Collaborating on regional priorities at OneCape 2025

Aug 29, 2025

The annual OneCape Summit convenes a diverse gathering of local leaders, state officials, and national experts to reflect on the challenges facing Cape Cod and chart a path forward together. This year’s program brings experts who offer their perspectives, practical solutions, and inspiration to advance Cape Cod’s most pressing priorities.

Throughout both days of the summit, presentations will touch on topics of regional concern, including climate adaptation, natural resource protection, sustainable development, community resilience, and economic vitality. Speakers from within the region and across the country will share their unique perspective and transferable strategies that can drive positive change to support a vibrant and resilient region.

Joe Minicozzi, Principal of Urban 3, is reshaping how communities across the country think about land use and local economies. By visualizing the fiscal impact of development patterns, his work reveals the hidden costs and benefits embedded in our built environment. On Cape Cod, where debates over growth, housing affordability, and infrastructure investment are at the forefront, Minicozzi’s insights offer a powerful lens for understanding how our choices today shape the long-term resilience of both our communities and our municipal budgets.

Returning to the OneCape stage, Katie Theoharides, President and CEO of The Trustees, brings decades of experience at the intersection of conservation policy and climate leadership. As a former Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, she understands the urgency of climate action. Now, leading one of the state’s largest conservation organizations, she is focused on connecting people to the land while preparing landscapes for a changing climate. Her perspective resonates deeply here on Cape Cod, where treasured open spaces and fragile coastlines demand both stewardship and innovation in the face of accelerating sea level rise.

Not all resilience is measured in acres protected or infrastructure built. Michael Bobbitt, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, reminds us that community vitality depends on cultural expression and creativity. As the highest-ranking state official dedicated to arts and culture, Bobbitt will share how investing in cultural life strengthens not only the economy but also the social fabric that binds communities together. On Cape Cod, where arts and culture shape our identity and attract visitors from around the world, his message underscores that resilience is as much about spirit and story as it is about infrastructure.

At the state level, Bonnie Heiple, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, leads critical efforts to safeguard public health and protect natural resources. From clean drinking water to climate resilience initiatives, her work is deeply connected to Cape Cod’s challenges. With nitrogen pollution threatening estuaries, aging infrastructure needing reinvestment, and storm impacts growing more severe, Heiple’s perspective offers insight into how state-level leadership and regulatory frameworks can help local communities confront these pressing issues.

Communities thrive when their downtowns and main streets are strong. Erin Barnes, President and CEO of Main Street America, is a champion for revitalizing historic commercial districts through community-centered strategies. On Cape Cod, where small village centers define both the character and economic fabric of the region, her approach provides inspiration for balancing preservation with innovation. By investing in local businesses, inclusive placemaking, and economic resilience, Barnes highlights how main streets can remain vital anchors in changing times.

Dan Burden, Director of Innovation and Inspiration for Blue Zones, has spent his career reimagining how streets and neighborhoods can better support health, safety, and sustainability. A national authority on walkability and livable community design, Burden’s work connects directly to Cape Cod’s aspirations for vibrant village centers, reduced car dependence, and safer, more welcoming public spaces. His vision challenges us to see our built environment not just as infrastructure, but as a foundation for healthier, happier lives.

These are just some of the speakers joining us for this year’s OneCape Summit as we connect ideas with action and link the unique challenges of our region with proven strategies and bold visions from across the country.