How we invest in communities and neighborhoods—in housing, health, education, and economic development— influences outcomes for individuals and families.

On July 25th, the Urban Institute in collaboration with the Metropolitan Planning Council explored strategies to promote economic mobility for low-income families, enabling them to move up the economic ladder through housing and other “place-conscious” policies. With support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Chicago Community Trust, and JPMorgan Chase, this day-long event brought together leading policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and philanthropists from Chicago and around the country to highlight best practices and share promising public- and private-sector approaches to improving economic mobility. 

Speakers includeD

• Randall Blakey, executive director, Near North Unity Program
• Atif Bostic, executive director, UpLift Solutions
• Raphael Bostic, Judith and John Bedrosian chair in governance and the public enterprise; chair, Department of Governance, Management, and the Policy Process, University of Southern California
• Robert Croston, principal, Jenner Elementary Academy for the Arts 
• Derek Douglas, vice president for civic engagement, University of Chicago
• Arne Duncan, managing partner, Emerson Collective, formerly US Department of Education
• Garry Embleton, vice president of operations and supply chain, Method 
• Ricardo Estrada, vice president of programs and education, Instituto del Progreso Latino
• Aaron Gornstein, president and chief executive officer, Preservation of Affordable Housing
• Jackie Holsten, senior vice president and general counsel, Holsten Real Estate Development Corporation
• Mary Howard, chief resident services officer, Chicago Housing Authority
• Mark Kruse, vice president for development, Hispanic Housing Development Corporation 
• Sheryl Seiling, director, Housing Authority of Cook County

Materials 

• Event Agenda
• Speaker Biographies

Background Resources

• Housing Policy Levers to Promote Economic Mobility 
• The Impacts of Neighborhoods on Intergenerational Mobility
• Restore the Promise of Work: Reducing Inequality by Raising the Floor and Building Ladders 
• Expanding Economic Opportunity for Young Men and Boys of Color through Employment and Training

For inquiries regarding this event, please contact [email protected].