Two Generations. 
One Future.
Ascend at the Aspen Institute is a hub for breakthrough ideas and collaborations that move children and their parents toward educational success and economic security. Ascend takes a two-generation approach to our work – focusing on children and their parents together – and we bring a gender and racial equity lens to our analysis.
Dreams Don’t Work Unless We Do
We’ve got to restore broken men who’ve been assaulted by this long nightmare as embodied in this latest iteration. And we’ve got to do this work together.
Family Prosperity: Value All Care, Value Every Family
“I found myself sitting in a cubicle at work, while my son is in the hospital really fighting for his life, and that’s a decision that no parent should have to make.” – Britta, a mother featured in the Zero Weeks documentary. Times are changing rapidly for families—our households, work and the workforce do not…
The Women Wave: Fueling a Revolution of Respect and Dignity for All
Photo caption, from left to right: Ingrid Saunders Jones, National Chair, The National Council of Negro Women, Inc.; Cathy Trost, Executive Director and Senior Vice President, Freedom Forum Institute; Lorraine Hariton, President and CEO, Catalyst; Anne Mosle, Vice President, Aspen Institute, and Executive Director, Ascend at the Aspen Institute In the fall of 2017, the courageous stand by…
Dreams Don’t Work Unless We Do
We’ve got to restore broken men who’ve been assaulted by this long nightmare as embodied in this latest iteration. And we’ve got to do this work together.
Unpacking the Father Factor, a Critical Link in Building Strong Communities
Visionary leaders understand that many of our public systems and services were not designed for 21st century families. So, program and public leaders across the country are redefining how they work with families. On Thursday, November 29, Ascend at the Aspen Institute and GOOD+ Foundation convened fathers, researchers, thought leaders, policymakers, and social service program leaders…
A Powerful Catalytic New Initiative for Students Who Are Parents
What does it take for a postsecondary student – who happens to be raising a child – to earn a credential that will lead to a career and economic mobility in today’s economy? Quite a lot, as it turns out: finding quality child care that is also affordable, pulling together resources to pay high tuition…
New Mexico Forum on Early Childhood Development and Family Well-Being