Agenda
June 15–16, 2021
Join thousands of friends, partners, thought leaders, and practitioners as we come together to hear big ideas and discuss bold action we all can take to create more equitable workforce and education systems for all.
Day 1 | Tuesday, June 15
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12:00PM
Main Stage »
12:00PM – 2:30PM
Main Stage »
Join us on our main stage from 12 to 2:30 p.m. ET for conversations with leaders in industry, education, philanthropy, and more.
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12:10PM
Reflecting on a Tumultuous Year
12:10PM
Reflecting on a Tumultuous Year
Day 1 will open with a conversation between JFF CEO Maria Flynn and Byron Auguste, CEO and cofounder of Opportunity@Work. They will discuss the disproportionate impact the pandemic-driven economic and health care crises have had on Black, Latinx, and Indigenous Americans.
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12:20PM
Building an Antiracist Recovery
12:20PM
Building an Antiracist Recovery
Professor Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to Be an Antiracist, will discuss what it means to build antiracist education and workforce systems and how we can achieve an economic recovery from COVID-19 that is inclusive of Black, Latinx, and Indigenous Americans.
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12:40PM
Corporate Commitments to DEI: Where We Are and Where We Need to Go
12:40PM
Corporate Commitments to DEI: Where We Are and Where We Need to Go
Taking a candid look at corporate commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Comcast Chief Diversity Officer Dalila Wilson-Scott and JFF VP Michael Collins will discuss the steps companies have taken to fulfill recent promises to increase Black, Latinx, and Indigenous worker advancement.
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1:00PM
How Foundations Can Help Drive Lasting Change
1:00PM
How Foundations Can Help Drive Lasting Change
Schultz Family Foundation President Tyra Mariani and Cofounder Sheri Kersch Schultz will discuss the foundation’s evolving approach to philanthropy and its support of programs on the ground. They will explore the connections between sectors in the workforce ecosystem and how to drive lasting change.
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1:20PM
Philanthropy in 2021: Diverse Approaches to Meeting the Moment
1:20PM
Philanthropy in 2021: Diverse Approaches to Meeting the Moment
This session will examine how philanthropic organizations and their leaders have responded to the pandemic and our country’s reckoning with racial injustice. Speakers will also discuss what they see as the future of philanthropy related to workforce development and economic advancement.
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1:35PM
Partnerships to Create Future-Proof Jobs in Local Economies
1:35PM
Partnerships to Create Future-Proof Jobs in Local Economies
Verizon’s Carrie Hughes and Dallas College Chancellor Joe May will discuss the partnership their organizations have forged to help learners and workers develop the skills they need for careers in IT.
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1:55PM
Building a Stronger Economy Together
1:55PM
Building a Stronger Economy Together
JFF CEO Maria Flynn speaks with former Ohio Governor John Kasich about the roles individuals, communities, and governments can play in building a stronger economy for the future.
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2:30PM
Workshops Round 1 »
2:30PM – 3:15PM
Workshops Round 1 »
These four workshops will run concurrently during this time slot:
Youth Apprenticeship: The Time Is Now »
How youth apprenticeships can advance equity and opportunity.New Approaches to Aligning Postsecondary Education and Work »
How colleges and new learning providers are developing innovative approaches to education and training.Employers Investing in Worker Mobility »
How companies like McDonald’s can help workers advance.Investing in Talent Through Inclusive Economic Development »
How leaders in Northeast Ohio are approaching inclusive economic development. -
3:30PM
Workshops Round 2 »
3:30PM – 4:00PM
Workshops Round 2 »
These four workshops will run concurrently during this time slot:
Career Navigation: Designing Systems for Smart Decision-Making and Advancement »
Education and career navigation best practices and policies.Taking Action on Fair Chance Hiring »
Why talent development strategies shouldn’t overlook people with records.Resilience Through Crisis: Apprenticeship Strategies in 2020 »
Promising practices that helped advance apprenticeship amid the turmoil of 2020.On-ramps and Up-ramps for Women: Post-Pandemic Strategies for (re)Employment and Advancement »
A look at the “she-cession” and what it will take to restore labor force participation and employment for all women. -
4:00PM
Open Networking Session
4:00PM
Open Networking Session
Join other attendees from Horizons for an opportunity to connect on main stage or workshop conversations in an open forum virtual setting. Closed door conversations and small-group discussions of up to 6 people are being held at the end of Day 1 and Day 2. Drop in for new or existing connections during this 30-minute segment held by JFF.
Day 2 | Wednesday, June 16
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12:00PM
Main Stage »
12:00PM – 2:30PM
Main Stage »
Join us on our main stage from 12 to 2:30 p.m. for conversations with leaders in industry, education, philanthropy, and more.
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12:05PM
Looking to the Future: Building a More Inclusive Economy
12:05PM
Looking to the Future: Building a More Inclusive Economy
Day 2 will open with a conversation between Recount Media CEO John Battelle and Scott Galloway, a serial entrepreneur and a New York University marketing professor. They will discuss what’s next for education and workforce development as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for the future of work.
