Session 5A:
The Politics of Promise

Time:
3:20 pm on Thursday, November 20, 2014

Location:
Omni New Haven Hotel — York

Moderator:
Toni N. Harp, Mayor, City of New Haven

Panelists:
Jael Myrick, Councilman, City of Richmond, Calif.
Kelvin Roldan, Chief Institutional Advancement Officer, Hartford Public Schools
Dr. Thad Williamson, Director of Mayor’s Office of Community Wealth, City of Richmond, Va.

While most Promise programs are privately funded, they are frequently viewed as a “public good” and find themselves nested in politically choppy waters when mayoral and superintendent leadership transitions occur. City residents frequently reference “tax dollars” in association with Promise programming and government relations with Promise programs can ebb and flow as the “newness” factor wears off. How can local officials help stabilize this “public good” and what role can local government, philanthropy and broader stakeholder engagement play to deepen the roots of such programs? If there is a desire to have Scholars return to the cities that gave them the support to attend and succeed in college, what can be done to sustain Promise programs in maturity?