Plenary Sessions

The opening plenary will consider the implications of changing demographics and other national and international trends, which taken individually and in combination, will have long-lasting impacts on research, practice and policy decisions in this country. This plenary will consider philanthropy’s role and opportunities to respond proactively to changing communities, with a focus on family friendly futures and strengthening communities to thrive through hard times.

Featured Presenters:

• Moderator: David Fukuzawa, Program Director, The Kresge Foundation.
• Angela Glover Blackwell, Founder and CEO, PolicyLink;
• Manuel Pastor, Founding Director of the Center for Justice, Tolerance, and Community at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and co-director of USC’s Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration.

Luncheon Plenary: What Works, What Doesn’t, What’s Missing 
12:30 pm – 1:45 pm 

Building on the momentum of the morning’s analysis of changing demographics and trends, this plenary will explore opportunities for the philanthropic and public sectors to combine efforts to build a solid base of evidence and establish principles of effective programs within and across issues and populations – building on what works and moving on from what doesn’t, in order to better respond to the changing needs of communities, while more effectively leveraging and maximizing public and private investments in common issues and populations.

Featured Presenters:

• Moderator: Sylvia Yee, Vice President of Programs, Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund.
• Bryan Samuels, Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services;
• William C. Bell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Casey Family Programs;
• Carol Goss, President & CEO, The Skillman Foundation.

Day 2 – Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Morning Plenary: Building Public Will for Children, Youth, and Families
9:00 am – 10: 30 am

This plenary will engage a panel of national leaders to consider how philanthropy can build public will for early childhood, youth, family, and community issues through a continuum of funding strategies – from research and direct services to actively engaging in policy and advocacy initiatives.  This plenary will not only consider the impact of individuals acting in communities, but also the strength of grantmakers’ collective actions to build support for improved systems and services for families. New to this year’s conference, the Ideazlab format will engage attendees in a panel discussion, paired with the opportunity to move into small group discussions for an intimate exchange of ideas with individual panelists.

Featured Presenters:

• Moderator: Stephanie McGencey, GCYF Executive Director
• Libby Doggett, Deputy Director, Pew Center on the States;
• Karen Pittman, Co-Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Forum for Youth Investment;
• Judy Langford, Associate Director and Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of Social Policy;
• Peter Cunningham, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Outreach, U.S. Department of Education;
• David Lawrence, President of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation and University Scholar for Early Childhood Development and Readiness at the University of Florida. 

Fred Rogers Plenary Luncheon
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

A special networking plenary luncheon on Tuesday will feature presentation of the 2011 Fred Rogers Leadership Award in Philanthropy for Children, Youth, and Families. Since 2003, GCYF has given this prestigious award annually in memory of Rogers (“Mr. Rogers”), one of the country's most beloved advocates for children. The award recognizes outstanding contributions and leadership by grantmaking staff, trustees and donors in all fields of CYF philanthropy. Each year, GCYF celebrates the recipient of the award at its annual convening, and the award includes a donation to the charity of the recipient's choice.

Day 3 – Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Closing Plenary: The State of the Future for Children, Youth and Families
9:00 am – 10:30 am

This concluding plenary will consider not only the systemic issues that perpetuate poverty, but the importance of raising up the stories of families that are thriving despite the systems that serve them.  This plenary will also consider the pathways of influence that grantmakers can engage in – such as advocacy and policy, public/private partnerships, and cross-system collaboration -  to level the playing field for all families in this country.

Featured Presenters:

• Moderator: Nicole Taylor, President and CEO, East Bay Community Foundation
• Dr. Robert K. Ross, President and CEO, The California Endowment