Amid ongoing inflation and persistently high living costs, millions of Americans are struggling to afford basic necessities such as food, housing, and child care. Policymakers and community leaders across the country are advancing evidence-based policies and practices to help households manage their daily finances and thrive. What will it take to sustain and build upon these solutions in the rapidly changing political, regulatory, and funding environment? Join the Urban Institute and a panel of researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to discuss what it takes to thrive in the US today and to identify durable strategies to advance upward mobility in communities across the country.
 

1:00 p.m. | Opening

• Thea Garon, Director, Financial Well-Being Data Hub and Practice Area Lead, Financial Well-Being, Urban Institute

1:10 p.m. | Research Discussion: Assessing the True Cost of Economic Security

• Ilham Dehry, Senior Research Associate, Tax and Income Supports Division, Urban Institute
• Miranda Santillo, Policy Program Manager, Family and Financial Well-Being Division, Urban Institute (moderator)

1:40 p.m. | Panel 1: Understanding and Improving Households’ Financial Well-Being

• Melissa Boteach, Vice President, Income Security and Child Care, National Women’s Law Center
• Jimmy Chen, Founder and CEO, Propel
• Tanya Ladha, Senior Director, Solutions Group, Jobs for the Future
• Thea Garon, Director, Financial Well-Being Data Hub and Practice Area Lead, Financial Well-Being, Urban Institute (moderator)

2:40 p.m. | Break

2:55 p.m. | Remarks

• Sarah Rosen Wartell, President, Urban Institute

3:00 p.m. | Panel 2: Sustaining Progress to Advance Upward Mobility in Communities

• Frank Cardella, Director of Economic Mobility, United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg
• Jackie Carrera, President and CEO, Santa Barbara Foundation
• Melissa Robinson, Council Member, Kansas City, Missouri
• Catherine Harvey, Senior Policy Program Manager, Research to Action Lab, Urban Institute (moderator)

4:00 p.m. | Event Concludes and Networking Reception begins 

5:00 p.m. | Networking Reception concludes

This event is available for in-person or virtual participation. Please be sure to register correctly. In-person check-in will begin at 12:30 p.m. A networking reception will follow. The public event will now end at 4:00 p.m. EDT, and the Networking Reception will run until 5:00 p.m. EDT.

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. Please email [email protected] if you require any accommodations or have any questions about this event.

This event is hosted by the Urban Institute’s Financial Well-Being Data Hub and the Upward Mobility Initiative. For more on Urban’s funding policies, please visit urban.org/about/organizational-principles.