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.
New Ascend Report Offers Blueprint for State Leaders Fighting Poverty
As prospects seem to diminish for the next generation being better off than the current one, it is essential to elevate the successful work being done to address intergenerational poverty and create a path of opportunity. Two-generation (2Gen) policies have advanced greatly over the past decade, resulting in positive outcomes for families. 2Gen approaches embrace…
Forum on June 14: States Leading the Way
The two-generation (2Gen) field is rapidly advancing: scalable and replicable solutions exist and are being expanded. On June 14, 2018, Ascend is proud to feature and host state and local leaders from around the country to release the timely publication States Leading the Way: Practical Solutions that Lift Up Children and Families as part of Ascend’s…
Building a Thriving Tennessee: A 2Gen Approach
Building a Thriving Tennessee: A 2Gen Approach was created in collaboration between Ascend at the Aspen Institute and the Tennessee Department of Human Services. This report provides key elements of Tennessee’s transformational 2Gen journey — details about the department’s engagement and learning processes, ideas around social innovation and public-private partnerships, insights into lessons learned, and a…
The Future of Work and Family Prosperity
Last week, as the Department of Labor announced the latest round of employment numbers, I was fortunate to be with the Aspen Family Prosperity Innovation Community—experts and innovators committed to helping families with low incomes become participants in the economy—engaging in a new conversation about the future of work. The Aspen Family Innovation experts came…