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In Focus: Equity in Education

In Focus: A New Series From the Aspen Institute

In this installment of In Focus, an Aspen Institute multimedia project exploring society's greatest challenges, we share how this unprecedented disruption has shifted the way we look at everything, from the challenges parents face when they become their child's sole teacher, to the benefits of universal child care.?

Generation Hope?Scholar?Yoslin Amaya Hernandez and her sons.

How Colleges are Failing Student-Parents

When most people picture a college student, they don't imagine a mom who writes class papers from the sidelines of her kid's soccer practice. Yet, almost a quarter of undergraduate students are parents, and with schools and child cares closing or going remote, they''ve also become at-home teachers. Yoslin Amaya Hernandez, a Parent Advisor with Ascend's Postsecondary Success for Parents Initiative, shares her life as a mom, student, and part-time worker-and her anxieties about the upcoming school year.

A New Vision for the Future of Native Youth

For many Native American youth living on reservations across the US, schools offer a reprieve from the trauma of poverty. Dr. Billie Jo Kipp, a child psychologist and the associate director of research and evaluation at the Institute's Center for Native American Youth, advocates for stronger mental health services and school structures to improve the lives of native youth. Watch her series of videos on the impact of the pandemic on these communities-and their incredible resilience.

Caring for Little Ones Can Be a Giant Expense

For families with two or more children, caregiving costs can exceed rent. Americans lose at least $32 billion each year due to lack of child care and paid leave. A report from the Financial Security Program looks at the true cost of caregiving and its impact on families and communities across the country.?

Child Care is Essential-Here are Six Reasons Why It Should be Free

Though it's a challenge in the best of times, the pandemic has made it clear that increasing support for child care is an urgent priority. Despite the well-documented benefits, the country has made a relatively meager investment in affordable, accessible, quality care. Experts at the Economic Opportunities Program lay out reasons why it is the time to change that: it would transform the lives of millions of parents, boost our economy, and set up a new generation for success.

Higher Education Deserves More than a Return to "Normal"

Will colleges and universities go back to normal when the crisis clears? College Excellence Program's Executive Director Josh Wyner thinks not-and he doesn't think they should. Instead, he encourages schools to use this moment to do three important things that will improve student learning.

Can We Fix the Economy by Cancelling Student Loan Debt?

More than 40 million Americans have outstanding student loan balances, and the current total debt is more than $1.5 trillion. While the economy has rebounded slightly and federal student loan payment deferrals have been extended to January 1, the conversation remains relevant as ever as policymakers plan how to support households recovering from the economic impacts of COVID-19. A Financial Security Program conversation explores the possibility that cancelling that debt might not just be good for borrowers-it could be good for us all.

How Can We Help Rural students?

Rural students face a variety of barriers, from limited broadband access to higher levels of poverty, and these disparities have only been amplified by COVID-19. The Community Strategies Group and RootEd Alliance President Noa Meyer checked in with experts and practitioners to learn what the immediate needs are, and to find ways to ensure rural communities emerge from the pandemic more prosperous, resilient, and ready for the future.

In Focus?is a new multimedia series from the Aspen Institute that brings clear, diverse perspectives to the challenges shaping our society during a historic period of change and uncertainty. This series?unites the Aspen Institute's leading policy experts with our networks that span grassroots organizers, CEOs, student activists, and national lawmakers. Together, we're showcasing new ideas, untold stories, and bringing the issues behind the headlines into focus.

The Aspen Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the greatest challenges of our time.

?Your support makes this work possible.

Join the Society of Fellows to be part of a national community that deeply engages with the ideas and issues that drive the work of the Aspen Institute. Add your voice to the conversation today.?

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In Focus: Equity in Education

Welcome to a New Series From the Aspen Institute

A new school year can be a daunting experience for students, families, and educators even in the best of times. But no one was prepared for what 2020-2021 would bring. Welcome to the first installment of?In Focus, a multimedia project from the Aspen Institute that explores society's greatest challenges. This month, we will examine the structural inequities in our education system, how the COVID-19 pandemic and national reckoning on race have exacerbated those inequities-and how, together, we can build better learning communities for all.

