TO: CITY COUNCIL FROM: Mayor Matt Mahan
SUBJECT: REQUEST TO TRAVEL DATE: September 23, 2026
Approved: Date: 09/23/2026
RECOMMENDATION: 1. Authorize travel, accept travel payments to the City of San José, and designate the Mayor's Director of Innovation and Partnerships, Amber Kappa, as the City’s representative to attend the Power of Place: Rooted in Purpose convening hosted by the William Julius Wilson Institute at Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) by their National Impact Team in New York City from October 7-9, 2026.
2. Place the item on the October 6, 2026 City Council Agenda for action.
LOCATION: New York City, New York
MEETING DATES: October 7-9, 2026
SOURCE OF FUNDS: Costs associated with hotel accommodation will be paid by the HCZ National Impact Team. Any remaining costs, such as airfare, ground transportation, in-transit meals, and Wi-Fi will be paid from the Mayor’s Office Budget.
PURPOSE:
Amber Kappa is recommended to be designated as the City of San José’s representative to attend the fifth annual Power of Place: Rooted in Purpose convening hosted by the HCZ National Impact Team. As Director of Innovation and Partnerships in the Mayor’s Office, Ms. Kappa oversees key City priorities related to innovation initiatives, operational improvement, and crosssector partnerships.
ROGC AGENDA: 9/30/26
ITEM: B.4
HCZ’s Power of Place convenes leaders engaged in place-based, cradle-to-career strategies, and economic mobility initiatives to promote best practices and peer learning. Participation in the program is directly related to Ms. Kappa’s assigned responsibilities and will enhance the City’s efforts to develop and scale initiatives that promote cross-sector partnerships, youth programming, economic mobility, and workforce development.
As the designated City representative, Ms. Kappa will participate in educational sessions, strategy workshops, and collaborative discussions with leaders from across the country. She will share information about San José’s innovation and partnership initiatives and identify strategies that may inform future City programs or policies. Attendance at this convening serves an official government purpose and will provide meaningful professional development and policy insights that benefit the City of San José’s ongoing work in community engagement, economic mobility and systems innovation.