Over 1,200 people participated in Advancing Regional Equity: The Second National Summit on Equitable Development, Social Justice, and Smart Growth. Sponsored by PolicyLink and the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, the summit was held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 23-25 and featured a diverse and outstanding group of presenters from the worlds of philanthropy, community-based organizations, media, advocacy, and business. Summit participants—over half of whom were people of color—came from urban, suburban, and rural communities and eagerly discussed their experiences and strategies for accepting challenges and seizing opportunities to work together to build a movement to achieve regional equity. Through panel sessions, plenary dialogues, and skills-building workshops, summit participants shared the progress being forged in promoting quality affordable housing, better schools, living wage jobs, environmental justice, and accessible public transportation.

PolicyLink and the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities are grateful to the numerous foundations that supported the summit, and those whose generous scholarship support enabled community-based leaders from across the country to travel to Philadelphia and participate in this critical event. Click on the link on the left for the complete list of funders.

Thank you to everyone who attended—funders, speakers, and participants alike—for sharing knowledge and information that will help achieve a nation where everyone has the opportunity to participate and prosper.