The new school has arrived, ushering in more than 80 million classmates, better known as the millennial generation. This Internet savvy, socially conscious and world-changing generation is pushing back from the political, social and economic constraints left by our predecessors and we are now forging our own path. In every traditional and nontraditional profession, young people are redefining those spaces and are not allowing their age to limit their impact. And on October 19th - 22nd, 1,000-plus will come to Philadelphia for the first-ever Forbes Under 30 Summit.
Attendees will include global change-maker Malala Yousafzai, investor extraordinaire Joshua Kushner and a host of other extremely impressive young minds, from 15 different fields and handpicked by Forbes for their annual list. In addition honorees and other under 30 attendees will be joined by a host of heavy-hitter mentors, including AOL founder, Steve Case and restauranteur, Danny Meyer. This summit is an opportunity for cross collaboration, idea sharing and fostering relationships amongst a generation that by 2015, our annual spending is expected to be $2.45 trillion and by 2018, will surpass the boomers in spending power at $3.39 trillion. [Oracle] It should also be noted that according to the Center for American Progress, millennials will be 40% of the electorate by 2020 but trust, millennials are not waiting to make their mark in everything from fashion to humanitarian efforts.
What better way to honor the work of these millennials and create spaces for sustainable collaboration, than bring them to America's fastest growing city for millennials, Philadelphia. Philadelphia is a world-class city with significant history, art and culture and an appetite for great food. So whether you are just starting out your career or about to launch your start-up, Philadelphia has a place and a space for you.
Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit will allow attendees to participant in panel discussions, keynote presentations, "Shark Tank" pitches, networking lunches and a number of nighttime activities, including a music and food festival. In addition, the City of Philadelphia, Office of Mayor Michael Nutter has collaborated with Forbes to create a number of opportunities for Forbes honorees to go out into the community and get to love Philadelphia as much as I do. Not only will Forbes 30 Under 30 honorees take part in a "Social Innovation Tour", with Case Foundation Chief Executive Officer Jean Case and Malala Fund Chief Executive Officer Shiza Shahid to visit some of Philadelphia's social entrepreneurship initiatives but a collection of 14 Forbes honorees will also be speaking and taking Q&A at some of Philadelphia's public schools.
This summit will serve as an opportunity for Philadelphia to connect some of the millennial generation's most forward-thinking leaders to our very own, many of whom are helping to improve the city for future generations. I could also spend all day talking about the financial opportunities but the most important one for me, as the Executive Director, for the City of Philadelphia Youth Commission, is the ability to have some of Philadelphia's high school population hearing and seeing that they don't have to be defined by their circumstance or limited by their age. That they too can make a difference, as highlighted by the success of Forbes Under 30 Honorees.
To learn more about Forbes Under 30 Summit: HERE
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