Opening remarks to the 2022 Concordia Lexington Summit
The President of the University of Kentucky, Eli Capilouto, gives the welcome remarks to the 2022 Lexington Summit.
As the future leaders of this country, current students are in the process of learning the skills and beliefs that will help them, and others, succeed in an ever-changing world. While much of the nation remains divided over crucial economic and social issues, students can provide interesting perspectives that shed light on different ways of approaching issues. In this illuminating session moderated by Frank Luntz, CEO of FIL, Inc., student leaders from the University of Kentucky will share perspectives on a wide variety of issues, including civil engagement, democracy, economic potential, and their outlook on the future as the rising group of next generation leaders.
This conversation with the University of Kentucky's Head Football Coach, Mark Stoops, and John Clay of the Lexington Herald Leader, will discuss recent legislation that allows student-athletes in Kentucky to receive fair compensation for the use of their name and image.
As communications become increasingly globalized and societies are further interconnected, the role of the 5G network in this ongoing digital transformation cannot be underestimated. Beyond its value in the social sphere, the 5G network holds an immense capacity to assist in the realization of several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as with infrastructure enhancements, sustainable industrialization, access to education and digital information, even as far as improving healthcare delivery. Yet despite its extensive reach, several cities and millions of Americans do not have access to broadband services and thus cannot enjoy its benefits, and this is particularly prevalent in highly rural areas. As such, this fireside chat with Tony Lewis from Verizon and Tom Simpson from altafiber will discuss the critical role of innovative technology in enhancing connectivity across the U.S., with a special focus on the power of the 5G network.
Civic engagement is proven to boost personal satisfaction and happiness. Purposeful connection in our communities also helps fight against conditions like social isolation and loneliness. Importantly, in this time of division, constructive engagement with our fellow citizens is a fundamental component of restoring civility and preserving democracy. This session with The Policy Circle will bring together experts on civic leadership, mental health and volunteerism for a timely discussion redefining civic life and how each individual can be a positive catalyst for improving the well-being of people in the neighborhood and around the world.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals are an essential set of objectives for nations and states to achieve at a more local level. It is hard to track progress or inform strategies without data and insights. That’s why X4Impact, in partnership with Concordia, launched an interactive online tool: The State-by-State SDG Index. This Index provides a closer look at progress by state and puts in context the flow of money we collectively devote to each area. The SDG Index also showcases leading nonprofits working on specific issues to support coordination and strategy alignment. This Flashpoint, presented by X4Impact co-founders Luis Salazar, and Shelly Kurtz, will highlight the launch of the Index and how organizations use the dataset at large to inform strategies, alliances, and partnerships.
Ensuring that future generations have economic mobility is vital to growing local economies across the US. As part of its social impact work, Visa’s purpose is to be a force for good that advances inclusive and equitable economic growth for all. As a key element of this, we believe that financial education can benefit and enable full participation in the digital economy. Studies have demonstrated the positive impact that early exposure to financial education can have later in life. In today’s panel discussion, Visa will lead a conversation about the importance and value of financial education in ensuring that everyone can benefit from the digital economy. The session will discuss and highlights how efforts across the following dimensions can create engaging and successful financial education programs: access (e.g. a focus on Visa’s programs, clients and partners); policy and advocacy (e.g. a discussion on advocacy initiatives); and user experience (e.g. financial education via gamification, comics, etc.) This conversation is for social impact and policy professionals of all levels as they determine how to champion financial education standards, and develop accessible programs that engage today’s youth, in partnership with underserved communities across North America. Here in the Bluegrass State, whether in rural towns or in municipalities like Louisville, Visa recognizes that building knowledge, skills and trust through education is key to financial/economic access to all.
Adam Met, musician from the AJR band and Executive Director of Sustainable Partners, shares his work around communicating the importance of sustainability, highlights the relevance of having different voices to create concrete action, and explains how to bridge the gap between thought and action to develop impactful projects.
America has a maternal health problem, and it disproportionately affects the Black community. Hear from advocates and doctors across the United States as they come together to build a community solution to save more mothers.
The COVID-19 pandemic severely hurt state economic growth across the nation, and New Hampshire was no exception. In recent months, however, New Hampshire has seen exceptional economic recovery. This is largely in part due to the leadership of Governor Chris Sununu. Throughout the pandemic, Governor Sununu worked to curb the pandemic, while also supporting the economy. This Fireside Chat will hear from Governor Sununu on the state of COVID-19 recovery and economic growth in New Hampshire.
