Our Future Summit is sponsoring a public forum that takes a fresh look at the impacts of immigration to our community Thursday, October 11^th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Summit County Senior and Community Center near Frisco.

A panel of local professionals will provide facts and figures about Summit County’s rapidly expanding immigrant population and discuss its effect on business, healthcare, schools and community well being.

Panelists include Eric Fisher (immigration attorney),Tony Gancev (Team Temp), Sarah Wing (Copper Mountain Resort), Stu Adams (Summit County Board of Education), Hayden Hedman, (Summit High School student), Heather Christie (Family & Intercultural Resource Center), Sue Gruber (Summit County Social Services), Zulema Palomino (Summit County Social Services), and Randall Reitz (Community Care Clinic).

Moderators are Howard Hallman and Jennifer Kermode.

Schools -- What changes do the influx of new faces bring to our schools? How does an increasingly diverse student population impact learning? How do new arrivals respond to our educational system?

Businesses -- How does a changing labor force affect our local economy? How are local businesses addressing an evolving immigrant market?

Healthcare -- Does the dramatic change in demographics put extra pressure on healthcare facilities? How does the Community Care Clinic serve an immigrant population often lacking health insurance?

Community well being -- Is Summit County prepared to accommodate multiple cultures? Is there value in diversity? How do immigrant communities position themselves for integration and prosperity? Why is there an absence of immigrant participation in local politics?

“We anticipate a fair minded discussion designed to better understand the local impacts of immigration,” says Our Future Summit president Howard Hallman. “Tough questions will be asked and thoughtful answers provided.”

Door open at 6:30 pm. Refreshments will be available.

Our Future Summit is a “quality of life” institution dedicated to building a better Summit County by providing opportunities for the public to engage in informed discussion on issues of interest to the community.