Annual Impact Summit 2026 | What's Next

Join the Connecticut Social Equity Council for its first Annual Impact Summit, What's Next, a statewide gathering focused on the future of social equity, economic opportunity, and community impact in Connecticut.

As the Council continues to advance its mission, the Annual Impact Summit provides an opportunity to share progress, strengthen partnerships, and explore new ideas that advance social equity across Connecticut.

The summit will bring together leaders from government, business, industry, community organizations, education, workforce development, and economic development to explore what's working, what's changing, and what's next.

Through keynote remarks, panel discussions, interactive breakout sessions, and networking opportunities, participants will exchange ideas, build partnerships, and help shape the next chapter of social equity and economic opportunity across Connecticut.

Complimentary lunch is included with registration.

● State and local government leaders

● Community organizations and nonprofit professionals

● Economic development leaders

● Social equity businesses and entrepreneurs

● Industry professionals

● Workforce development and education partners

● Financial institutions and capital partners

● Community advocates and changemakers

Whether you're shaping policy, growing a business, supporting communities, or creating opportunities across Connecticut, this summit offers the opportunity to connect with leaders from across sectors, exchange ideas, and explore practical strategies that will help shape the future of social equity and economic opportunity in our state.

A forward-looking discussion on the partnerships, policies, and innovations shaping Connecticut's future.

Exploring community reinvestment, workforce development, education, partnerships, and creating lasting community impact.

Exploring strategies for growth, access to capital, partnerships, sustainability, and long-term success.

Examining emerging trends, innovation, and opportunities shaping the continued evolution of Connecticut's social equity model.
Summit Breakout Sessions - SEE AGENDA

The conversation continues with six afternoon breakout sessions across two tracks: Community + Opportunity and Industry + Growth. Whether you’re looking to strengthen partnerships, grow your business, navigate available resources or better understand what’s shaping Connecticut’s communities and cannabis industry, choose the conversations most relevant to your work and interests. Each session will include time for attendee questions and discussion.

Info: Working Together: Building Opportunity Across State Government
Executive Roundtable
Expanding economic opportunity requires more than the work of any one agency. This executive conversation brings together state leaders working across housing, workforce, equity and community investment to explore how government can better align resources and expertise around the needs of Connecticut’s Disproportionately Impacted Areas. The discussion will look at where stronger collaboration can make a difference and what better coordination could mean for the communities we collectively serve.

Info: From Partnership to Opportunity: Building Pathways That Work
Case Studies + Facilitated Conversation
What turns a partnership into a pathway to real opportunity? Leaders from the community, workforce, education and private sectors will share Connecticut-based examples of partnerships connecting people to jobs and economic mobility. Together, they’ll dig into what’s working, where partnerships can fall short and what it really takes to turn shared goals into meaningful opportunities for people and communities. If you’re building partnerships across sectors, this session can help you think about how to strengthen those relationships and turn collaboration into greater impact.

Info: Beyond the Investment: What Community Impact Should Look Like
Community Impact Conversation
Community reinvestment is about more than the dollars awarded. It’s about what changes because of them. This conversation brings together community-based and trusted institutional voices to explore what meaningful impact should actually look and feel like for residents and neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs. From trust and organizational capacity to sustainability and measurable outcomes, the conversation will explore what it takes for public investment to create lasting, community-centered change. For organizations receiving, managing or helping direct community investment, the session offers an opportunity to consider how impact is defined, measured and sustained beyond the initial investment.

Info: Marketing Do’s & Don’ts: Building Your Brand While Staying Compliant
Expert Briefing + Practical Q&A
Trying to grow your cannabis brand while staying withing Connecticut’s marketing rules? This session will help cannabis businesses and entrepreneurs navigate the state’s marketing and advertising requirements, understand common compliance considerations, and apply those rules to real-world decisions about how they promote and grow their brands. Bring your questions for a candid conversation about what works, what doesn’t and what businesses need to know.

Info: State of the Industry: What Cannabis Leaders Are Seeing
Industry Roundtable
What’s happening in the cannabis marketplace right now, and what should Connecticut be watching next? This roundtable brings together Connecticut and national perspectives for a candid look at the challenges businesses are navigating, where opportunities are emerging and what lessons can be drawn from other states. The discussion will look ahead to what Connecticut needs to get right next to support a healthy, competitive and equitable cannabis industry.

Info: SEC Resource Lab: From Entry to Growth
Interactive Resource Lab
Not sure which resources are right for where you are in your business journey? This interactive session is designed to help Social Equity Entrepreneurs navigate the programs, resources and opportunities available through the Council and its partners. Whether you’re seeking capital, education and training, business support, technical assistance or simply trying to determine your next step, the Resource Lab will help you identify what fits where you are now and connect you with support to keep moving forward.

Event venue

Goodwin University, 1 Riverside Drive, East Hartford, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

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