The OpportUNITY Summit 2026 returns for its fifth year on Wednesday, May 20, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at The Bellevue Hotel. Hosted by United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, the half-day summit convenes hundreds of thought leaders, changemakers, and innovators around the theme “United in Purpose: Renewing the Promise of America.” The OpportUNITY Summit 2026 takes on added significance during the nation’s 250th anniversary year — a moment when Philadelphia is already hosting a slate of global events that are putting the city at the center of national attention.

The Speakers at the OpportUNITY Summit 2026

The OpportUNITY Summit 2026 features three national voices approaching economic mobility, poverty measurement, and well-being from distinct angles. Cullum Clark, Fellow at the George W. Bush Presidential Center’s Bush Institute–SMU Economic Growth Initiative and Adjunct Professor of Economics at Southern Methodist University, will examine how poverty is measured today, why those measures often fall short, and how better data can lead to smarter policy and funding decisions. Clark co-authored The Texas Triangle: An Emerging Power in the Global Economy and has published extensively on housing supply, affordability, and the role of universities in regional economies.

Andre M. Perry, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Community Uplift at the Brookings Institution and Professor of Practice of Economics at Washington University in St. Louis, brings a nationally recognized perspective on race, structural inequality, and economic inclusion. Drawing from his latest book, Black Power Scorecard: Measuring the Racial Gap and What We Can Do to Close It, Perry will explore how data-driven insights and targeted investments can close persistent racial gaps. A regular MSNBC contributor with work published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN, Perry’s research on asset devaluation in Black neighborhoods has shaped policy conversations from city councils to the U.S. House Financial Services Committee.

Dr. Laurie Santos closes the OpportUNITY Summit 2026 as the keynote speaker. The Yale University professor created the most popular course in the university’s 300-year history — “Psychology and the Good Life” — and hosts The Happiness Lab, a top-three Apple podcast with more than 150 million downloads. Santos will share science-backed insights on happiness, resilience, and how individuals and communities can build more fulfilling lives. The online version of her course on Coursera has attracted more than four million learners worldwide.

United Way President and CEO Bill Golderer framed the stakes directly — creating lasting change requires bold ideas and collective commitment, and as Philadelphia marks the nation’s 250th anniversary, this is a defining moment to reflect on shared values and ensure the promise of opportunity is real and accessible for every person in the region. The OpportUNITY Summit 2026 is centered on expanding economic mobility and addressing systemic barriers to prosperity through cross-sector partnership, innovative thinking, and collective action. The summit will be emceed by Tiffany Bacon, on-air host of The Midday Break Room on WURD Radio.

The OpportUNITY Summit 2026 takes place on Wednesday, May 20, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at The Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia. Support is provided by WSFS Bank and PECO. Additional speakers and program details will be announced in the coming weeks. Registration is open at unitedforimpact.org.

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Allan Lane

Philadelphia born and bred, Allan Lane is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of digital magazines. He launched his first publication, SportBikes Inc Magazine in 2010, followed by dosage MAGAZINE in 2019. Recently, Allan launched his third online publication, Club For Man. As a journalist, Allan covers fashion, lifestyle, culture, art, and motorcycles.

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