As Philadelphia prepares to mark America’s 250th anniversary, some of the country’s leading voices on economic mobility, civil rights and well-being are heading to Center City for a conversation about what the nation’s future should look like.
United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey will host its fifth annual OpportUNITY Summit on May 20 at The Bellevue Hotel, bringing together regional leaders, changemakers and innovators for a half-day event focused on equity, opportunity and economic inclusion.
Running from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., this year’s theme is “United in Purpose: Renewing the Promise of America,” tying the discussion to the city’s broader America 250 celebrations and examining how collaboration and community investment can shape the region’s future.
“Creating lasting change requires bold ideas and collective commitment,” said Bill Golderer, president and CEO of UWGPSNJ. “As Philadelphia marks the nation’s 250th anniversary, this is a defining moment to reflect on our shared values and to take action to ensure the promise of opportunity is real and accessible for every person in our region.”
The program will feature several nationally recognized speakers whose work centers on poverty, racial equity, democracy and mental well-being.
Among them is Cullum Clark, a fellow at the Bush Institute–SMU Economic Growth Initiative and adjunct professor of economics at Southern Methodist University. Clark’s discussion will focus on how poverty is measured today, why traditional metrics often fail to capture lived realities, and how those measurements influence public policy and funding decisions.
Andre M. Perry, senior fellow and director of the Center for Community Uplift at the Brookings Institution, will also appear at the summit. He is a nationally recognized voice on race, structural inequality, and economic inclusion, a regular contributor to MSNBC, and has been published by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN. He is also the author of the book 'Black Power Scorecard: Measuring the Racial Gap and What We Can Do to Close It,' which examines racial economic disparities and strategies for closing long-standing opportunity gaps.
Civil rights attorney Sherrilyn Ifill, former president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, is expected to speak about the future of American democracy and civic participation. Ifill currently serves as the Vernon Jordan Distinguished Professor in Civil Rights at Howard University School of Law, where she is launching the 14th Amendment Center for Law & Democracy. Her book, 'On the Courthouse Lawn,' helped shape contemporary conversations about lynching and reconciliation. She has received numerous honorary degrees and major legal honors, was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in the World.
Closing out the event will be Dr. Laurie Santos, the Yale University psychology professor behind the popular course 'Psychology and the Good Life' and host of the podcast 'The Happiness Lab.' Santos’ keynote will explore the science of happiness, resilience and community well-being.
The Summit will be emceed by Tiffany Bacon, the on-air host of 'The Midday Break Room' on WURD Radio, and a respected Philadelphia media voice with a decades-long career spanning broadcasting, arts and community-centered work.
For additional speaker and program details, or to reserve tickets, visit unitedforimpact.org/events/summit-2026
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