Racial Justice, COVID-19 Focus of 2020 Pacific Summit
A powerful lineup of business and elected leaders and national political commentators joined the Bay Area Council’s first virtual Pacific Summit today and shared their thinking and insights about the racial unrest stemming from the tragic death of George Floyd and the continuing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. Our deepest thanks to TMG Partners CEO and former Council Chair Michael Covarrubias for serving as our Presenting Sponsor and leading a riveting conversation with conservative firebrand Laura Ingraham and liberal political strategist James Carville.
Council Chair Mary Huss, President and Publisher of the San Francisco Business Times and Silicon Valley Business Journal, Council CEO Jim Wunderman and CommonSpirit CEO Lloyd Dean, former Chair of the Council, offered eloquent and poignant opening remarks about the need for strong action in advancing racial justice and ending, once and for all, the scourge of racial discrimination, hatred and injustice that has festered for too long. Racial justice was a major focus of a conversation Facebook Director of Public Policy and Council Board member Michael Matthews led with San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo.
Leaders of the many of the region’s professional sports teams, including Golden State Warriors President Rick Welts, San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer, Oakland A’s President Dave Kaval and San Francisco 49ers President Al Guido, discussed plans for their future play and the role sports can play in helping promote racial equity. Mary Huss later talked with Kaiser Permanente Chairman and CEO Greg A. Adams about his experience with racial discrimination, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and his outlook for curing both.
The Council extends it loudest thanks to our many sponsors, including major supporters Bank of America, Facebook, KPMG, Plant Construction and Wareham Development.
A video of the complete 2020 Pacific Summit will be available on Monday.