New technology has always been a disruptive force, but the growing importance of technology to society paired with unequal access to technological innovations threatens to exacerbate divides. Technological changes shift the quantity and quality of jobs available and require that workers of all skill levels be digitally proficient to compete in an increasingly global economy. These changes generate considerable opportunity for people and places already equipped for success in the digital economy, but they also create new barriers for underrepresented groups and disinvested communities. To build shared prosperity, we must ensure that technological change can be harnessed to improve the lives of all Americans, regardless of who they are, what they do, and where they live.

The Urban Institute and Capital One hosted to a symposium to discuss three key questions:

1. How is technology changing the way we work, how we learn, and where we live?
2. What are the implications for technological innovations in these areas for wealth and income inequality?
3. How can new technologies be harnessed to reduce inequalities, expand opportunity, and promote shared prosperity?

Check out the blog post recapping the event here. 

Featured Speakers:

• Caitlyn Brazill, Executive Vice President for Development, Per Scholas
• Andrea Chen, Executive Director, Propeller
• ​Payal Dalal, Vice President for Global Programs, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth
• Karen DeBlieux, Head of US Corporate Banking, Market President, Capital One
• Timothy Fleming, Director of Enterprise Sustainability, AT&T
• Catherine Foca, Vice President, Community Affairs President, Capital One Foundation
• Mark Garcia, Dean of Strategic Initiatives, Collin College 
• Solomon Greene, Senior Fellow, Urban Institute
• Christopher Kingsley, Senior Associate for Data Initiatives, Annie E. Casey Foundation
• Rachel Maguire, Research Director, Institute for the Future
• Tiffany Manuel, Vice President for Knowledge, Impact, and Strategy, Enterprise Community Partners
• Andres “Andy” Navarrete, Executive Vice President and Chief External Affairs Officer, Capital One
• Regina Nippert, Executive Director, Budd Center, Southern Methodist University
• Erika Poethig, Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer, Urban Institute
• J. Puckett, Senior Partner and Managing Director, Education Practice, Boston Consulting Group
• Lou Pugliese, Senior Innovation Fellow and Managing Director, Action Lab, Arizona State University
• Kurt Schaal, Ft. Worth Market President, Capital One
• Sonal Shah, Professor of Practice and the Executive Director, Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation, Georgetown University
• Shayne Spaulding, Principal Research Associate, Urban Institute
• Sanjiv Yajnik, President of Financial Services, Capital One
• Jenny Yang, Strategic Partner, Working Ideal

Learn More here

Support for this event is provided by Capital One. For more information on the Urban Institute’s funding principles, go to www.urban.org/fundingprinciples.

Photo by Fizkes/Shutterstock