ALICE Summit

 

ALICE Summit 2025 is on March 5

Register Here

Legislative Call to Action

United Way of Thurston County invites community leaders, businesses, and residents to the ALICE Summit, a solutions-focused event addressing two of the region’s most pressing issues: housing affordability and childcare accessibility.

The summit will feature insightful discussions with guest speakers, providing data-driven perspectives and actionable strategies to support ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households—working families struggling to afford basic necessities despite earning above the federal poverty level.

Event Agenda

9:00 - 10:00 Doors open, sign-in, coffee and networking
10:00 Welcome and remarks from Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council, our presenting sponsor
10:10 Intro to ALICE with local and state data
10:30 Introduction of Housing and Economy panelists and moderator

  • Moderator: Dusti Demarest, Executive Editor, The Olympian 
  • Panelists: 
  • Michael Cade, Executive Director, Thurston County Economic Development Council
  • Gene Angel, Director of Research and Evaluation, Thurston County EDC
  • Jessie Simmons, Director of Government Affairs, Olympia Master Builders
  • Jennifer Lane, Federal Housing Program Manager, Multi-family Housing Unit, Washington State Department of Commerce
  • Tye Menser, Chair, Thurston County Board of County Commissioners
  • Ann Campbell, Managing Director, Homeownership, Washington State Department of Commerce

11:40 Break: Lunch is served

12:00 Speaker: Kristin Wiggins, Washington Project Director, Mission: Readiness and ReadyNation, Council For a Strong America 

12:40 Introduction of Childcare and Early Education panelists and moderator

  • Moderator: Dusti Demarest, Executive Editor, The Olympian 
  • Panelists: 
  • April Messenger, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Child Care Action Council
  • Emily Gourlie, Working Parent
  • Lorie Thompson, Director, Capital STEM Alliance at ESD 113
  • Sergio Garcia, South Sound YMCA

1:45 Table Discussions 
2:05 Tables report on conversations
2:20 Calls to Action and Legislative Update
2:30 Program ends

Event Details:
Date & Time: March 5, 2025. Registration is from 9 am to 10 pm, and RevMo Coffee Cart provides coffee. The event will run from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm.
Location: South Puget Sound Community College, Lacey Campus, 4220 6th Ave SE Lacey, WA 98503
Tickets: $75 per person | $500 for a group of 8
Includes refreshments & lunch. 

For more information, contact Chris Wells at cwells@unitedway-thurston.org or 360.943.2773.

Register Here