Reopening

Watch Now: How Elected Leaders Can Support Schools

In the wake of the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin, the Institute's Education & Society and Ascend programs hosted a digital event on how issues of racial justice play out in our school systems. Watch Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers; Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller; and Learning Program Content Consultant at Cell-Ed and Ascend PSP Parent Advisor Waukecha Wilkerson discuss how to create lasting social change both in and outside of the classroom as the new school year begins.?

Advancing Public Education Post-Crisis

The pandemic is shining a light on the inequities children face in schools. Returning to the status quo would leave many students and communities without the resources and support they need. The nation's response to the pandemic must restore the promise of public education as an engine of opportunity. In this paper, the Institute's Education & Society program proposes five principles to guide recovery and renewal.

Return to Youth Sports

As some youth sports look to resume play this fall, the Institute's Sports & Society program developed resources that help leaders, coaches, and parents adjust to the impacts of COVID-19. The Return to Play risk assessment tool, created with the support of medical experts, helps decision-makers assess the potential repercussions of restarting sport and recreational activities.

Equity

Criminalization of Black Girls

For far too many children, schools have become on-ramps to the criminal justice system rather than paths for opportunity. Black girls, in particular, are subject to policies and punishment that police them at school. The debut episode of the Institute's new podcast, Shades of Freedom, from the Criminal Justice Reform Initiative, asks: how did we get here?

The Millions of Young People Forgotten Amid the Pandemic

Nearly 5 million young adults aged 16 to 24 aren't in school or employed. Melody Barnes, chair of the Institute's Forum for Community Solutions and John Bridgeland, founder and CEO of Civic, call for solutions to reconnect these young adults, who are disproportionately from communities of color, to school and work.

The Digital Divide''s Impact on Students

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the widening digital divide. Roughly one-in-five American adults lack access to home broadband service or laptops, putting families who live in poverty and communities of color at the greatest disadvantage. As more learning moves online, Aspen Digital addresses the growing "homework gap" in this event.

In Focus?is a new multimedia series from the Aspen Institute that brings clear, diverse perspectives to the challenges shaping our society during a historic period of change and uncertainty. This series?unites the Aspen Institute's leading policy experts with our networks that span grassroots organizers, CEOs, student activists, and national lawmakers. Together, we're showcasing new ideas, untold stories, and bringing the issues behind the headlines into focus.

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?FIVE BEST IDEAS OF THE DAY

The Aspen Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the greatest challenges of our time. Your support makes this work possible.

The Society of Fellows sustains and supports the Aspen Institute''s work. Members enjoy unparalleled access to Institute programs and events, including unique experiences with nationally-recognized speakers and thought leaders.

If, for any reason, you would rather not be included in our database, please email data.privacy@aspeninstitute.org requesting your removal. Please be aware that some information may be retained for legal purposes and that your removal may limit or cancel any services rendered by the Aspen Institute to you. Personal data contained in our database is processed under the lawful basis of legitimate interest and is typically included in our database either because you previously subscribed to a newsletter to receive information about our activities/events or attended a recent event. As always, if you would like to unsubscribe to future emails such as this, please unsubscribe below.

Also: What lessons from Ebola can aid in fighting coronavirus?

Timely conversations that elevate formidable leaders, inspiring thinkers, and remarkable stories.

WEEKLY READS

?FROM INSTITUTE LEADERS

College Leaders: Don''t Waste This Crisis, for Students'' Sake

Inside Higher Ed, May 20, 2020

By Josh Wyner, Vice President, Executive Director, College Excellence Program

CELEBRATING GREAT WORK

Coastal overfishing threatens our oceans and the people who depend on them. Fish Forever, led by Catto Fellow Brett Jenks, empowers coastal communities in the developing world to take control of local fishing rights and create communal institutions. More than 500 local governments in eight countries on four continents now participate in the program. Read more about Fish Forever and other inspiring community development projects.

The active wildfires in the West are visible evidence of climate change. Hazy orange skies and suffocating smoke show us that this is no longer a slow-moving disaster. It is transforming the landscape and making parts of the world unlivable for species, including our own. We examine a few ways that we can help solve-or at least mitigate-the climate crisis.?There is information, hope, and much more in today's email.