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12:30PM
Advancing Equity and Opportunity at Scale: A Conversation With Secretaries Cardona, Raimondo, and Walsh
12:30PM
Advancing Equity and Opportunity at Scale: A Conversation With Secretaries Cardona, Raimondo, and Walsh
The secretaries of the departments of Education, Commerce, and Labor will join us to discuss federal efforts to build an equitable economic recovery. They will reflect on the past year, outline their visions for the future, and dig into the changes needed to provide all Americans with opportunities to advance economically.
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12:50PM
The Policy Outlook From Capitol Hill
12:50PM
The Policy Outlook From Capitol Hill
U.S. Rep. Andy Levin and Richard Reeves of the Brookings Institution will discuss the role Congress plays in building stronger and better-aligned education and workforce systems.
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1:05PM
Supporting Workers: Insights From the Nation’s Largest Private Employer
1:05PM
Supporting Workers: Insights From the Nation’s Largest Private Employer
Donna Morris of Walmart and Shana DeSmit of Sam’s Club will discuss Walmart’s efforts to advance equitable and inclusive talent management programs and policies to support the “whole employee” and help people advance.
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1:15PM
Leading Through Recovery
1:15PM
Leading Through Recovery
Corporate leaders will discuss the opportunity they have to design new talent management practices that emphasize equity, put people at the center of business strategy, and foster economic mobility. And JFF’s Corporate Leadership team will introduce the JFF Recovery Playbook, a tool employers can use to drive this change.
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1:35PM
Building a Corporate Community to Support Black Talent
1:35PM
Building a Corporate Community to Support Black Talent
Willa Seldon of the Bridgespan Group and Maurice Jones, CEO of OneTen, will discuss the launch and progress of OneTen, a coalition of leading executives who are coming together to train, hire, and advance 1 million Black Americans over the next 10 years.
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1:50PM
Strengthening Connections from High School to Postsecondary Education and Work
1:50PM
Strengthening Connections from High School to Postsecondary Education and Work
In a discussion of the challenges facing students as they transition from high school to postsecondary education and the workforce, College Board CEO David Coleman and Reconstruction Founder Kaya Henderson will examine what can be done to drive equity and access to better opportunities for all students.
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2:00PM
Catalyzing the Ecosystem for Inclusive Economic Recovery
2:00PM
Catalyzing the Ecosystem for Inclusive Economic Recovery
Lisa Gevelber of Grow With Google and JFF CEO Maria Flynn will discuss Google’s role in the education and workforce ecosystem and how employers can work with community stakeholders to build pathways to careers that offer opportunities for economic advancement.
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2:30PM
Workshops Round 3 »
2:30PM – 3:15PM
Workshops Round 3 »
These four workshops will run concurrently during this time slot:
Talent of Tomorrow: Building Diverse Talent Pipelines »
A look at a new JFF initiative that connects employers with career and technical education programs.The Grand Challenge of Modernizing How We Train America »
How American Job Centers in six states are devising new ways to use technology to train people.The Big Blur: Reimagining the Transitions Between Grade 11, Postsecondary, and Career »
A look at JFF’s vision of a new pathway from high school to college to career.Designing Inclusive Workplaces for All »
How employers are investing in ways to support a more inclusive and diverse workforce in an evolving economy. -
3:30PM
Workshops Round 4 »
3:30PM – 4:00PM
Workshops Round 4 »
These four workshops will run concurrently during this time slot:
Learning as an Experience: Innovative Training for the Future of Work »
How alternative workforce training and education programs can benefit workers and employers.Social Networks to Support Social Mobility »
A look at Brookings Institution “How We Rise” data on social networks and social mobility, with a focus on racial equity.Outcome-Based Financing: Evaluating Equity Implications »
A dive into the debate about how—or whether—outcome-based educational financing promotes racial, gender, and economic equity.On-Ramps to the Tech Sector: Effective Strategies for Accessing Tech Career Pathways »
How to build pathways to careers in tech for populations that have been underrepresented in the industry. -
4:00PM
Open Networking Session
4:00PM
Open Networking Session
Join other attendees from Horizons for an opportunity to connect on main stage or workshop conversations in an open forum virtual setting. Closed door conversations and small-group discussions of up to 6 people are being held at the end of Day 1 and Day 2. Drop in for new or existing connections during this 30-minute segment held by JFF.
On Demand Library
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Exclusive Content Available Now »
Exclusive Content Available Now »
In 2021, Horizons is once again free, open to everyone, and breaking the mold of what a virtual conference can be.
As we all emerge from a year of Zoom overload, we’re offering provocative and purposeful content in various formats, including live, interactive workshops and on-demand sessions that you can access anytime.
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Candid Conversations
Candid Conversations
At Horizons, we’ll bring together the top thinkers in policy, industry, and education for candid conversations about what’s next in the learn-and-work ecosystem.
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Author Series
Author Series
In interviews with top authors and thinkers, we explore all aspects of learning and work, examine innovative approaches to preparing today’s learners for tomorrow’s challenges, and discuss what it will take to navigate the future of education and work.