Resilience: Building a Just and Equitable Economy for All

This year’s theme is Resilience: Building a Just & Equitable Economy for All. The two crises of 2020 – the COVID-19 pandemic and the exacerbation of economic and racial inequities – demonstrated and accentuated the fragility of our systems, structures, and policies. The pandemic raised awareness of the critical importance of frontline workers, such as grocery clerks, meat processing and farmworkers, delivery drivers, and many more in maintaining business operations and ensuring the functioning of our global economic system. Many of these workers are women and people of color and this public health crisis has demonstrated their vulnerability and the disproportionate economic and health impacts they experience.

As we begin the recovery process from the COVID-19 pandemic, we see an opportunity to build a resilient society with systems and structures that are just and equitable for all. Our panel of company, investor, and labor representatives will offer their perspectives on how we can implement positive change from the learnings and challenges of 2020, dismantle systems that perpetuate gender and racial inequities, and build an economy that serves all people and ensures the dignity of all workers.

Our keynote address will be from Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. Our panel, will include lively discussion with a diverse group of experts:

Kevin Williams, Director – Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), American Airlines

Sr. Sue Ernster, F.S.P.A., Vice President, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration

Edgar Hernandez, Assistant Director, Capital Stewardship Service, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

Caroline Boden – Director of Shareholder Advocacy, Mercy Investment Services (moderator)