Session A: Growing Up, Not Out
Over the next 50 years, the San Francisco Bay Area will gain as many as 4 million people and 2 million jobs. How can we welcome new residents and jobs without paving over green spaces or pushing out long-time community members? Can we create communities that are affordable, equitable, and sustainable in our existing urban spaces? What would it take to get it right?
Panelists:
Session B: Evolving Downtowns
In the post-pandemic city, with many workers and occupations no longer tied to an office, urban downtowns are at a crossroads. How are these changes affecting the way we use spaces and how we work together? Are downtowns and high-density employment centers still relevant? How should we be adapting our design and planning for downtowns to ensure that we are maintaining the health of these hubs of economic and social activity?
Panelists:
- Karen Chapple, Director, School of Cities at the University of Toronto
- Egon Terplan, Senior Fellow, Institute of Transportation Studies at University of California, Berkeley
- Peter Weingarten, Build to Suit & Headquarters Leader, Gensler
- Carolyn Choy, Director of Real Estate Development and Partnerships, CAST
Session C: Creating Inclusive Public Spaces
Part of what makes the Bay Area special is its incredible network of parks and open spaces. We need to continue to create and care for these places, whether they are vital links in the regional open space network or small green spaces that anchor neighborhoods. In this session, we will talk about strategies to create inclusive and dynamic public spaces in urban communities that foster social cohesion and are welcoming to all.
Panelists:
- Carol Coletta, President and CEO, Memphis River Parks Partnership
- Jessica Paz-Cedillos, Co-Executive Director, School of Arts and Culture
- Patricia Fonseca Flores, Principal, CMG Landscape Architecture
- Eri Suzuki, Associate Principal, SITELAB
Session D: Respond, Recover, Rebuild
The Bay Area's legacy of environmental racism has caused low-income communities of color to be disproportionately burdened by environmental hazards. In the face of rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and wildfires — alongside the looming threat of a major earthquake — the region faces a pivotal moment: How can we guide growth and adaptation in a way that fosters resilience in all communities? How do we work together towards a future where equity is at the forefront of resilience strategies?
Panelists:
- Brian Strong, Chief Resilience Officer at the SF Office of Resilience and Capital Planning (San Francisco County)
- Cade Cannedy, Director of Programs at Climate Resilient Communities (San Mateo County)
- Edgardo Vazquez, Marin Climate Justice Collaborative Planner at Canal Alliance (Marin County)
- Zoe Hamstead, Assistant Professor of Environmental Planning, UC Berkeley
Session E: Implementing Emerging Technologies
The Bay Area is home to cutting-edge technology, including innovations in clean technology, transportation, and construction that could help make it easier to meet the challenges of housing affordability, mobility, and decarbonization. Yet, our region hasn’t fully embraced and implemented these technologies for various reasons. In this session, we will explore what it would take to make these solutions work for the Bay Area and meet our equity and sustainability goals.
Panelists:
- Molly Turner, University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business
- Kiran Jain, Chief Legal Officer + Corporate Secretary, Replica
- Michelle Boyd, Chief Strategy Officer, Terner Center Labs
- Khaled Tawfik, IT Director/Chief Information Officer, City of San José
*Breakout sessions are limited to sponsors and invited guests and are subject to change.
JENNIFER KEESMAAT
