September 02, 2026
Contact: Melissa Villarin
Office: 916-327-5365
Office E-mail: MVillarin@CCCCO.edu
Ambassador Rahm Emanuel and California State Treasurer Fiona Ma among nearly 1,000 leaders joining California Community Colleges, the nation’s largest higher education system, to drive the next era of learning
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The California Community Colleges Digital Center for Innovation, Transformation and Equity, in partnership with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and Foothill–De Anza Community College District, will host its third annual Futures Summit Sept. 9–10 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. The flagship convening of the California Community Colleges will bring together nearly 1,000 national leaders, educators, and innovators to explore how artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and changing workforce needs are reshaping education, work, and the nation's economic future.
“The Futures Summit is an opportunity to lead a national conversation about how we use technology to strengthen human potential, expand opportunity and economic mobility, and keep California competitive,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian. “The pace of change requires higher education to help shape what comes next. That means bringing students, educators, policymakers, and employers together to build the future we want.”
This year's theme is Human Skills in an Autonomous World with programming focused on the creativity, judgment, collaboration, and leadership that remain essential as colleges integrate next-generation AI tools. Attendees will hear from educators, students, industry innovators, and thought leaders advancing human-centered, equity-focused digital transformation, including:
- Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, former White House Chief of Staff and U.S. Ambassador to Japan, and former mayor of Chicago who oversaw the City Colleges of Chicago and its strategic direction, will discuss the future of higher education and the role community colleges can play in preparing Americans for a rapidly changing economy.
- California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA will share her perspective on the investments, partnerships, and policies needed to prepare Californians for a rapidly changing economy and expand pathways to economic mobility.
- Robert Diaz Leroy, producer, director, and writer, will join a session exploring the intersection of clean energy innovation, sustainable facilities, music and film production, and climate action across the California Community Colleges system.
- Jee Hang Lee, president and CEO of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), will participate in a panel and bring an important national perspective on trustee and governing board leadership.
The Futures Summit is anchored in Vision 2030 — the California Community Colleges’ strategic plan for strengthening student success, expanding economic mobility, and preparing Californians for the future of work. The Summit offers colleges actionable approaches to capacity-building and cross-sector collaboration as they prepare students for an increasingly digital future.
Attendees will engage in mainstage conversations, hands-on labs, interactive demonstrations, film screenings, and Esports experiences designed to spark new thinking and showcase practical strategies for improving student outcomes, strengthening workforce pathways, and modernizing institutional operations.
The Summit is supported by leading technology and industry partners, including Google, IBM, and other organizations in Silicon Valley. The California Community Colleges is also working with national organizations such as Jobs for the Future (JFF), Achieving the Dream, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), and others committed to advancing educational opportunity, workforce development, and economic mobility.
To learn more and to register, please visit the Futures Summit 2026 event webpage.
For media interested in attending, please reach out to Melissa Villarin at MVillarin@CCCCO.edu.
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 116 colleges serving 2.2 million students per year. California community colleges provide career education and workforce training; guaranteed transfer to four-year universities; and degree and certificate pathways. As the state’s engine for social and economic mobility, the California Community Colleges supports the Vision 2030, a strategic plan designed to improve student success, our communities and our planet. For more information, please visit the California Community Colleges website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
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