Pittsburgh’s second p4 Summit will be Oct. 18-19, 2016, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in the city’s Downtown.

Sponsored by the City of Pittsburgh and The Heinz Endowments, the two-day, invitational conference will include discussions among local leaders and national experts about the p4 framework, which was introduced to the public last year as an innovative and inclusive approach to transforming Pittsburgh into a model sustainable city. While updates and strategies will be considered for all of the p4 themes — People, Place, Planet and Performance — there will be a particular focus on economic and social equity and justice, which are central to the People aspect of the p4 framework.

The conference is highlighting these issues because the local challenges are significant. Racial and ethnic minorities represent only 11 percent of the region’s workforce, one of the smallest shares among American metropolitan areas. Income disparities among races are sharp and persistent. This is particularly the case for African Americans, and some of the most glaring examples are the lingering structural barriers standing between African American men and economic opportunity in Pittsburgh. According to a 2015 Urban Institute study commissioned by The Heinz Endowments, such obstacles include social and geographic isolation, restrictive hiring and lending practices, and low homeownership rates.

In light of these conditions and other disparities, Endowments President Grant Oliphant coined the term “Just Pittsburgh” earlier this year and sparked a community conversation about what a Just Pittsburgh would involve. This concept will be incorporated into this year’s p4 conference as part of the discussion on equity and justice.

“Only by making this a city for everyone can Pittsburgh truly deliver on the promise of lasting transformation,” Mr. Oliphant said. “We need to think through how Pittsburgh can embrace equity as core to its ongoing rebirth. A Just Pittsburgh will have to be our reality for this city to thrive.”

Day 1

Day one will focus on issues of economic opportunity, community redevelopment, quality of life and public health. We will feature speakers on People, Planet, Place and Performance, followed by breakout sessions on metrics for redevelopment, economic strategy , affordable housing, and environmental and public health.

Day 2

The focus of the conference’s second day will be economic and social equity and inclusion, with sessions organized around approaches to equitable economic development and strategies needed to build a Just City in Pittsburgh