OIC of South Florida convenes thought leaders September 9–10 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
HOLLYWOOD, FL. — OIC of South Florida today announced the return of the Middle Class Summit, taking place September 9–10, 2026, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Now marking 25 years of impact for OIC of South Florida, this year’s summit, themed “Imagine. Innovate. Elevate.,” arrives at what the organization calls a turning point for the American middle class, bringing together more than 500 business executives, policymakers, workforce innovators, educators and national thought leaders for two days of dialogue focused on solutions.
This year’s agenda centers on four pressures reshaping working families across the country: artificial intelligence and the evolving workforce, affordable housing, healthcare access, and the systems that determine long-term economic advancement.
Confirmed speakers include U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Broward County Mayor Mark Bogen, Broward County Administrator Monica Cepero, Broward County Transit CEO Coree Cuff Lonergan, and OIC of America President & CEO Louis King, alongside a Summit Co-Chair panel that draws together leaders from Ballard Partners, Florida Power & Light, South Florida Business Journal and Bilzin Sumberg. The Summit is backed by a national roster of sponsors, including JPMorgan Chase, Amazon, TD Bank, SouthState Bank, Uber and CareerSource South Florida.
“The middle class isn’t just under pressure — it’s at a genuine turning point, and the decisions being made right now about AI, housing and healthcare will determine whether working families in South Florida move forward or fall behind,” said Newton B. Sanon, President & CEO of OIC of South Florida and founder of the Middle Class Summit. “For 25 years, OIC of South Florida has built pathways to opportunity for this region. This Summit is where we put the people building those pathways; business leaders, policymakers and the workforce innovators doing the work every day; in the same room, on the same clock, working toward the same outcomes.”
The 2026 Middle Class Summit builds on the momentum of the bi-annual event in 2024, which drew hundreds of regional leaders for two days of panels, keynotes and networking. This year’s program expands that footprint with an intensified focus on AI’s impact on jobs and career pathways, alongside continued programming on workforce development, entrepreneurship and community investment.
Early Bird registration is open now at middleclasssummit.com. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for organizations seeking to align with the Summit’s mission and reach its audience of regional decision-makers.
Media Contact:
Suzan McDowell | 305-490-9145 | suzan@circleofonemarketing.com
Natasha Sweeting | 954-260-1958 | natasha@circleofonemarketing.com
MIDDLE CLASS SUMMIT PRESS KIT HERE
About OIC of South Florida
For 25 years, OIC of South Florida has helped unemployed and underemployed residents of Broward and Miami-Dade counties build family-supporting careers through vocational training, education and workforce development services. Under the leadership of President & CEO Newton B. Sanon, the organization has grown from two employees to more than 180 staff members and has helped tens of thousands of South Florida residents move into sustainable, taxpaying employment. Learn more at oicsfl.org.
About the Middle Class Summit
The Middle Class Summit is OIC of South Florida’s flagship convening on economic mobility, bringing together business executives, policymakers, educators and community leaders to address the challenges facing the middle class and those working to enter it. The 2026 Summit takes place September 9–10 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL. Learn more at middleclasssummit.com.
