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Joseph Jones

Founder and President & CEO of the Center for Urban Families

Center for Urban Families

Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow Alumni 2018 Cohort 4

Baltimore City, Maryland

The Baltimore-based Center for Urban Families was established to empower low-income families by enhancing both the ability of women and men to contribute to their families as wage earners and of men to fulfill their roles as fathers. Prior to founding CFUF, Joe Jones developed and directed the Men’s Services program for the federally funded Baltimore Healthy Start initiative and replicated the Baltimore affiliate of the nationally recognized STRIVE employment services program. Jones has received numerous awards and honors for his leadership and programming including the Johns Hopkins University Leadership Development Program’s Distinguished Leadership Award, an honorary Doctorate in Public Service from Morgan State University, the Walter Sondheim Public Service Award, the White House Champion of Change, and was a 2013 CNN Hero.

Stories Featuring Joseph Jones
January 11, 2023
An Evidence-Based Approach to Child Support
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March 10, 2022
From Proof Points to Building Evidence: Creating A Two-Generation (2Gen) Research Agenda
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December 9, 2020
Four Outstanding Projects Selected for Ascend Impact Fund
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June 29, 2020
Undo A System of White Supremacy: The Call for a New Social Contract
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May 4, 2020
Ascend’s Response to CARES Act Offset for Child Support Arrears
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July 12, 2019
Ascending at the 2019 Aspen Ideas Festival
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June 19, 2019
2018 Ascend Fellow Action Plans
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September 6, 2018
Prestigious Aspen Institute Ascend Fellowship Announces 2018 Class of Leaders
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Ascend Fellows are a community of values-driven leaders who share an unwavering commitment to our shared goal of intergenerational family prosperity and well-being.