VisionXChange 2025: A Movement in Motion

Every two years, Aspen VisionXChange brings together more than 160 bold and entrepreneurial Fellows from across the country, all united by one North Star: creating intergenerational family economic mobility and well-being.

This year’s convening came at a pivotal time. Our theme, Unstoppable, captured both the urgency of this moment and the power of our collective. We gathered in a spirit of gratitude and grounding, knowing that while momentum in our country isn’t always aligned with the hopes and realities of families, change is not only possible, it’s already underway.

VisionXChange offered space to pause, reflect, connect, and deepen our commitment to the work ahead.

Throughout the convening, we tackled some of the most pressing challenges families face – from the rising cost of childcare to gaps in mental health services, economic instability, and the need for systems that center equity and lived experience. What emerged was clear: we know what families need, and we have models that work. Now is the time to invest in and scale those solutions.

Across the four days, participants engaged in strategic conversations about caregiving, workforce challenges such as access to quality jobs, support for working parents, and the role of employers in strengthening family well-being, as well as health, AI, and human services. Fellows shared what they’re learning in their communities, from two-generation approaches in philanthropic projects to embedding Indigenous wisdom in community structures  to using AI to support young people leaving foster care. In a time when many leaders feel overwhelmed by division and disruption, the Ascend community offers something rare: clarity, collaboration, and concrete pathways forward.

VisionXChange intentionally made space for joy, arts, and imagination. From the keynote performance by South African artists Neo Muyanga and Tina Mene to moments of stillness in nature, we were reminded that movements are powered by people, and people need care, connection, and creativity to lead well.

This year, Ascend celebrates more than a decade of supporting leaders and strengthening the broader ecosystem working on behalf of children and families. We’ve worked alongside more than 1,000 leaders, reaching over 15 million families and catalyzing change across the country. From education and philanthropy to public service and storytelling, Ascend Fellows are transforming how institutions approach and support families.

But VisionXChange is not just a celebration of what we’ve done. It’s a spark for what comes next.

As shared in our Founder and Executive Director Anne Mosle’s recent op-ed, Ascend is working with our community to co-create a national, strategic agenda for family well-being, an actionable plan that brings together the best of what we know works, with the bold thinking required to meet this moment.

We’ll unveil this agenda in 2026. But the momentum starts now.

As we reflect on VisionXChange 2025, one truth is clear: families are the heart of America, and supporting them is not a partisan issue. It’s a shared responsibility and opportunity. The data shows widespread public support for policies that support families. The solutions are here. The leaders are ready. What we need now is the collective will to act.

At Ascend, we’re more than a network — we’re a force. Like the ocean, we are vast, adaptable, and always in motion. Even when progress isn’t visible, we are building toward something powerful together.

To everyone who joined us in Aspen, and to the many more who walk alongside us in this work: thank you. Your insight, imagination, and action are what make this movement unstoppable.

Revisit the sessions, hear from inspiring leaders, and take in the moments that made VisionXChange 2025 unforgettable.