Joining us in Pittsburgh? ICMA's 2024 Annual Conference programming will feature numerous opportunities to connect with peers, partners, and staff working on economic mobility issues, including through a new student-focused networking and learning event (Saturday) and an open reception on Monday evening. 

Find more on specific opportunities to add to your schedule below, or stop by the Thriving Communities Support: Powered by ICMA lounge located in Booth 813. Representatives from our programs will be available to answer questions about clean energy, economic development and mobility, environmental justice and more. 

Moving the Needle: Economic Mobility Strategies for Next Gen Leaders Luncheon

Saturday, September 21, 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. ET
The Westin Pittsburgh, Room: Somerset

Public Administration students are invited to attend this free luncheon highlighting opportunities for tomorrow’s leaders to make a difference in boosting upward mobility for residents of their communities. You’ll learn from and network with local government leaders actively working to move the needle for the security, health, and welfare of vulnerable residents in communities across the country. ICMA will also introduce upcoming experiential learning opportunities for public administration students. Space is limited.
RSVP to Reserve Your Seat »

City and County Strategies to Promote Housing Stability Through Economic Mobility

Saturday, September 21, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Room 301-302

Cities and counties work daily on local challenges related to housing, job opportunities, and business development, reaching underserved populations, ensuring support for working families, and more. In this session, cities and counties will share the impacts of poverty and homelessness, but also discuss how education, job placement/training, and affordable housing can facilitate economic mobility within their communities. This session will also discuss some of the obstacles and challenges that exist in the pursuit of education, job placement, affordable housing, and economic mobility within communities.

Using Data to Strengthen Efforts to Increase Economic Mobility and Opportunity (Free Breakfast Workshop)

Monday, September 23, 7:45 - 9:45 a.m. ET
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Room 319

Start your day with a free breakfast and training on using data to spark, strengthen, and sustain efforts to increase upward mobility in your community. This workshop with Researchers from the Urban Institute will showcase a variety of open-access tools for local decision makers, including a framework that can help users identify areas of focus, and a new data dashboard that allows users to access 24 key predictors of mobility from poverty for counties and cities across the US.

Speakers will guide participants through tabletop exercises that demonstrate how data can be used to understand community conditions, prioritize areas in need of focus, and monitor impact. Discussion will focus on how local governments can develop community-specific programming that promotes equitable outcomes for all residents.

Local Leadership: Lessons from ICMA's Economic Mobility and Opportunity Cohort

Monday, September 23, 2:45 - 3:45 p.m. ET
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Room 308

Hear from a panel of ICMA's Economic Mobility and Opportunity Cohort participants as they discuss the ways they're working to address local challenges and promote upward mobility for residents in areas such as housing, community development, support for working families, and more. Participants will share stories about the motivation behind their local efforts, the actions that have been taken in their community thus far, and their plans for future economic mobility work. They’ll highlight the tools and approaches that have led them to success, as well as share lessons learned throughout the cohort process. Join this session for inspiration from fellow ICMA members about outreach, research, and programmatic approaches your community can emulate in fostering upward economic mobility and opportunities for your residents.

Thriving Communities Reception

Monday, September 23, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. ET
The Westin Pittsburgh, Allegheny Ballroom III

Join staff, partners, funders, and local government leaders in a celebration of ICMA’s wide array of programs aimed at fostering thriving communities, including economic mobility and opportunity. This informal evening reception is open to all.

Resource Roadmapping for Thriving Communities Workshop

Tuesday, September 24, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. ET
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Room 319

Local governments representing communities of varying sizes and demographics still have access to an unprecedented range of technical assistance, funding, and other support aimed at fostering thriving and equitable communities. This free workshop, facilitated by staff and partners of ICMA's Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (EJ TCTAC) and Economic Mobility programs, will highlight timely opportunities that local governments should have on their radar in the months ahead. Learn tips on positioning your community to capture funding and how to "braid" resources for maximum impact. Additionally, we'll highlight opportunities where free technical assistance can support your staff in finding and competing for external funding as well as boosting your ability to reach and better serve all residents through engagement and programming. Participants will develop the initial framework of a custom "resource roadmap" to guide further planning and action steps. Refreshments will be served at this workshop.

Toward Economic Inclusion: Advancing Local Policy and Programs 

Tuesday, September 24, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. ET
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Room 408-410

This session will provide a case study of how Brooklyn Park, Minnesota (pop 85,000), decided to turn its policy focus towards economic mobility and inclusion. Over a 5-year period, and catalyzed by the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Brooklyn Park developed and implemented a series of internal and external economic inclusion practices, and has been able to provide job opportunities, workforce development solutions, homeownership opportunities, and small business support to its community members. These policies and programs are having a significant positive impact in the community and on the city governance and are serving as the foundation to closing the racial disparities in homeownership, small business support, and workforce development.

Don’t miss these impactful sessions by adding them to your personal conference schedule through the ICMA Conference App, where you can also take notes and connect with peers. Learn more about economic mobility and opportunity at icma.org/emo.