2022 GRA In-Person Conference – Agenda and Materials
Please note: all times are Eastern
You can purchase your tickets here and make your reservations at The Study hotel for only $189/night through this link.
Click here to access a PDF agenda! (all times Eastern)
Thank you for joining the Governmental Research Association and the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia at the 109th Conference and Annual Meeting July 24 – July 27, 2022.
Select materials and speaker bios linked below.
SUNDAY, JULY 24, 2022 (all times Eastern)
5:30 p.m. — Reception and GRA Roundtable
Cira Green
Sarah Wetmore, President, GRA
Jeff Hornstein, President, Economy League of Greater Philadelphia
MONDAY, JULY 25, 2022 (all times Eastern)
8:00 a.m. — GRA Trustees Meeting
University City Science Center
8:30 a.m. — Welcome
Sarah Wetmore, President, GRA
Jeff Hornstein, President, Economy League of Greater Philadelphia
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. — Kickoff: State of GRA Town Hall-Strategic Plan Discussion
University City Science Center
Speaker:
Rosie Stafford-Smith, GRA Consultant, Stafford Smith Group
Moderator:
Sarah Wetmore, President, GRA
Shawn Teigen, Vice President, GRA
10:30 a.m.- BREAK
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. — The American Rescue Plan Act: Promise and Reality
University City Science Center
Moderator:
Susie Dudis, Research Analyst, Bureau of Governmental Research
Speakers:
Eric Harkness, Executive Director, The Sycamore Institute
Laura Pontari, Senior Associate, The Pew Charitable Trusts
Eric Lupher, President, Citizens Research Council of Michigan
Sara Mathers, Senior Economic Justice Organizer, Community Change
12:00 p.m. – LUNCH
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. — How COVID has impacted downtowns – remote work, relocation incentives and more
University City Science Center
Moderator:
Erika Rosenberg, President and CEO, CGR
Panelists:
Kieran Bezila, Senior Associate, CGR
Paul Matthews, Executive Director and CEO, Worcester Regional Research Bureau
Kent Swanson, Executive Vice President, Riverside Investment and Development
Prema Katari Gupta, Executive Director, Central Philadelphia Development Corporation
2:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. — Networking Break and Rosie’s “Office Hours”
University City Science Center
Take a break, grab a snack, chat with your colleagues and stop by to talk to our strategic plan consultant, Rosie Stafford Smith, about the GRA strategic plan and her findings about GRA.
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. — Group Discussion: Public Safety and Policing in our States and Municipalities
Introductory Speaker:
Jordan Hyatt, Associate Professor, Department of Criminology and Justice Studies, Drexel University
Breakout Room Facilitators:
Rebecca Mowbray, President & CEO, Bureau of Governmental Research
Shawn Teigen, Vice President, Utah Foundation
Annie McGowan, Senior Research Associate, Civic Federation
4:30 p.m. – ADJOURN FOR THE DAY
Reconvene at 7pm for dine arounds at various Philadelphia restaurants with your peers
TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022 (all times Eastern)
8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. — Executive Directors, Researchers, Communications/ Development / Operations Meetings
University City Science Center
Executive Directors, Researchers, and Communications/ Development/ Operations staff will meet to discuss internal GRA organizational issues.
8:45 a.m. – BREAK
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. — Labor Force Participation and other Workforce Issues
University City Science Center
Moderator:
Michael Shields, Research Director, Economy League of Greater Philadelphia
Panelists:
Thomas Spencer, Senior Research Associate, Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama
Taylor Stenley, Workforce Fellow, Economy League of Greater Philadelphia
Karin Norington-Reaves, Founder and former CEO, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
10:00 a.m. – BREAK
10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. — Cannabis Legalization: What’s new?
University City Science Center
Moderator:
Sarah Wetmore, Vice President, Civic Federation
Panelists:
Jonathan P. Caulkins, Professor Of Operations Research and Public Policy, Carnegie
Mellon University
Matthew Santacroce, Chief of the Office of Cannabis Regulation, Rhode Island
Pamela Althoff, Executive Director, Cannabis Business Association of Illinois
11:15 a.m. – BREAK
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. — Skill Share: Legislative Engagement during Polarization
University City Science Center
This skill share will bring together GRA organizations known for their excellent municipal and statehouse legislative engagement programs to share tips and tricks about engaging legislators on policy change. A special focus will be on handling political polarization.
Speakers:
Melinda Deslatte, Research Director, Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana
LeeAnne Rogers, Chief Executive Officer, Pennsylvania Economy League
Jason Stein, Research Director, Wisconsin Policy Forum
12:15 p.m. – LUNCH
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. — Excursion and Tour of the Delaware River Waterfront
University City Science Center
Buses will take attendees for a private guided tour of Philadelphia’s magnificent historic waterfront to see how the land has been redeveloped. The tour will culminate in a panel discussion at the Cherry St. Pier about how strategic public investment has vastly increased private investment along the waterfront.
Panelists:
Joe Forkin, President, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation
Avram Hornik, Owner, FCM Hospitality
Marilyn Jordan Taylor, Professor of Architecture and Urban Design and Former Dean, University of Pennsylvania
Tour Guide:
Richardson Dilworth, Professor, Department of Politics, Drexel University
5:00 p.m. – BREAK
7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. — Awards Dinner
University City Science Center
Keynote Speaker:
Bruce Katz, Urban Policy Expert and Director of the Nowak Metro Finance Lab, Drexel University
Presentation of the Frederick P. Gruenberg Award to Dr. Kent Gardner
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WINNERS OF THE 2022 GRA AWARDS COMPETITION
10:00 p.m.- Afterparty
WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2022 (all times Eastern)
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. — GRA Annual Meeting
University City Science Center
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. — Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives at GRA Organizations- Continuing the Conversation
University City Science Center
Moderator:
Jeff Hornstein, Executive Director, Economy League of Greater Philadelphia
Panelists:
J’nelle Lawrence , Deputy Executive Director, Economy League of Greater Philadelphia
Allan Skelton, Director of Research and Technical Activities, Governmental Accounting Standards Board
10:00 a.m. – BREAK
10:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. — Award Winner Table Fair
12:00 p.m.- ADJOURN
Click here to access a PDF agenda! (all times Eastern)
PREVIOUS UPDATES:
The Annual Conference of the Governmental Research Association, live and in-person for the first time since 2019!
In the summer of 1787 delegates from around the country met in Philadelphia to do some critical policy work. Exactly 235 years later, the Governmental Research Association is holding its annual meeting and conference in Philadelphia.
Coincidence? You decide.
Look forward to a fabulous event planned by the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia for the esteemed delegates of the GRA, compromised of:
- Thought-provoking and ground-breaking policy research
- A tour of the amazing Delaware River waterfront
- Opening reception on one of the country’s biggest green roofs, Cira Green
- A deep dive into Philly’s incredible food and beverage scene
- Camaraderie and fellowship with your fellow GRAers
The conference will be held from Sunday, July 24 through Wednesday, July 27 at the University City Science Center. You can purchase your tickets here and make your reservations at The Study hotel for only $189/night through this link. The draft agenda for the conference can be downloaded from this link. We’re adding speakers daily, so keep checking back!
Get your tickets today!