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Institute for Emerging Issues

Emerging Issues Forum

People, Knowledge and Resources

The Institute's roots reach back to 1986. The Emerging Issues Forum is an annual gathering of international, national and statewide thought leaders and stakeholders who discuss challenges and opportunities for North Carolina. 

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Dating back to 1986, the Emerging Issues Forum is an annual gathering of thought leaders and stakeholders across various perspectives and backgrounds to discuss challenges and opportunities for North Carolina’s future.

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2025 Emerging Issues Forum: Future Forward Energy
Feb. 19, 2025 | Raleigh, NC

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PAST FORUMS

More Past Forums
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2024 Weathering Financial Storms

The 2024 Emerging Issues Forum examined financial resilience: the ability to financially withstand and recover from economic challenges. Speakers and participants offered best practices and actions that can be taken by households, policy makers, financial institutions, employers and others.

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2023 Talent First Economics

The 2023 Emerging Issues Forum examined ways to overcome barriers and help workers find employment and stay engaged in the workplace. By putting talent first—increasing our understanding of what employees are looking for and how employers and systems can respond—we can better energize, equip and unleash North Carolina’s full abundance of talent.

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2022 Advancing Together: Enhancing NC’s Workforce Through Educational Attainment

The 2022 Emerging Issues Forum brought together local, state and national leaders to call attention to this attainment gap and to the impact of the pandemic on efforts to close it.

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ReCONNECT NC Series

With the help – and voices – of citizens throughout North Carolina, IEI launched a three-year initiative focused on reengaging the state called ReCONNECT NC. Throughout the three years, IEI hosted six forums based on the specific needs that North Carolina residents and organizations identified.

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Forum History

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I have attended and been involved with the Institute every year since the beginning. This is a great organization where creative thinking mixes with business and entrepreneurs. I have seen ideas being presented and then formed into policy and used to create jobs and opportunities.

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Mark Fleming

Vice President of Government Affairs, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (retired)

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