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High Road Policy Summit: Creating an Equitable Economy and a Democratic Community

High Road Policy Summit

Creating an Equitable Economy and a Democratic Community

Friday, May 14, 2021

9:30 am to 12:30 pm

Event Overview: Cornell University ILR Buffalo Co-Lab’s first annual High Road Policy Summit convenes stakeholders from government, community-based organizations, labor, academia, and the private sector to explore concrete policies and strategies for an equitable vibrant economy. Recent innovative policy proposals in the areas of racial equity, economic development, and worker ownership and control will be discussed in panels with elected officials and expert advocates. This inaugural summit will be held virtually and is open to the public.

Join us for moderated discussions among distinguished panels of speakers who are working to make a fair and just economy for all New Yorkers.

Goals:

  • Envision and advance High Road policies that combat persistent conditions of racial and economic inequality
  • Explore innovative state policy proposals and cutting-edge research on achieving racial equity in government and at work
  • Open the black box of government economic development subsidies and learn how to make public dollars work for the public good
  • Learn how worker-owned and worker-controlled businesses can fight inequality, how they can be set up in New York State, and how state and local government policies can support them

 

Program:

9:30 a.m.         Introduction by Rusty Weaver, ILR Buffalo Co-Lab Director of Research

                        ILR School Dean Alex Colvin:  Remarks recognizing the public service of the WNY state delegation and commemorating 75 years of ILR in Buffalo

10:30 a.m.       Building Institutions for Racial Equity and Social Justice

            New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes

            Cornell University ILR School Assistant Professor Courtney McCluney

10:45-11:30    Fighting Low Road Economic Development

             Dania Rajendra, Director of Athena

             New York State Assembly Member Ron Kim

11:45 -12:30    Supporting Worker-Owned and Worker-Controlled Enterprises

              Jonathan Johnsen, Esq., Creighton, Johnsen & Giroux

              New York State Senator Sean M. Ryan

              Buffalo Common Council Member David Rivera

              Andrew Delmonte, Director of Cooperation Buffalo 

12:30               Closing Remarks by Cathy Creighton, Director of Cornell in Buffalo

 

Registration to come...

 

Resources and Bills to be discussed: