Leading Experts Confirmed as Panelists for Inaugural Summit on the Metropolitan Family
In celebration of its 150th anniversary, Metropolitan Family Services, Chicago's largest human services organization, will bring together prominent leaders to prioritize key issues, identify specific challenges and opportunities and inspire new thinking about what hinders lower-income and working - poor families from making better lives for themselves. The Summit will be held in Chicago on May 30, 2007. Participants span business, academia, nonprofits, civic Community and more.
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) May 2, 2007
Thought leaders from business, academia, foundations, nonprofits and the civic community have been confirmed as panelists for the inaugural Summit on the Metropolitan Family, taking place Wednesday, May 30 at the University of Chicago's Gleacher Center, 450 North Cityfront Plaza Drive, Chicago. Public attendance at the Summit on the Metropolitan Family is by invitation only.
Convened by Metropolitan Family Services, Chicago's largest human services organization, as a part of its 150th anniversary celebration, the Summit will bring together prominent leaders to prioritize key issues, identify specific challenges and opportunities and inspire new thinking about what hinders lower-income and working-poor families from making better lives for themselves.
Panelists and their sessions include:
From Fragility to Economic Stability: Creating Economic Opportunity
More than one in four Illinois residents is lower-income, straddling a thin line between survival and destitution. Panelists will explore how to help those who are mired in secondary and transitional job markets make the jump to financial stability.
Session Chair:
•Janet Froetscher, President and CEO, United Way of Metropolitan Chicago
Panelists:
•Joseph Antolin, Vice President and Executive Director, Heartland Human Care Services
•John L. Brennan, President, Bank of America, Illinois
•Frank M. Clark, Chairman and CEO, ComEd
•Sylvia Puente, Director, Metropolitan Chicago Initiative, Institute for Latino Studies, University of Notre Dame
From Attendance to Economic Engagement: Designing New Paths to Success
Differing expectations about parental involvement in schools complicate efforts to effectively engage parents in the educational process. Cultural differences in how parents interact with schools also impact a child's engagement. Participants will investigate ways that families and the schools their children attend can work together to find consensus in a way that best prepares students for an educational and employable future.
Session Chair:
•Allan Alson, High School Transformation Project, Chicago Public Schools
Panelists:
•Barbara Bowman, Chief Officer, Office of Early Childhood Education, Chicago Public Schools
•Cornelia Grumman, Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune
•Sandra P. Guthman, President, Polk Bros. Foundation
•Jesse H. Ruiz, Chairman, Illinois State Board of Education
From Ozzie and Harriet to Contemporary Families: Accommodating their Needs
Today's families include many different configurations than in the past with unique challenges of managing work and family. Meanwhile, the "cultural lag" that hinders effective work/life balance hampers employee well-being and productivity, especially for those with children. Participants will explore the issue and discuss possibilities for cross-sector solutions.
Session Chair:
•Barbara J. Risman, Chair, Department of Sociology, University of Illinois
Panelists:
•The Honorable Anne Burke, Illinois Supreme Court
•Susan J. Lambert, Ph. D., Associate Professor, The School of Social Service Administration, The University of Chicago
•Mary Mitchell, Columnist and Editorial Board, Chicago Sun-Times
•Allen A. Rodriguez, Senior Vice President and Director of Community Affairs, Charter One Bank
From Vulnerable Youth to Contributing Adults: Building Protective Systems
Urban youth are confronted by many obstacles that block the nurturing needed to grow into healthy adults. What are the main challenges facing urban youth and do they differ by ethnicity and gender? What types of protective systems can families, organizations, businesses and society at large implement so that youth living in urban and suburban communities flourish and become contributing adults?
Session Chair:
•Waldo E. Johnson, Jr., Ph. D., Director, Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture, The School of Social Service Administration, The University of Chicago
Panelists:
•Friar Johnpaul Cafiero, OFM, Holy Evangelist Friary
•Maggie Daley, Chair, After School Matters
•Clarence Page, Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune
•Julia M. Stasch, Executive Vice President, MacArthur Foundation
In addition to the sessions, the Summit also will feature "Engagement of Chicago's Mexican Community" by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs Task Force. This presentation will spotlight the major impact that Mexicans living in the six-county Chicago area have on the local economy as an example of the impact immigrant nationalities have on Chicago. By exploring ways to best integrate the growing immigrant community into the greater Chicago community, it will help ensure the region's future economic growth.
•Douglas Doetsch, Partner, Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP
•Clare Muñana, President, Ancora Associates, Inc.
•Alejandro Silva, Chairman, Evans Food Group
•Sylvia Puente, Director, Metropolitan Chicago Initiative, Institute for Latino Studies, University of Notre Dame
For press information, contact Ann Pinkney, 312/986-4032, pinkneya @ metrofamily. org or Lisa Garhan at 630/836-9412, lisag @ achieva. com.
About Metropolitan Family Services
Metropolitan Family Services has been at the heart of Chicago's city and suburban communities responding to the needs of families for 150 years. Through seven major community centers, their related locations and social policy advocacy, Metropolitan serves low-income and working-poor families facing a dynamic and ever-changing environment. As an integral part of each community we serve, we listen, actively participate and lead the way in helping families realize their amazing strength. www. metrofamily. org.
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