Interview by Natalie Liu, Diplomatic Correspondent, Voice of America, of the Honorable Keith Krach, Chairman of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue and 2022 Nobel Peace Prize nominee about U.S. manufacturing competitiveness in the context of a fast changing global environment, the role of the private sector, and how valuing trust principals can lead to a better outcome.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has set off a chain of global responses that will have permanent effects on the United States heartland, and the global community as a whole. From impacted economies, disrupted energy supply sources, to a new refugee and humanitarian crisis, Russia’s unprecedented and unjustifiable actions will have long-term ramifications far beyond continental Europe, spanning across the globe. While a solution to this terrible conflict remains unclear, it is important that this invasion, and the actions that the U.S. is undertaking in response, are understood. Most recently, the U.S. has announced that it will welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. This timely session will bring together local national security and geopolitical experts to discuss the events and forces surrounding the invasion of Ukraine, the response of the U.S. thus far, and how such events will permanently affect the U.S. heartland.
The Honorable Sherryl Newman, Former Secretary of the District of Columbia and Director of LINK Strategic Partners, delivers opening remarks on her work to break barriers for women and to stand up in places that women, especially women of color, traditionally have not had a place.
While the percentage of women who hold leadership positions in the United States grows each year, we are still lagging behind most of the world. Gender equality and equity is touted in the U.S., but women hold fewer positions of leadership than men, and are paid less as well. Societal and cultural norms are beginning to change, but they must do so in a more expedient way for true equality to be achieved. This session will hear from women leaders who have broken barriers, achieved incredible accomplishments, and become industry leaders.
Undersecretary Xochitl Torres Small will provide an overview of USDA Rural Development’s programs and goals, including a look at what was learned during Covid-19 as well as the agency’s current emphasis on building capacity in rural communities with the help of the philanthropic community.
Across the country, a disproportionate rate of food insecurity and under-nutrition is evident in rural communities (several of which are centered in the American heartland) as opposed to their urban counterparts. In parallel, millions of people in those communities already face additional hardships due to perpetually higher rates of poverty and inequality, which in turn can exacerbate vulnerability to food insecurity and increase reliance on food banks. Throughout the heartland, gaining access to both affordable and healthy food options remains challenging, and while rural communities play a critically important role for the agricultural sector nationwide, they are at a higher risk of malnutrition. As such, this panel will convene activists, academics and international executives to explore how food insecurity in the heartland can be tackled, while discussing ways to support the local communities.
Globally, there is an increased commitment from governments, businesses, and non-profits to ensure that the goals of the Paris Agreement are achieved. To mitigate the impacts of climate change, including frequent extreme weather events, crop failures, species extinction and mass migration, we must aggressively reduce and remove greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change mitigation requires collective action, scientific expertise, integrity, and transparency. Fortunately, numerous GHG reduction and removal projects not only address emissions, but also improve livelihoods, preserve ecosystems and regenerate soil. The number of corporations setting ambitious net zero objectives is increasing, but many challenges remain. Chief among these challenges is how such efforts can create meaningful, equitable, and lasting value for farmers, land managers, intermediary businesses, and communities – particularly those historically underserved. This panel will discuss these challenges and how companies can contribute to their net zero objectives by reducing emissions in agricultural supply chains.
As 5G is deployed, engineers and policymakers must start thinking about a 6G network in the decade ahead. The Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue (formerly the Center for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue) launched a task force on “Roadmap to 6G”, with involvement from Cisco, Dell, Ericsson, Intel, Nokia, Qualcomm, and other partners, to explore and shape how 6G will connect not just people but also things. This video will describe various approaches industry are considering and how 6G will impact the Heartland of America.
Innovation and technology has accelerated at an exponential rate in the past few decades, with digital transformation being top of mind throughout the pandemic. Innovation is a core value at Salesforce and for 23 years, the company has led the way in creating new and disruptive technologies for businesses and institutions of all sizes. The challenges of the modern day will require private organizations, forward-thinking nonprofits and government institutions to all work in tandem to leverage the power of technology by promoting and creating new cross-sector partnerships. This conversation will provide illuminating commentary on the increasingly fast-paced growth of digital innovation, and will explain how cross-sector partnerships can leverage this growth to build a better future.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented supply chain shortage that has severely impacted all sectors of the United States economy. Businesses and governments are hard at work to find solutions to maintain efficient trade and supply chains, but an end to this crisis may not appear soon. Organizations are now looking towards creative solutions to maintain their business and infrastructure. This session will bring together cross-sector experts for an illuminating conversation on the current supply chain shortage, and the future of trade during a global crisis.
As indications that the COVID-19 pandemic is slowing down become more prevalent, a rapid movement to revitalize America’s economy is taking place. Citizens around the nation are eagerly returning to work and planning for their financial futures in this new environment. If this movement does not place emphasis on equity, however, a generation of economic accessibility development could be lost. For pandemic economic recovery to be achieved fairly, equity and accessibility must be at the forefront. Access to financial services and opportunities must be provided to all, regardless of race, gender, or background. This timely discussion, featuring experts with strong expertise in equitable economics, will address why equity and accessibility must be emphasized during this time of economic growth.
