March 21, 2017
Federal Reserve System's Community Development Research Conference to focus on economic futures of kids and communities
For release at 10:00 a.m. EDT
The Federal Reserve System's 10th biennial Community Development Research Conference convenes on March 23 in Washington, D.C. The conference theme, Strong Foundations: The Economic Futures of Kids and Communities, will explore the relationship between the development of children and community conditions and the effect of early childhood investments on the economy.
Federal Reserve Chair Janet L. Yellen will deliver opening remarks at the two-day conference. Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and Charles Evans, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, will address plenary sessions. The conference will close with a keynote address and conversation with Geoffrey Canada, author, youth and education advocate, and founder of Harlem Children's Zone, Inc.
Research from the conference will focus on three key areas: early childhood development; education and workforce; and community conditions. Research will be presented in the form of a dialogue between the researchers, policymakers, community practitioners, and business leaders.
"The conference will feature research that underscores the benefits of investing in our youth and providing them with the critical community supports needed to set them up to thrive in the workforce as adults," said Eric Belsky, director of the Federal Reserve Board's Division of Consumer and Community Affairs. "Early childhood and teenage experiences--including their health, education, and home and neighborhood supports--are key building blocks for future economic and financial success."
The conference will be co-hosted by the Community Development Offices of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks and the Federal Reserve Board. An agenda and other details about the conference are available on the conference website: www.minneapolisfed.org/community/tenth-biennial-federal-reserve-system-community-development-research-conference. Keynote speeches and plenary sessions will be broadcast live at: www.youtube.com/user/FedReserveBoard.
For media inquiries, call 202-452-2955.