Brendan Creamer

Communications Manager

As the communications manager for Ascend at the Aspen Institute, Brendan advances Ascend’s use of strategic communications through partnership development, digital and social media tools, as well as media relations to advance policy and practice solutions that improve children and family economic security.

Prior to joining Ascend in 2021, Brendan worked in the Brand Marketing department at Feeding America and served as a Campaign Manager at the Ad Council. At the Ad Council, Brendan mobilized federal government agencies, nonprofits, corporate partners, ad agencies, and media companies to develop and support national multi-media public-service campaigns. His campaigns addressed urgent public issues such as combatting the opioid epidemic, raising awareness about retirement savings, and educating the public about the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, Brendan’s docket focused on working with various federal government agencies on family and community topics like encouraging families to experience nature, educating parents about the right car seat for their child, and recruiting adoptive parents for teens in foster care. 

Brendan is based out of his hometown of Chicago, Illinois. He graduated with a BBA in Marketing from Loyola University Chicago. Outside of work, Brendan loves swimming, biking, playing board games, exploring with his dog, and watching movies.

Stories featuring Brendan Creamer

The 2Gen Accelerator Community is a new effort bringing together 15 local and national organizations with best practices for two-generation (2Gen) or whole-family approaches.
Press ReleasesDecember 6, 2023
The Twomey family from the Crann Centre
Three Ascend Network Partners offer proven, practical examples of how to use a 2Gen approach when working together with families with disabilities.
Ascend NetworkNovember 8, 2023
Today, Ascend at the Aspen Institute (Ascend) released the second season of “1 in 5,” its highly rated podcast that explores the multifaceted lives of the one in five college students raising children.
Press ReleasesMarch 20, 2023
Today, Ascend at the Aspen Institute (Ascend) released the second season of “1 in 5,” its highly rated podcast that explores the multifaceted lives of the one in five college students raising children.
Press ReleasesDecember 1, 2022
Today, Ascend at the Aspen Institute (Ascend) announced that 11 new Parent Advisors have joined its Postsecondary Success for Parents initiative (PSP) to help shape Ascend’s expanded agenda to improve higher education policy and practice for student parents.
Press ReleasesSeptember 29, 2022
Poverty is the result of poor policy choices. These choices reflect our national values and decide who deserves access to opportunity to achieve their dreams and who does not. This flawed mindset has led to persistent inequities and a hollowing of our shared humanity. Change is possible. The choice is ours.
Ascend FellowshipJanuary 21, 2022
Two-generation approaches (2Gen) meaningfully engage and listen to families as equal partners in setting and achieving family goals. Family expertise and advice drive the design of two-generation policies, programs, and services. The voices and perspectives of people affected by policies and programs are essential elements of making them work. The words of parents and caregivers animate and reinforce what we learn from the data and the facts on the ground about these policies.
BlogAugust 3, 2021
A new report released today by Ascend at the Aspen Institute (Ascend) takes stock of the two-generation (2Gen) field. It analyzes what has been accomplished, the lessons learned, and the opportunities ahead with unprecedented federal expenditures in social policy. The report comes at a time when Americans are more fully recognizing that a system that tolerates social, racial, gender, and economic inequities is on unstable ground — and we are reckoning anew with the history of racism, sexism, and economic exploitation that built them into the foundation of our nation.
BlogJune 7, 2021
Ascend at the Aspen Institute and The Jed Foundation Release a New Mental Health Framework with Recommendations for Supporting the Mental Health of Students Who Are Parents Washington, DC – A new study released today by Ascend at the Aspen Institute (Ascend) and The Jed Foundation (JED) finds that more than two in five (43 percent) …

New Study: Student Parents in College Experience Unique Mental Health Challenges but Lack Access to Support on Campus Read More »

BlogMay 26, 2021