Nate Morris, a 9th-generation Kentuckian, Chairman & CEO of Rubicon Technologies, rapidly emerging thought-leader, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at The University of Kentucky's Gatton College of Business and Economics, and Senior Advisor to the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security addresses the growing strength of the American Heartland, opportunities for development in Kentucky, how technology is reimagining legacy industries, and how entrepreneurship and economic freedom can tackle the world's tough challenges.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about global food accessibility challenges. Coupled with devastating forest fires and floods in various regions, the need for innovation in agriculture technology is rapidly increasing. The past few years have exposed cracks in food supply chains that reveal just how devastating food shortages can be. To ensure food security across and nation, and around the world, agriculture technology must be prioritized. If given proper resources and support, agriculture startups and other organizations have the ability to create innovative solutions to food shortages that could revolutionize how the nation gains access to food. This panel will bring together experts on agriculture technology and food security for an illuminating discussion on the future of innovation and accessibility to food.
With many countries throughout Latin America facing different socio-economic and political challenges, the need to find stability is more relevant than ever. The region plays a critical role for the Western Hemisphere and has been significantly affected by a health crisis stemming from the pandemic, but also from a constant social divide across the continent. In this session, former presidents of the region will discuss the importance of finding consensus to build the future and will give an opening on what to expect from the 2022 Concordia Americas Summit taking place this summer.
His Excellency Guillermo Lasso, President of the Republic of Ecuador talks about the importance of increasing trade relations between countries in the region with the U.S., and explains why peace and cooperation are the pillars to sustain globalization and increase prosperity across societies.
Concordia gives closing remarks to day 1 of the Concordia Lexington Summit
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton opens day 2 of the Concordia Lexington Summit.
Of all the components that go into community revitalization, road safety is the centerpiece. Access to daily necessities like food and healthcare is reliant on individuals being able to travel. Investments in road safety and design are increasingly benefiting from innovative data collection and analytic tools. In a first-of-its-kind near miss study conducted by Together for Safer Roads in Bellevue, WA, 360-degree, high-definition traffic cameras revealed important analytics about drivers, such as the fact that 50% of drivers drove 11 or more miles per hour over the speed limit. Data like this allows governments and companies to create safer road policy, and predict future transportation risks. This session will bring together smart city experts for an illuminating discussion on how cities can utilize near miss studies and data collection to create safer roads, and how public-private partnerships can be constructed at the city and state level across the U.S. to create safer communities.
As gaps in food supply chains become more prevalent, the ability to minimize food waste is an increasingly crucial necessity. This panel will cover the lifecycle of food, from agricultural production to business to consumer, and how we can more effectively work to keep the food from ever ending up as waste in a landfill—the biggest culprit of methane emissions. With commentary from the agricultural sector, rural and urban grocery companies, state and local policymakers, and tech companies building solutions to the challenges of food waste, the discussion promises to be an enlightening conversation on how we can move closer to zero waste in food and agriculture.
In this Fireside Chat moderated by Al Cross, Jonathan Martin, National Political Correspondent for the New York Times, and author of “This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America's Future,” will recount and analyze notable political events written about in his book, including the 2020 election, the January 6th attack on the Capital, and President Biden’s first year in office.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a severe decrease in positive mental health and happiness around the nation. Social isolation and disconnect have caused increased rates of depression and mental illness, with a particularly strong impact on vulnerable populations such as youth, economically disadvantaged, racial or ethnic minority, or elderly populations. As signs indicate that the pandemic is slowing down, citizens around the nation are beginning to go out and socialize face-to-face again. This Fireside Chat, featuring health experts, will provide an illuminating discussion on how people can find ways to strengthen their mental health and happiness and how partnerships can address pervasive access barriers to mental health support.
Across America, nearly one in six children grows up in poverty. And rural child poverty is higher than urban areas in more than 40 states. Because of circumstances beyond their control, millions of kids never reach their full potential. With an estimated 12 million hungry children in America and kids falling four to five months behind in school due to the pandemic, on average, it is the responsibility of businesses, governments, communities and philanthropic organizations to come together in ensuring our next generation has full bellies and minds to be successful in school and life. In this panel conversation, Betsy Zorio, VP of U.S. Programs at Save the Children, Denine Torr, VP of Corporate Social Responsibility & Philanthropy at Dollar General and Henry Strom, Superintendent of Grandview School District in Washington state will discuss the critical importance of partnerships – at both the national and local level – to fuel progress for kids in rural America and make certain they get the childhoods and futures they deserve.
