The George Washington University will co-host the 2012 summit of Opportunity Nation, a coalition of more than 250 organizations working to close the opportunity gap, on the Foggy Bottom campus Sept. 19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
During the conference, attendees will listen to journalists, elected officials, young adults, business leaders and philanthropists discuss how to ensure the current generation has the necessary skills to compete in the current and future economies. Speakers for this year’s summit include: Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick; Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa; Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.; Arianna Huffington, president and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Media Group; Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson; and Judy Woodruff, senior correspondent for PBS Newshour. See the developing list of speakers here.
As co-host of the conference, GW will be providing 100 members of the community—students, faculty and staff—with a complimentary registration to attend the opening and breakout sessions on Sept. 19. Attendees do not have to attend all sessions.
Breakout sessions for attendees, though subject to change, include:
- Staying Ahead of the Curve: Training for Tomorrow’s Jobs
- Covering the American Dream: Media and Mobility
- Boosting American Business: Strategies for Harnessing Today’s Untapped Talent
- The Limit to America’s Dream: How Geography Impacts Opportunity
- Collective Impact Investment for Opportunity Youth
- Pushing Through the Gridlock: Working with Congress to Reclaim the American Dream
- Starting Early: Preventative Strategies for Keeping Kids on Track
- The Benefit and the Burden: Going to College in the Generation of Soaring Prices
- Taking Action: Expanding Opportunity Through Volunteerism
- National Congress of Youth Leaders and Allies Gathering
Through Sept. 13 at 5 p.m., members of the GW community can submit their names and email addresses to be placed in a lottery for one of the 100 tickets available. Winners will be notified by email on Sept. 17.