A Path Forward, Through Public Lands

Across the country, parks, forests, and areas protected by the Wilderness Act are natural allies in the effort to address climate change. They provide a critical habitat for imperiled wildlife, create space for communities to flourish nearby, and-thanks to their scale and distribution-offer potential for absorbing carbon emissions. But public lands aren't managed in a way that prioritizes the climate crisis. In a new report, the Institute's Energy & Environment program and The Wilderness Society reimagine a system for public lands that compels policymakers to take urgent and innovative action.

Climate Justice Is Racial Justice

As the only Black woman in her environmental studies major in college, Leah Thomas wasn't going to be quiet about the climate injustices disproportionately affecting the planet's most vulnerable communities. She spoke with Aspen Challenge alumna Yalem Enqubahry and Aspen Young Leaders Fellow AbdulBasit Ajeigbe about her work to dismantle systemic environmental oppression.

Schools Can Be a Force for Climate Action

From buses to buildings, schools are among the largest consumers of energy in the public sector. Despite their impact on climate change, K-12 education has largely been left out of the climate conversation. Leaders of the Energy & Environment program say that the more 50 million children in public schools represent both a need and an opportunity to address this multi-generational crisis.

Remembering RBG

The Aspen Institute remembers Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as a towering icon and a fierce champion of justice and of civil and human rights. Her 27-year tenure on the Supreme Court shaped American history and made the world a better and more equitable place. A frequent guest at Institute events, she was a heartfelt friend and inspiration to many of us. She will be profoundly missed.

Building Better Benefits

Our benefits system is broken. Benefits21?launched this week to create a modernized system that ensures security for all workers. The work is a project of the?Global Inclusive Growth Partnership, a collaboration between the Institute and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth.

How Tech Can Drive Justice

Can artificial intelligence help create a more equitable world? The NextGen Network, led by the Institute's International Partners and Microsoft, brings together young leaders globally to develop an understanding of how emerging technologies will affect our lives.

This Is Your Brain on Art

Art has a measurable effect on your brain and, in turn, your body. Opera soprano Ren?e Fleming discussed this connection with the Institute's experts at the Health, Medicine and Society Program, as part of a partnership with the Johns Hopkins International Arts+Mind Lab Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics.

Upcoming Events

Supporting Grassroots Power: A Call to Action ??

Forum for Community Solutions

Tuesday, September 29, 2020, 12:00 pm ET

The Future of HBCUs in the COVID-19 Era ??

Aspen Partnership for an Inclusive Economy, College Excellence Program, Weave: The Social Fabric Project

Tuesday, September 29, 2020 & Thursday, October 1, 2020, 11:00 am ET

Book Talk with Roger Martin: When More Is Not Better ??

Business and Society

?Tuesday, September 29, 2020, 2:00 pm ET

Mapping On and Offline Risks ??

Aspen Tech Policy Hub

Wednesday, September 30, 2020, 9:00 am ET

Community and Solidarity on the Frontlines: A Case Study of Seattle, WA ??

Inclusive America Project

Wednesday, September 30, 2020, 2:00 pm ET

More Than Ready: A Conversation with Author Cecilia Mu?oz ??

Forum on Women and Girls, Women of Color Affinity Group

Wednesday, September 30, 2020, 3:00 pm ET

The Aspen Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the greatest challenges of our time.

?Your support makes this work possible.

Join the Society of Fellows to be part of a national community that deeply engages with the ideas and issues that drive the work of the Aspen Institute. Add your voice to the conversation today.?

ASPENINSTITUTE.ORG??.???SIGN UP FOR FUTURE NEWSLETTERS

?FIVE BEST IDEAS OF THE DAY

If, for any reason, you would rather not be included in our database, please email data.privacy@aspeninstitute.org requesting your removal. Please be aware that some information may be retained for legal purposes and that your removal may limit or cancel any services rendered by the Aspen Institute to you. Personal data contained in our database is processed under the lawful basis of legitimate interest and is typically included in our database either because you previously subscribed to a newsletter to receive information about our activities/events or attended a recent event. As always, if you would like to unsubscribe to future emails such as this, please unsubscribe below.

