases workforce participation, reduces long-term public costs, and creates sustainable pathways to economic mobility. Learn how investing in recovery transforms lives while building a healthier, more productive workforce.
Panelists:
Darcy Davis; Chief Executive Officer, Health Care District of Palm Beach County
Andrea Stephenson-Royster, MBA; Chief Executive Officer; Health Council of Southeast Florida
Tyler Glock; Secretary; The Recovery Community Hub of PBC Board of Directors
Dr. Joanna Reid-Enoise; Sr. Program Manager, Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder, PBC Community Services Department
11:45am - 12:20pm
Lunch
12:20pm - 1:30pm
Lunch Plenary
Opportunity by Design: A Blueprint for Measuring and Expanding Economic Opportunity One ZIP Code at a Time
Communities improve what they measure together. This interactive session introduces Opportunity Palm Beach County, an innovative countywide initiative designed to transform how communities understand, measure, and expand opportunity. Participants will explore the evidence-based Upward Mobility Framework, learn how GIS Opportunity Mapping can identify neighborhood strengths and barriers, and discover how the Social & Economic Mobility Research Institute will support data-driven decision making and continuous learning. The workshop will also demonstrate how governments, businesses, nonprofits, philanthropies, educational institutions, and residents can use shared mobility metrics to align investments, strengthen accountability, and create measurable improvements in upward economic mobility—one neighborhood and one ZIP code at a time.
Panelists:
Heather Cogar; Statewide Director, Community Engagement, Florida Chamber Foundation
JP Oconner; Mayor, City of Westlake, President, PBC League of Cities
Mary Lou Bedford; Chief Executive Officer, Central Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce
Mike Zeff; President/CEO, Chamber of Palm Beaches
1:30pm - 1:45pm
Transition to Workshop
1:45pm - 2:45pm
The Opportunity Workforce: Closing the Skills Gap to Promote Upward Economic Mobility
Small businesses and a strong workforce is the engine of a thriving economy. This workshop will examine the role of small businesses in economic mobility, the workforce landscape, identify emerging skills gaps, and explore innovative strategies for connecting residents to family-sustaining careers. Participants will discuss entrepreneurship, entry-level career pathways, industry partnerships, apprenticeships, workforce coaching, and skills-based hiring practices that prepare workers for today’s and tomorrow’s economy. The session will also highlight the critical role of case managers and career navigators in helping individuals overcome barriers, remain engaged in training, and achieve long-term employment success. Learn how aligning workforce systems with employer demand creates opportunity for workers while strengthening the regional economy.
Panelists:
Julia Dattolo; Chief Executive Officer; CareerSource PBC
Kemberly Bush; Chief Executive Officer; Pathways to Prosperity
Doris Davis; Sr. Program Manager; PBC Community Services Department
Layren Espinosa; Director, Office of Small Business Development, PBC Department of Housing and Economic Development
1:45pm - 2:45pm
Wheels of Opportunity: Innovative Transportation Solutions that Promote Economic Mobility
Transportation is one of the most overlooked barriers to economic mobility. Without reliable transportation, access to employment, education, healthcare, and childcare becomes increasingly difficult. This session will explore innovative mobility solutions that connect residents to opportunity, including partnerships with 211, Palm Tran Connection, fixed-route transit, employer transportation programs, and community ride initiatives. Participants will learn how transportation investments improve workforce participation, reduce employment barriers, and create more equitable access to economic opportunity. Discover how communities can rethink transportation as an essential component of an economic mobility strategy.
Panelists:
Fredlyne (Lyne) Johnson; Interim Director; Palm Tran
Brian Ruscher; Deputy Director of Multimodal; TPA
Ty Barnes; Chief Executive Officer; 211 of Palm Beach Treasure Coast
Chelsea Reed; Executive Director, West Palm Beach Mobility Coalition
Ivan Maldonado; Former Executive Director, Palm Tran
1:45pm - 2:45pm
From Hunger to Hope: Food Security as a Pathway to Economic Mobility
Food security is about far more than meeting immediate nutritional needs—it is a critical building block for economic success. This workshop will explore how innovative food system strategies can reduce poverty while creating employment, entrepreneurship, and workforce development opportunities. Participants will learn about food bank workforce initiatives, commercial kitchens that support small business creation, nutrition programs that improve health outcomes, and employment pathways connected to food production and distribution. The session will demonstrate how investments in food security can simultaneously strengthen families, improve community health, stimulate local economies, and create lasting pathways to self-sufficiency.
Panelists:
Jamie Kendall; Chief Executive Officer; PBC Food Bank
Jason Mandle; Executive Director; Restoration Bridge International
Jyothi Gunta, MD, MPH, FACPM; Director; Florida Department of Health PBC
Tammy Fields, Esq.; Chair, United Way Hunger Initiative
1:45pm - 2:45pm
Education to Earnings: Aligning Learning Systems and Workforce Development with Economic Opportunity
Education should be a direct pathway to economic mobility. This session will explore how communities can better align K-12 education, adult education, higher education, workforce development, and employer needs to create seamless pathways from learning to meaningful careers. Participants will examine innovative workforce training models, industry-recognized certifications, apprenticeships, on-the-job learning opportunities, and employer partnerships that prepare residents for high-demand careers. The discussion will also highlight policies and private-sector investments that strengthen workforce participation, increase wages, and ensure every learner has access to opportunities that lead to long-term economic success.
Panelists:
Mike Burke; Superintendent; PBC School District
Dr. Ava Parker; President; Palm Beach State College
Jeremy Morse; Executive Director; Related Ross Foundation
Naelys Luna; Ph.D., M.S.W., Founding Dean and Professor, College of Social Work and Criminal Justice
3:05pm - 4:05pm
Afternoon Plenary
AI and the Future of Economic Mobility: Transforming Opportunity for ALICE Families
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the future of work, education, and public services. Will it widen opportunity—or widen inequality? This forward-looking session explores how AI can become a powerful tool for advancing economic mobility for ALICE families and other economically vulnerable populations. Participants will examine emerging case studies demonstrating how AI can streamline eligibility determination, improve access to benefits, personalize workforce training, strengthen job matching, and enhance service delivery across the human services system. The session will also explore strategies for preparing workers for an AI-driven economy while ensuring technology expands opportunity rather than creating new barriers.
Panelists:
Dr. Laurie George; President and Chief Executive Officer; United Way PBC
Dan Cane; Co-Chief CEO & Co-Founder of ModMed
Dr. Ava Parker; President, Palm Beach State College
Tim Burke; Former Publisher of The Palm Beach Post
