Hosted by United Way of Greater Chattanooga, the third annual United for Working Families Summit will take place on Aug. 19 at The Westin Chattanooga from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., hosting more than 400 leaders from businesses, nonprofits and the government sector to drive solutions that support local working families.
Officials said, "The 2025 event will celebrate the real momentum this movement has gained over the last few years, while looking forward with a strong vision for how we can mobilize as a community to uplift hardworking families.
"The financial pressure on working families in Hamilton County continues to grow, with new ALICE data showing that more than 41,000 households are working, sometimes multiple jobs, but still struggling to make ends meet. These families are considered Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, or ALICE. That reality makes this year’s United for Working Families Summit more urgent and more hopeful than ever."
“Our region’s workforce is filled with hardworking people doing all they can to provide for their families but still falling short,” said Lesley Scearce, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Chattanooga. “Together, we have the power to change that story by using our workplaces and leadership to create real pathways for families to thrive, not just survive. This summit is about local solutions with real results.”
This year’s lineup includes nationally recognized speakers and local leaders who are "on the front lines of building more family-friendly work environments":
• Claude Silver, chief heart officer at VaynerMedia, will discuss the importance of compassionate leadership and building workplace cultures that prioritize people.
• Christine Motherwell, SVP, Human Resources, Coca-Cola Consolidated, and Gianetta Jones, SVP and chief people officer, Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, will share challenges facing working families and how employers can respond with empathy and action.
• Kevin Russell, senior fellow at the McKinsey Global Institute, will highlight the latest research on employer-driven economic mobility.
• Ford Motor Philanthropy and Matt Marshall of United Way of West Tennessee will showcase their tangible and collaborative work with the BlueOval City project and its wide-reaching effects in rural communities.
"The event is designed for HR professionals, executive leaders, nonprofit partners and policymakers who want to lead with purpose and take actionable steps to support the families who power our community and economy," officials said. "The 2025 United for Working Families Summit is part of a broader initiative to build stronger family-friendly workplaces across Greater Chattanooga. The goal is clear: when families thrive, our economy, workforce and future thrive with them."
To learn more and reserve your spot, visit
unitedwaycha.org/workingfamilies.