Over 1,500 local, regional, state, and national leaders traveled to New Orleans in early March for the Third National Summit on Equitable Development, Social Justice, and Smart Growth.

 

The Summit offered participants a venue for in-depth exploration of the groundbreaking achievements, innovative strategies, and lasting policies that connect low- income/low-wealth communities to resources and opportunity. 

 

In New Orleans, where the world bore painful witness to the lingering inequities this society still faces, we built on the issues that were framed at the Philadelphia Summit in May 2005. Through interactive panels and plenaries, caucuses, and diverse multimedia experiences, we developed a deeper focus on implementation and policy options and examined in depth what regional equity looks like on the ground in communities across the United States.

 

Our agenda included issue-based sessions, a forum for creating a regional equity movement, skills-building trainings, and regional case studies. Summit participants included leaders and advocates from the nonprofit, public policy, philanthropy, business, and academic arenas that share a commitment to full economic and racial inclusion based on the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to participate and prosper in society.

 

Click here to view photos of the event