The 2018 California Teachers Summit

Since 1989, Keith Towns has served as the principal of Emerge Financial Group, which has offices in Oakland and Suisun City, California. Keith Towns prepared for his career by earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting from California State University, East Bay (formerly known as California State University, Hayward). 

The 2018 California Teachers Summit brought more than 350 K-12 teachers to California State University, East Bay, for a day of learning and networking. The event took place at more than 30 colleges and universities throughout California and featured a statewide keynote address by Sir Ken Robinson, creator of "Do Schools Kill Creativity?", the most viewed TED Talk ever. 

This year’s summit also featured EdTalks and EdCamps breakout sessions, which allowed educators to discuss the challenges facing teachers today. Attendance at the summit was free to all California educators and was funded mainly by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Alpha Phi Alpha and Henry Health Reclaim Our Strength Campaign

An accountant with nearly 30 years of experience, Keith Towns is the principal of Emerge Financial Group in Suisun City and Oakland, California. Keith Towns holds a BS in accounting from California State University, East Bay (formerly California State University, Hayward) and belongs to Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek fraternity for African-American men.

In July 2018, Alpha Phi Alpha partnered with digital health start-up Henry Health to create "Reclaim Our Strength," a national campaign to increase awareness of the emotional issues that affect black men. The need for more awareness is critical, given that only a small percentage of African-American men have sought mental health care over the past year.

To draw attention to the issue, the Reclaim Our Strength website includes an infographic outlining stressors that are commonly faced by black men. The website also provides a forum for men to share their personal stories and a page of essays on mental health written by community leaders.

New Tax Law Eliminates Marriage Penalty for Most Filers

An accomplished tax and finance professional, Keith Towns brings more than three decades of experience to his role as the principal of Emerge Financial Group in Oakland and Suisun City, California. As part of his professional duties, Keith Towns pays close attention to changes in state and federal tax laws.

In 2017, the Republican-led Congress and President Donald Trump passed a signature piece of legislation when it overhauled the nation’s federal tax code, making sweeping changes to corporate tax rates, personal income tax brackets, and other tax regulations. Among other changes, the new bill adjusts how taxes are calculated for married couples, eliminating the so-called marriage penalty for the majority of filers.

Prior to passage of the new tax laws, married couples who filed jointly could be penalized due to the way the brackets were structured. For example, two individuals who made $90,000 each would separately fall into the 25-percent bracket, but their combined income of $180,000 would push them into the 28-percent bracket. 

The new bill, however, changes these rules for couples who make less than $400,000 combined. Beginning with the 2018 tax year, these couples will pay the same tax rate regardless of marital status.