The Philadelphia Citizen’s Ideas We Should Steal Festival® presented by Comcast NBCUniversal returns for its 7th year. We scoured the country for the changemakers and innovators whose transformative ideas could fuel much-needed progress in our city. The mission: to share powerful ways we can work together to create a city that meets today’s particular challenges and opportunities, so that all Philadelphians can thrive.
Thursday, November 14, 5-8:30pm
Opening Night at Fitler Club Ballroom
1 South 24th Street, Philadelphia, 19103
Light bites will be provided. Drinks available for purchase.
Friday, November 15, 9am-4pm
Main Festival at Comcast Technology Center’s Ralph J Roberts Forum
1800 Arch Street, Philadelphia, 19103
Lunch will be provided. Vegan and gluten-free options will be available. Coffee and drinks provided throughout the day.
Opening Night Film Screening: Punch 9 for Harold Washington
Punch 9 For Harold Washington, about Chicago’s late, legendary first African-American mayor, whose charisma and machine-toppling ways speak to us today. Followed by a conversation and live How to Really Run a City podcast recording with director Joe Winston; New Yorker writer, Princeton professor and MacArthur “genius”, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, author of Race for Profit:How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership; and podcast co-hosts former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and The Citizen’s Larry Platt. Check in 5:00-5:45pm; Film 5:45-7:30pm; Conversation 7:30-8pm; Networking until 8:30pm.
Wanted: Voters Who Shower After Work.
Batya Ungar-Sargon, author of Second Class: How the Elites Betrayed America’s Working Men and Women with former PA Congressman and Undersecretary of the Army Patrick Murphy. Moderated by MSNBC Chief Correspondent Ali Velshi.
Give Local.
Piper Stege Nelson, Amplify Austin CEO, on launching the city’s wildly successful one day giving contest that has raised more than $100 million for 1,100 nonprofits in 10 years — often through donations under $50 each.
Building the Human Rights Economy.
Devin Cotten, founder & CEO of Universal Basic Employment & Opportunity, with Dr. Amy Castro, co-director of the Center for Guaranteed Income Research at Penn, and Senator Cory Booker*. Moderated by MSNBC Chief Correspondent Ali Velshi.
When Public Meets Private.
Kathryn Wylde, CEO of The Partnership for New York City, in conversation with Michael Forman, Chairman and CEO of FS Investments, on how business leaders can help government serve the common good. Moderated by Dalila Wilson-Scott, Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast Corporation and President of Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation.
How To Catch A Would-Be Assassin.
Garrett Langley, Flock Safety CEO, on the company’s license plate reader tech that has helped police departments capture suspects in cities around the country.
Thriving After Prison.
Laurin Leonard, co-founder of Mission: Launch, a tech company that is rethinking the background check. In conversation with MSNBC Correspondent Trymaine Lee.
Power for the People.
Gilbert Campbell, Volt Utility CEO, on green jobs for African American workers, and mitigating against climate change for at-risk urban communities.
Cracking The Code on Housing.
Mark Ethridge, chief of Charlotte’s Housing Impact Fund, on how Naturally-Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAHs) can fuel supply; Brookings Metro’s Andre Perry, author of Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America’s Black Cities, on how to reappraise and revalue Black homeownership; and Sonja Trauss, executive director of Yes In My Back Yard. Moderated by Bruce Katz, founding director of Drexel University’s Nowak Metro Finance Lab.
The Key To Philly’s Growth? Regionalism.
Philadelphia is the only city in the country with no regional strategy. Brookings Metro’s Marek Gootman, CEO of Greater Washington Partnership Kathy Etemad Hollinger, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s Chief of Staff Anne Caprara on who’s doing it right. Moderated by Comcast’s SVP of External and Government Affairs Bret Perkins.
How To Return Democracy to Voters.
American Promise CEO Jeff Clements, and actress/activist Debra Winger inside the movement behind the For Our Freedom constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. Moderated by MSNBC’s Ali Velshi.
What Would King Say Today?
Jonathan Eig, author of King: A Life, which won the Pulitzer Prize, in conversation with professor and author Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, who has written two books on MLK. Moderated by Rutgers law professor Stacy Hawkins.
*Invited, but not yet confirmed
Become a Citizen member instantly when you register for the Festival. Already a member? Select your quantity, enter your details, then apply your coupon code on the subtotal screen for a discounted entry. You MUST include the FULL NAME of each guest. Photo ID will be required for the main festival at the Comcast Technology Center and must match the guest name.
This year, we invite individuals to deepen their investment in civic solutions by offering a new Good Citizen sponsorship level. At $500, receive two entries to the Opening Night and Main Festival. Your name will be listed alongside corporate and foundation sponsors at the event, in promotions and in our annual report. Invest here.
For questions, please contact [email protected]
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