In its 2021 Infrastructure Report Card, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the United States a grade of C-. Although an improvement over the previous report, the United States’ infrastructure is in need of drastic improvement. With the signing of the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill last November, this improvement is now possible. Congressman John Yarmuth, Chairman of the House Budget Committee, will deliver keynote remarks on how the funding of this bill can be used effectively, at a state and federal level, to strengthen The United States’ infrastructure for years to come.
Governor Andy Beshear delivers keynote remarks on Kentucky’s rapid economic recovery and the increased opportunities for growth within the Commonwealth, as he highlights major economic investments and a commitment to create a record of quality-paying jobs.
Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and Former West Virginia Secretary of Education and the Arts, Gayle Conelly Manchin, delivers keynote remarks on her story on the Appalachian Trail and her work experience, as an introduction to the session, “How to Scale Remote Work Across Appalachia.”
As technological capabilities continue to flourish in major cities around the United States, regions in the middle are often overlooked causing limited improvements to the economy and technology. Ultimately, this results in the decline of community development. To address this decline, the future of work and improvements to technology must be at the forefront of economic development conversations. These conversations must be centered on increasing access to digital technologies and the upskilling workforce. By engaging with these workforce groups and providing them with the necessary training and support, communities can flourish and a revitalized economy can take form. This panel discussion with innovation, technology, and community development experts will explore the best practices businesses and communities can undertake when building back better.
In recent years there has been a substantial increase in the use of digital technology. Businesses, governments, hospitals, and a range of other organizations all rely on the internet and digital access to maintain their operations and infrastructure. While this increased reliance on digital technology has its benefits, these networks and systems are not protected properly against attack. With the right tools, foreign and domestic hacker groups can easily break in and steal critical data. This Fireside Chat will hear from cyber security experts on the state of cyber defense in the United States, and what is needed for better protection.
The future of mobility and transportation will be reliant on two crucial factors: sustainability and innovation. Fossil fuel-powered vehicles remain the dominant form of transportation, but the rise of electric vehicles and autonomous transportation is swiftly approaching. Companies are now focusing on autonomous transportation innovation, accelerating transportation electrification, and increasing accessibility to sustainable transportation, such as through increased access to electric vehicle charging stations. Featuring experts on technological innovation and sustainability, this Fireside Chat will offer a timely discussion on the future of sustainable mobility and transportation.
For much of the world, COVID-19 underscored the increasingly fragile relationship between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom. Whether zoonotic pathogens, vulnerable supply chains, or the role of pets in our homebound lives, the past few years have emphasized our responsibility toward animals and their importance to the global world order. During this fireside chat, Bonnie Glick, Director of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue, and David Urbanek, Executive Vice President of Elanco Animal Health, discuss the issues impacting animal pharmaceutical supply chains, domestically and globally, and innovative ways to improve supply chains and minimize disruption.
The first Asian American woman to be appointed to a President’s cabinet, Secretary Chao has been confirmed on a bipartisan basis to two cabinet positions, as U. S. Secretary of Labor and U. S. Secretary of Transportation. A proven leader and trail-blazer, her unique insights and diverse career experiences make her an outstanding speaker on the future of transportation, innovation and mobility.
In an age where the international landscape is constantly changing, people turn to their leaders to provide support and answers in times of dire need. Leaders are expected to be calm and bold in the face of danger. Most recently, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has demonstrated strong leadership in the face of an overwhelming Russian onslaught. This session will bring together proven leaders for a discussion on the importance of strong leadership during times of crisis.
For over 35 years, Douglas Smith, the former Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, has worked at the highest levels of government and private industry. Having traveled across the US and the world, he has had a front row seat watching how “K street intersects with main street” and what works; falls flat; and, where the opportunities are greatest. It is not just about dollars invested, but how they are used and the long term sustainability they can leave behind.
Access to education is undoubtedly linked to the socio-economic prosperity of communities in their entirety. However, the educational opportunities and available resources for the millions of people living in non-metropolitan areas across the American heartland remain somewhat limited, with disproportionately lower funding from states and the federal government. Further investment in the creation and consolidation of a multitude of ‘pipelines’ is necessary in order to enable equal access to education (including postgraduate), promote digital innovation and training, encourage youth entrepreneurship, and enhance commercialization. This panel will bring together academics, business development professionals, and successful entrepreneurs to share their insight on the importance of furthering education pipelines in the heartland and advancing opportunities for local residents.
Benjamin Backer, President and Founder of the American Conservation Coalition, delivers keynote remarks on the increased importance of separating politics from climate change discussions, as he urges for the topic to be approached as a collective ‘human issue’, thus requiring actions to be taken intergenerationally.
Concordia gives closing remarks to the 2022 Lexington Summit.
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