EVENT DETAILS & AGENDA

The Marin Economic Forum (MEF), a public-private funded non-profit 501c (3) organization, is hosting the annual “Forecasting the Future” program on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. The event will take place from 9:00-11:00 in the Bill & Adele Jonas Center on College of Marin's Indian Valley campus, with a networking breakfast commencing at 8:00 am. Forecasting the Future has been held in Marin County for the last 10 years and has served as the signature event to discuss Marin’s economy with leaders of business, government, non-profit, and education.

The 2023 event will focus on economic equity in Marin County. One of the lasting impacts of the COVID pandemic was the awareness of the challenges within the county to achieve equity among residents, specifically economic equity. Many of our residents lack the opportunities to create economic security and mobility. Currently, the county, along with Marin's many jurisdictions and non-profit organizations, are working to address the issue of equity, thus Forecasting the Future is the perfect event to showcase that work and bring community leaders together to collaborate.

The program will feature presentations on the issue of economic equity from leading local organizations that are tracking and delivering services within this subject. The County of Marin will share details on its Racial Equity Action Plan. The keynote presentation will be from Abbie Langston, Director of Economic Equity for PolicyLink, who will discuss the importance of data and share data from the "Bay Area Equity Atlas" project.

Forecasting the Future will also include a presentation on the upcoming challenges and opportunities in the economy as delivered by MEF's Chief Economist, Dr. Rob Eyler. Dr. Eyler, a notable expert on the North Bay economy, will discuss key national and state level policies and proposals that are likely to have an impact on businesses and employees in Marin in 2023 and beyond.

EVENT AGENDA

8:00-9:00am: Networking Breakfast (Outdoors)

9:00-9:10am: Opening Remarks, Jonathan Eldridge, Assistant Superintendant/Vice President of Student Learning & Success, College of Marin, Mike Blakeley, CEO, Marin Economic Forum

9:10-9:45am: Economic Forecast, Dr. Rob Eyler, Chief Economist, Marin Economic Forum

9:45-10:30am: Examples of Work Promoting Economic Equity in Marin
- Heather Bettini, Senior Director Economic Justice, Community Action Marin
- Barbara Clifton-Zarate, Director of Economic Opportunity, Marin Community Foundation
- Jamillah Jordan, Equity Director, County of Marin Office of Equity

10:30-11:00am: Presentation of the Bay Area Equity Atlas and Conversation, Abbie Langston, PolicyLink, and Mike Blakeley, CEO, Marin Economic Forum

11:000am: Program Closure

For Sponsorship opportunities, please contact MEF directly at admin@marineconomicforum.org.

If paying for a ticket would inhibit your participation, please notify our office at admin@marineconomicforum.org to be considered for a complimentary ticket. Please note a limited number of spaces are available.

We'd like to thank our current sponsors in advance for supporting this year's event.

Forecasting the Future 2023

Spotlight on Economic Equity in Marin County