Child Trends
New 2Gen Family Research

Groundbreaking analysis of families paints a richer portrait of the state of families in America.

2022 Fellows
The 2022 Impact & Inspiration Report

Meet inspiring leaders and learn about innovative solutions from the Ascend community. 

ECD Report
A new future for early childhood leadership

Download our new report Toward a More Equitable Tomorrow: A Landscape Analysis of Early Childhood Leadership.

Employer Principles
Four Employer Principles for Family Prosperity

Sign on for improving jobs for parents and caregivers.

SOTF Report
STATE OF THE FIELD

This landmark publication analyzes ten years of accomplishments from the two-generation (2Gen) field and presents opportunities to improve the future for families in America.

Student Parent Mental Health
Student Parent Mental Health

New original research illuminates the unique mental health barriers parenting students face and outlines eight recommendations for higher education institutions to improve outcomes for students and families.

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Ascend At The Aspen Institute

Ascend at the Aspen Institute is a catalyst and convener for diverse leaders working across systems and sectors to build intergenerational family prosperity and well-being by intentionally focusing on children and the adults in their lives together. We believe in the power of co-creation. We are a community of leaders — well-connected, well-prepared, and well-positioned — to build the political will that transforms hearts, minds, policies, and practices.

1 in 5 Podcast
1 in 5: The Student Parent Podcast

Today, more than one in five college students in the US are parents. Our '1 in 5' podcast vividly profiles students who are parents pursuing their education while raising a family and working. Throughout the series, student parents share their journeys raising a family, working, and navigating challenges while pursuing a postsecondary degree. These experiences of students who are parents should not be unfamiliar or unheard, especially on college campuses.

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Employer Principles
Four Employer Principles for family prosperity

Comprehensive, integrated, and fair policies for workers are critical not only for parents, caregivers, and their children, but they’re essential for businesses and communities to thrive. Sign on to the principles to join the acknowledge the shared goal of achieving good jobs for all parents and caregivers, especially those with low incomes.

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National Network
National Ascend Network

The Ascend Network connects cross-sector organizations from across the country that are using the two-generation (2Gen) approach to create a society where all families can reach their full potential. These leaders, who are most proximate to communities and know families’ needs and potential, implement the 2Gen model at scale so parents and children can grow their talents and and skills.

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FROM THE ASCEND BLOG

Ascend Convenings

Date: April 11, 2023
– April 12, 2023
Location: Virtual & In-Person in Washington, DC
Join us for our fourth Aspen Forum on Children and Families on Tuesday, April 11th and Wednesday, April 12th, 2023. Our 2023 theme is Taking Action for Family Prosperity. We will focus on solutions for policymakers, philanthropists, practitioners,...
ConveningApril 11, 2023
– April 12, 2023
Date: March 2, 2023
Location: Virtual
Please join us for a national briefing on a new, groundbreaking two-generation analysis of families with low incomes across the US. This new comparative analysis of 2011 and 2021 Census data, looking at children and the adults in their lives...
ConveningMarch 2, 2023
Date: February 22, 2023
Location: Virtual & In-Person in Washington, DC
We are thrilled to have Erica Smiley and Sarita Gupta join us for a timely discussion about their book, The Future We Need: Organizing for a Better Democracy in the Twenty-First Century. Weaving together stories of real working people, the pair...
ConveningFebruary 22, 2023

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