Why an “Opportunity Economics Colloquium?”

America’s economy and society are built on the premise that competition, innovation and change will generate opportunity for all to advance.  The current economic crisis has re-energized public debate about how we can ensure this remains attainable. Still, meaningful, evidence-based discussions about economic opportunity among our nation’s leaders are all too rare.  Hope Street Group is dedicated to helping our leaders meet one of the most difficult and important challenges facing our nation – making sure America remains a prosperous place where economic opportunity is possible for everyone.

What is the Colloquium?

Hope Street Group's Opportunity Economics Colloquium is an annual event bringing together some of the nation's most influential political, business and civic leaders to tackle the challenge of expanding economic opportunity for all Americans.  Each year, these leaders convene for a full day of idea generation, goal setting, and collaborative problem-solving.  The Colloquium provides a safe space in which we facilitate open and constructive conversations about how to make our economy stronger and more inclusive.  Our colloquiua consistently unearth surprising common ground among a wide range of ideologies and backgrounds, and lay the groundwork for longer-term collaboration on deepening and widening economic opportunity in an era of rapid global economic change.

Who participates?

Participants include numerous nationally influential political leaders (Senators, Governors, Mayors) of both parties, business leaders (CEOs and their equivalents) from several industries, and leaders from faith communities, education, media, and other civic institutions.  Past participant have included Bill Novelli, CEO, AARP; Allan Golston, President, U.S. Programs of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Janet Murguia, President and CEO, National Council of La Raza; Ken Mehlman, Managing Director, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co; John Podesta, CEO, Center for American Progress; Andy Stern, President, SEIU; Paul Brest, President, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; and David Fisher, Chairman of The Capital Group.

What are you trying to accomplish?

The Colloquium explores new ideas and approaches, and aims to create uncommon coalitions around some of the most important drivers of economic opportunity: education, savings, health care, and labor market dynamism.  Our attendees use collaborative problem-solving techniques in order to:

• Build common ground around the key drivers of economic opportunity, as defined by our Economic Opportunity Index;
• Envision "what success would look like" for expanding economic opportunity in the next 5-10 years, compared to the past 10-20 years, and the most promising common ground themes;
• Identify what the constituencies of each participant can contribute to better outcomes; and surface 2-3 initiatives on which they can collaborate in the next year, laying the groundwork for future bipartisan efforts (see “About the Bipartisan Working Group”)’
• Present their ideas to senior members of the current Presidential administration.