General Sessions & Gatherings: Intersections 2017

Millions of low-income families in the United States are housing insecure, live in housing or communities that negatively shapes their health and other life outcomes or is disconnected from vital community resources they need to thrive. Poor housing and neighborhood conditions have been shown to have deleterious effects on a wide range of outcomes, including health, children’s performance in school, employment and lifetime earnings. Some individuals, of course, can overcome place-based obstacles and do well despite these impediments to success. For far too many however, their success in life, the quality of education they receive, the jobs they take, their health, and the social networks they access, are all limited by the places where they live. Strong research now suggests that these limiting circumstances, or lack of opportunity, can have a cumulative, even inter-generational, impact on families and communities. Among the costliest of these obstacles is worsened health of residents.

Unfortunately, there has been no strong public outcry about the downward spiral of so many families struggling to make ends meet. To the contrary, there is a growing antipathy toward families in poverty as well as those earning low wages. Except in a few cases, recent efforts to dismantle what is left of the social safety net at the federal level for these families have been relatively easy wins for those who oppose those programs.

These issues are poorly understood by the public and our efforts to engage the public often backfires. The purpose of this session is to provide new insights from the social sciences and from practical efforts to address community opposition across the country, that are more effective at building public will. It will also be an opportunity to briefly introduce Opportunity 360 – which provides key data resources to help practitioners make the case for needs in their communities. Overall, this keynote address will focus on helping participants refresh their thinking about how to make the case for policies, programs and investments that address issues of poverty, inequality and inequity – using the best knowledge and information on messaging and data.

Join us in celebrating the leaders and innovators in our field as we award the 2017 Swann Matthei Award, the John Davis Award and the Inclusive Communities Impact Award.

At the IGNITE! Community Pitch Fest, Members and Allies from around the world will share three-minute presentations that highlight transformative innovations, wins and game changers. Finalists will be invited to “make their pitch” at Intersections 2017 and to compete for the coveted “Voters Choice” award.

This year, we’re excited to announce that IGNITE! nominations from North America will also be considered for the World Habitat Award—a global competition that recognizes exceptional leaders solving today’s most pressing housing challenges.

The Bay Area Consortium of Community Land Trusts will welcome attendees to Intersections 2017 for an evening of networking and reconnecting. The Consortium is comprised of seven CLTs in the Bay Area, including: Bay Area Community Land Trust, Housing Land Trust of Sonoma County, Northern California Land Trust, San Francisco Community Land Trust, the Community Land Trust of West Marin, Oakland Community Land Trust, and PAHALI in East Palo Alto.

At the host reception, the Bay Area Consortium of Community Land Trusts will thank its local sponsors and give a short description of the work each organization is doing in their communities, in and around the San Francisco Bay Area.

Please join Grounded Solutions Network for a unique networking block party in historic Old Oakland. Local craft beer, delicious bites from neighborhood restaurants and networking fun designed to engage all attendees. Our beer garden will be set along Washington Street, between 9th & 10th Streets, the heart of Oakland's bustling historic district with a backdrop of Swan's Market and Pacific Coast Brewing Company at our feet.

Come experience the true neighborhood gem of Old Oakland!

Tuesday, 10/10 - Opening Plenary & Keynote Address

Tuesday, 10/10 - Lunch Remarks: Addressing Equity (CANCELED)

Wednesday, 10/11 - 3rd Annual IGNITE! Pitch Fest & Annual Awards

Wednesday, 10/11 - Lunch Remarks: Elevating our Collective Efforts Internationally

Thursday, 10/12 - Take a Bow: Celebrating Affordable Housing Wins in the Bay Area

Monday, 10/9 - Host Reception

Tuesday, 10/10 - Urban Beer Garden Reception