Accelerating the American Dream: Virtual Lunch & Learn Series With AFN & Texas 2036
For working Texas families, what driving forces shaping economic security and mobility do we need to pay attention to?What policy goals hold the most promise for ensuring that Texas is the best place to live and work for ALL Texans? Join AFN, Texas 2036, and your grantmaker peers from across the state for a special three-part virtual learning series. Through presentation and discussion we’ll unpack some of the latest data and framing for policy goals critical to advancing an equitable Texas economy.
Who should attend: These sessions are open to AFN members and grantmakers who meet AFN’s membership criteria
Session #1: Creating an Effective Education-to-Workforce Continuum
Friday, September 29, 12-1 PM CST
Texans of all ages lack the education needed to access the skilled, high-wage careers of the economy of today and of tomorrow. Texas is last among peer states in the percentage of working-age adults holding a postsecondary credential. Alongside the Legislature’s efforts to modernize the state’s public school and community college finance systems, Texas must ensure there are opportunities available to meet the needs of each Texan in its education and workforce systems. Over the last several legislative sessions, Texas has made important and meaningful progress but there is still much work to be done. This presentation will provide an overview of the challenges and opportunities ahead for ensuring that Texans are prepared for the workforce of today and tomorrow
Presenters:
John Hryhorchuk, Texas 2036 Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy
Mary Lynn Pruneda, Texas 2036 Senior Policy Advisor
Renzo Soto, Texas 2036 Policy Advisor
Justin Coppedge, Texas 2036 Interim President and CEO (Moderator)
Session 1 Registration Link: September 29th
Session #2: Accelerating the American Dream
Friday, October 27, 12-1 PM CST
Texas is quickly losing its affordability advantage as demand for housing continues to climb while supply remains constrained. While there is much work to be done on expanding the availability and accessibility of affordable housing for lower income Texans, there is a growing challenge in ensuring home ownership remains attainable for middle class families in Texas including having enough “first home” housing stock so that families can begin to build the stability and financial security that comes with home ownership. Texas’ long term economic prosperity depends in no small part on its ability to ensure widespread opportunities for home ownership. This presentation will dive into the variety of challenges Texas faces in expanding home ownership and potential solutions that could lead to meaningful progress.
Presenters:
John Hryhorchuk, Texas 2036 Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy
Emily Dove, Texas 2036 Policy Advisor
Justin Coppedge, Texas 2036 Interim President and CEO (Moderator)
Session 2 Registration Link: October 27th
Session #3: Assessing the Risks to the Future of Texas
Wednesday, November 8, 12-1 PM CST
While Texas has a long history of economic prosperity and quality of life, there are real, systemic, and substantial risks to the future of the Lone Star State. These challenges, both historical and emerging, include increased frequency in extreme weather events, sustained drought, rising healthcare costs that outpace wage growth, crumbling and insufficient water infrastructure, technology-driven shifts in workforce demands, the evolution of the energy sector, and many more. They will adversely shape the future of Texas in powerful ways if left unaddressed. This presentation will explore some of the biggest challenges facing Texas, how those challenges will impact not only Texas as a state but individual Texans, and what can be done to address these challenges in ways that create and sustain opportunity for all Texans.
Presenters:
John Hryhorchuk, Texas 2036 Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy
Charles Miller, Texas 2036 Senior Policy Advisor
Jeremy Mazur, Texas 2036 Senior Policy Advisor
Rahul Sreenivasan, Texas 2036 Policy Advisor
Justin Coppedge, Texas 2036 Interim President and CEO (Moderator)
Session 3 Registration Link: November 8th
ALL SESSION SPEAKER BIOS
Accessibility Statement
Captioning will be provided. If you have any other accessibility requests or questions, please email Nikki Armstead at nikki@assetfunders.org. Requests for reasonable accommodations must be received two weeks prior to each session, to ensure our ability to meet your request.
