Upward Mobility Summit kicks off Jan. 24 in Santa Barbara County

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - On Friday, Jan. 24, Santa Barbara County will host the Upward Mobility Summit.

The summit marks the launch of a two-year initiative to address the complexities of poverty in the county.

The public is invited to participate in both the Upward Mobility Summit on Jan. 24 and the broader Upward Mobility Initiative

While the South County event at Santa Barbara City College is sold out, seats are still available for the North County summit at Allan Hancock College.

“I’m very excited about this conference because it’s a chance for people to look at what’s underlying a lot of issues, like food insecurity or housing,” said Erik Talkin, CEO of the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. “We need to get to the core of the problem.”

Santa Barbara County has the second-highest poverty rate in California, with nearly 70,000 residents living at or below the poverty line.

The summit is free to attend, but registration is required.

For more information and to reserve a seat, visit upwardmobilitysb.com.