Sacramento this week will welcome global leaders for the 2025 Sociable City Academy and Summit, a three-day event focused on social economy strategies, taking place May 7-9 at the Memorial Auditorium (1515 J Street) and the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center (1401 K Street).
The summit convenes a diverse network of experts, city representatives and industry professionals tasked with developing innovative solutions for nighttime governance, planning, public safety and economic vitality.
Organized by the Responsible Hospitality Institute, the summit has been held annually since 2015 in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin, New Orleans and New York. This year, Sacramento will serve as the host city, with the City of Sacramento’s Office of Nighttime Economy leading the local planning and coordination efforts.
“Sacramento is honored to host this year’s Sociable City Summit and to learn alongside other cities advancing nighttime and sociable city planning,” said Tina Lee-Vogt, the City’s nighttime economy manager. “We’re excited to showcase our city as we share our experiences and exchange ideas with peers from across the globe.”
Shaping strategies for nightlife and social economy
The Sociable City Summit will feature workshops, keynote presentations, panels and breakout sessions hosted at venues throughout Sacramento, positioning the city as a “learning laboratory” for attendees.
Several elected officials will participate in the summit, including Mayor Pro Tem Eric Guerra, District 4 Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum, Senator Angelique Ashby and Senator Scott Wiener. International speakers from the United Kingdom, Australia and Chile will also contribute to the summit’s global perspective on nightlife governance and social economy planning.
One session, “Lighting Up Downtown: Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center,” will feature an all-Sacramento panel discussing the partnerships that contribute to the success of the downtown core. Scheduled speakers include moderator Tina Lee-Vogt, along with Bryce Heinlein (Sacramento Police Department), Matt Eierman (City’s Public Works Department), Bob Simpson (nightclub operator), Alex Rodrigo (Sacramento Kings and Golden 1 Center), Valerie Mamone-Werder (City’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development), and Lance McDaniel (Downtown Sacramento Partnership).
For the first time, the summit will also offer five mobile breakout sessions at different Sacramento venues, including Harlow’s, Mango’s, Octopus Peru, Torch Club and Channel 24. These sessions will allow attendees to explore Sacramento as they discuss topics such as nightlife safety, festival planning, live music development, analysis of the live music industry, and quality of life in social and entertainment districts.
Additional event information is available on the Sociable City’s official website.
