SAAS SUMMIT SCHEDULE

12:00 PM  Doors Open

12:15 PM  Opening Keynote “2032”

2032 is a crucial milestone. The incoming 6th grade class at Seattle Academy will be eligible to vote for the first time in the November 2032 election, and the urgency to engage them, as well as our community at large, has never been greater. The core topics of this panel emphasize our mission to recognize that a healthy democracy requires an informed electorate, an inclusive political process, and cohesive communities. We will explore strategies that can empower and educate, laying the groundwork for a more vibrant and participatory democracy by 2032.

Panelists include: Ellis Andrews '20, Gabby Borenstein '18, Colleen Echohawk, Gabriel Greschler '14, Tim Punke, David Sheppard, Sung Yang

1:30 PM    Breakout Sessions / The Work Won’t Wait

Session: Civic Empowerment Through Education

Nurturing a well-educated citizenry is a fundamental promise to the community and is the foundation of a sustainable democracy. What are the implications for a meaningful education as communities navigate the challenges of the present and look ahead to 2032? Our panel includes systems thinkers and curricular experts, classroom teachers, and national leaders. Join them in discussing what the future of education can and should look like at the early childhood, K-12, and post-secondary levels.

Panelists include: Kaaren Andrews, Dwane Chappelle, Aaron Hurst, Morva McDonald, Katie Pearl ’97

Session: The Power of Social Services: Supporting Communities, Changing Lives

Healthy communities promote the resilience and well-being of individuals, families, groups, and neighborhoods. What's happening today that is working that we need more of? Where are the gaps, both present and future, and what will sustainable social structures need to look like in the future? Our panelists are working in organizations that focus on children and families, systems innovation and advocacy, and across sectors from education to wellness and social services to leadership development.

Panelists include: Dominique Alex, William Bell, Danny Cage, Laney Flood ’16, Julie McCleery Brown

Session: Navigating Healthcare Advocacy in a Political Landscape

Technological breakthroughs are, on the one hand, offering the promise of advances in healthcare across multiple fronts while, at the same time, rising costs, political polarization, and care inequities across populations are increasing. How are leaders in the field, at the systems and ground level, moving important innovations forward, and what do they see as the keys to the challenges to supporting healthy individuals and healthy communities?

Panelists include: Nikki Eller ’06, Greg Maddox, Mike Myint, Kirsten Saint Clair, Sophie True ’16

Session: Uniting Business and Community for Sustainable Success

Public-private partnerships hold the promise of collaboration, resources, and advocacy to turn ideas into realities, opportunities into important projects, and to align resources and community needs. Why can public-private partnerships succeed where public agencies alone can't, and where private organizations won't or shouldn't? Hear from community leaders with direct experience in bringing communities together, bringing resources and expertise to bear on pressing problems, and in overcoming paralysis and division to get important work done.

Panelists include: Kevin Baker, Tom Douglas, Helen Olsen '08, Mary Pugh, Deborah Sepulveda

Session: The Future of Civic Engagement and Justice

In a time where a genuine consensus on "the preservation of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" seems elusive, it begs the question: What should those words mean for the application of an equitable and effective system of justice? Is there a better way to think about what individuals and society need from our laws, systems, and their enforcement today? Join a panel of judges, prosecutors, public defenders and law enforcement to examine those questions.

Panelists include: Claire Mauksch ’07, Tara Moss ’99, Aravind Swaminathan, Kate Vaughan, Jamal Whitehead

Session: How a Greener Future Can Strengthen Our Democracy

In an era when climate shifts are as visible and immediate as political and economic transitions, those who are leading the way for conservation and sustainability are front and center in preserving a shared future for all of our communities. What lessons can we draw from the past, and what do they see as areas of opportunity, hope, and prioritization? Faced with challenges on so many fronts, what actions can and should we be taking now, and what's ahead for a rising generation of conservationists and climate leaders? 

Panelists include: Megan Birzell, Austin Easter ’10, Eli Etzioni ’14, Martinique Grigg, Cedric Rhodes ’13, Jerry Tone

Session: Nurturing Youth Engagement in Public Service

Public servants are indispensable to a functioning democracy and to a range of support services, infrastructure, and public safety – the list of the ways in which we rely on them goes on and on. And yet they’re consistently unappreciated. Meet the individuals tackling tasks, innovating, and overcoming apathy and opposition despite a lack of public awareness, support, and resources as they tackle the question of “what is the future of public service, and how do we attract, empower, and unleash the next generation of public servants?

Panelists include: Ethan Bancroft ’05, Sean Burrow, Courtney Gregoire, Dwayne McClain, Alex Pedersen

2:45 PM    Closing Keynote “The Work Won’t Wait”

Seattle Academy upholds the crucial importance of a robust democracy in tackling societal issues; we acknowledge the diverse threats currently endangering its strength. In this dialogue, our panelists will delve into various topics, spanning from public service to the justice system, climate action to conservation efforts, education to healthcare initiatives, and the dynamics of public-private partnerships to grassroots community organizing. Together, we aim to cultivate impactful endeavors that propel progress, whether on a local or global scale, surmounting obstacles and paralysis.

Panelists include: Rob Brandon, Sheri (Brooks) Shnider '08, Matt Echohawk-Hayashi, Kris Engskov, Matt Fulle '13, Rhonda Lewis, Morva McDonald

3:45 PM    Closing/Wrap Up

4:00 PM    Networking Reception

Attendees and speakers are welcome to join us for a networking reception with light food and beverages.

Whether you're a young explorer, a seasoned professional,
or simply a curious mind, SAAS Summit events are designed for you.

Engage with thought-provoking discussions, interactive breakout sessions, and networking activities that cater to attendees of all ages. We are looking forward to welcoming students and families from the greater Seattle area, including those in our own SAAS community and neighboring schools.