CommUnify will hold the first Upward Mobility Summit, to be held simultaneously at Santa Barbara City College and Allan Hancock College – connected digitally — 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24.

The nonprofit will lead a consortium of 15 local public and private organizations to increase awareness of the high level of poverty in Santa Barbara County.

Matthew Desmond, author of the bestselling books “Evicted” and “Poverty, by America,” will be the keynote speaker with a virtual presentation linked to both sites.

There also will be in-person panel discussions from community leaders and nonprofit groups, along with experts and special guests.
 
The summit will kick off a two-year initiative to reframe the narrative around poverty by leveraging a framework called the Upward Mobility Framework created by the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C.

Santa Barbara County is a member of 26 localities across the U.S. that have joined the Mobility Action Learning Network to receive training and technical assistance to incorporate strategies and solutions that promote mobility and equity in their communities.

To register for the Upward Mobility Summit or learn more about the initiative, visit Upward Mobility Summit.

Learn about all 16 of CommUnify’s programs and services at www.CommUnifySB.org.