2026 Program
Two days built for big ideas and bold action.
Explore a full agenda of keynote sessions, panel discussions and special conversations focused on economic mobility, leadership and innovation in an AI-driven world.
Doors Open / Check In
7:00 AM
Breakfast & Networking
8:00 AM
General Session
Inaugural Tribute
8:30 AM
Fireside Chat
Defining What it Means to be in the Middle Class
9:00 AM
Panel Discussion
From Relief to Resilience: Building the Human Infrastructure of a Thriving Economic Ecosystem
Economic mobility doesn’t begin with a job. It begins with stability. This session explores the real barriers that impact workforce success, including childcare, housing, transportation and healthcare. Leaders across sectors will share solutions that help individuals not just access jobs, but sustain them, advance and build lasting middle-class lives.
9:20 AM
Special Remarks
Mark D. Bogen, Mayor of Broward County, Florida
10:20 AM
Special Remarks
Monica Cepero, County Administrator, Broward County, Florida
10:25 AM
Panel Discussion
From Legislation to Livelihoods: How Public Policy Shapes Economic Mobility
Policy shapes opportunity. This session brings together leaders to explore how legislation can strengthen talent pipelines, support employers and expand access to economic mobility. The focus is actionable solutions that move beyond conversation and into measurable impact.
10:40 AM
Panel Discussion
Engines of Mobility: Entrepreneurship, the Gig Economy, AI and the Rise to Alternative Income
The path to the middle class is evolving. From entrepreneurship to AI-powered income streams, new opportunities are emerging outside traditional employment. This session explores how individuals, especially those from underserved communities, can leverage innovation and how it’s reshaping economic mobility and what it takes to turn these pathways into sustainable economic success.
11:40 AM
Special Remarks
TBA
12:20 PM
Lunch
12:30 PM
Panel Discussion
The Next Generation Speaks: Redefining the Future of Opportunity
What does economic opportunity look like from the perspective of those navigating it today? This powerful session centers youth voices on education, work, AI, entrepreneurship and financial reality – ensuring the future of the middle class is shaped with them, not for them.
1:15 PM
General Session
Honors & Recognition
2:00 PM
General Session
Day One Closing Remarks
2:35 PM
Doors Open / Check In
7:00 AM
Breakfast & Networking
8:00 AM
General Session
Opening Tribute
Shaheewa T. Jarrett Gelin, Esq.
Board Chair, OIC Stragetic Integration
8:30 AM
Panel Discussion
Business as the Catalyst: Driving Economic Mobility at Scale
Reentry is not just a social issue; it’s an economic opportunity. This session explores how fair chance hiring, policy reform and employer engagement can break down barriers and support successful reintegration. Panelists will share how aligning talent strategies, training and support systems can unlock an overlooked workforce, expand opportunity and meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy.
8:45 AM
Special Remarks
TBA
9:45 AM
Special Remarks
TBA
9:50 AM
Special Remarks
TBA
9:55 AM
Special Remarks
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida's 25th Congressional District
10:00 AM
Keynote Address
TBA
10:15 AM
Panel Discussion
From Learning to Earning: Reimagining the Pathways from Education to Employment
The journey from education to employment is being redefined in an AI-driven economy. This session explores how educators, workforce leaders and employers can better align, from learning and credentialing to hiring and advancement, to create clear, adaptive pathways. Panelists will examine how evolving skills demands and technologies are reshaping access to opportunity and highlight scalable strategies that drive sustainable careers and long-term economic mobility.
10:30 AM
Special Remarks
Marcellus Osceola Jr., Chairman of Seminole Tribe of Florida
11:30 AM
Special Remarks
Ricky D. Dixon, Florida Department of Corrections
11:35 AM
Panel Discussion
Defying the Odds From Incarceration to Reintegration: Unlocking the Workforce Potential of Reentry
The path to the middle class is evolving. From entrepreneurship to AI-powered income streams, new opportunities are emerging outside traditional employment. This session explores how individuals, especially those from underserved communities, can leverage innovation and how it’s reshaping economic mobility and what it takes to turn these pathways into sustainable economic success.
11:45 AM
Lunch
12:45 PM
Panel Discussion
Workforce 2030: Skills, Emerging Jobs, AI and the NEW Middle Class
AI and automation are rapidly reshaping the labor market. This session explores where work is headed, the skills and jobs that will define the future and the partnerships needed to expand access to stable, middle-class careers. Panelists will also address the risks of AI-driven displacement and highlight practical strategies and workforce systems turning insight into action across South Florida’s evolving economy.
1:30 PM
Special Remarks
TBA
2:20 PM
General Session
