Convenings

As state and federal lawmakers prepare for the year ahead, there is tremendous momentum for bold ideas that move families toward opportunity. The second Aspen Forum on Children and Families, held next week on February 26-27, will bring together national leaders – policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and philanthropists – to surface big ideas for investing in the full …

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 …
The Women Wave: Fueling a Revolution of Respect and Dignity for All Read More »

In February, Ascend launched the Aspen Family Prosperity Innovation Community in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to bring together some of the brightest minds and dynamic leaders across multiple sectors to identify new and different ways to ensure families in America find opportunity and thrive. Each member of Family Prosperity represents a thoughtfully-selected …
Bringing It All Together: Igniting Innovation for Family Prosperity Read More »

Last week, Ascend Managing Director, Marjorie Sims, had the privilege of moderating an Aspen Institute roundtable conversation with Billy Shore, founder and CEO of Share Our Strength. The conversation was part of a new initiative launched by Aspen Institute CEO, Dan Porterfield and co-led by Sims and Public Programs Vice President Jamie Miller focused on …
Supporting Social Impact in DC: A Conversation with Marjorie Sims and Billy Shore Read More »
What is meaningful work? What does it mean for a family to thrive? There are certain conditions in and outside of work that lay the economic, health, and educational foundation for families to prosper that are often not met. Government entities often silo their support for child care, education, and career development instead of treating …
From Stability to Thriving: Redefining Work and Family Supports Read More »

Ascend is honored to host inimitable philanthropist and author Carrie Morgridge in conversation with Anne Mosle on Monday, August 6, 2018 at 5:00 pm MT at the Institute’s Aspen Meadows campus in Colorado. Carrie and Anne will discuss perseverance, being “off the grid and unplugged” for a summer, and finding time to write while transforming philanthropy. …