Futures Forums
The key component of Fifty Forward are public forums, anticipated to be a series of quarterly, one-day events over the course of 2008 and 2009, that will consist of a nationally or globally recognized authority on a specific trend, issue or policy area.
The goal of the forums is to explore and frame new ideas, foster a regional dialogue and bring community leaders together to develop plans of action.
The forums will investigate the following topics:
- Sustainability
- Demography and Diversity
- Land Use and Housing
- Public Health/Health Care
- Education and Work Force Development
- Energy
- Transportation
- Mega-Regions, the Economy, and Globalization
- Science, Technology, and Innovation
After each keynote presentation, there will be a panel of knowledgeable local respondents and brainstorming/planning sessions to define actions the region must take to affect a positive long term future.
There will be a series of follow up meetings after each forum for each of the three groups involved in the management of the Fifty Forward effort. In addition, ARC will partner with civic and non-profit organizations to produce supplemental events for the larger community.
Fifty Forward’s first forum, held on April 10, focused on the vital issue of sustainability and featured a keynote address by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, who launched the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement.
The next topic we’ll explore is Demography and Diversity. Click here to learn more.