A timely message for our readers

To Our Readers,

As people across the country and beyond grapple with vivid realities of police brutality, set amidst an invisible and deadly pandemic, we have given deep thought?to the role we play at the Aspen Institute in contributing to the national discourse.?Our goal with this missive, always, is to present ideas - the kind that move minds to consider issues deeply and catalyze action.??

This week that means conversing less and listening more. We're sharing important ideas from our archives, but they are hardly out of date; indeed, listening to these conversations from the past is a harsh reminder of how far we have to go in the future.

Importantly, we welcome you to tell us about your fears, stories, hopes, and ideas. We want your thoughts to help frame the most urgent questions shaping the work ahead. Share your ideas here.

In next week's Aspen Ideas Now, we will include diverse perspectives on what progress could look like and what it will take to get there -?from the standpoint of policing, education, faith, bridging divides and more.

Finally, in the spirit of ideas to action, we offer ways to get engaged. Find more in Resources to Combat Structural Racism in America.

We are humbled by these times, and yet remain energized by possibilities ahead,

Kitty Boone

Vice President, Public Programs

POWERFUL THOUGHTS FROM OUR SPEAKERS

WEEKLY READS

?FROM INSTITUTE LEADERS

We Must Keep Their Names Alive

The Aspen Institute, June 2, 2020

By Douglas Wood, Director, Criminal Justice Reform Initiative

Young people can lead but they need us to invest in them

The Aspen Times, June 3, 2020

By Stephen Patrick, Executive Director, Forum for Community Solutions

America''s neck is broken. We can survive, but we have to act.

The Washington Post, June 3, 2020

By Eric Liu, Executive Director, Citizenship and American Identity Program

11 Terms You Should Know Better to Understand Structural Racism

The Aspen Institute, July 11, 2016

By Institute Staff, inspired by the Aspen Institute Roundtable on Community Change

In this edition of In Focus: The Gears of Democracy, we explore civic engagement, new technologies, and the role of the media in elections. Voices from across the Aspen Institute share better ways to argue, be informed, and serve the country. Plus - FDA Commissioners give insights into the COVID-19 vaccine development process with Aspen Ideas: Health.?

The American Argument

An increasing number of Americans say it is stressful or frustrating to talk about politics with people who disagree with them. Should we stop talking about politics at all? No, says the Better Arguments Project. We don't need fewer arguments, we need arguments that seek to learn and expand knowledge rather than to 'win' or convince others.

Will You Show Up?

Last week's Aspen Ideas: Show Up brought together athletes, youth, musicians, tribal leaders, and many more, all addressing the power of active citizenship and its role in this unique election year. Its features included a short, animated video on ways to get engaged, despite the pandemic, rap artist YelloPain on his hit song "My Vote Don't Count," and Olympic gold medal-winning goalkeeper Hope Solo discussing pay equity in women's sports.

10 Ways the Media Can Get Election Night Right

There's a growing realization that the complexity of this year's electoral landscape may mean that some of the biggest election drama could play out in the hours and days after November 3. In the Columbia Journalism Review, Aspen Digital's Garrett Graff and Vivian Schiller shared principles media organizations should keep in mind as they plan their election night coverage.

The Revolution Will Be Read

A well-informed electorate is key to a healthy, thriving democracy. But information doesn't just have to come from dusty history books. Novels and memoirs also can illuminate the ways that our systems work-and don't work-for everyday Americans. Check out a new list of recommended reading from Aspen Words.

How to Serve Your Country

As the US faces an unprecedented set of crises-pandemic, recession, racial injustice-Americans must answer these challenges with bold measures. The Aspen Strategy Group believes a new national service mission should be part of that response. National service would offer life-shaping experiences for young Americans of all backgrounds that would unite us, expand economic opportunity, and help our country recover.

Have Faith in Democracy

Faith leaders hold a unique role as the sole source of trusted information in some communities. They have the social capital and relationships to ensure that "Get Out the Vote" campaigns are successful, that election results are seen as valid by their community, and that every individual who wishes to vote knows how to do so. In this piece, the Inclusive America Project shared faith-based tools and resources to ensure a fair and safe election.

If You Can Text, You Can Vote

Imagine a future where voting could be as easy as sending a text. Central America Leadership Initiative fellow Jorge Garcia is making that a reality. The Aspen Global Leadership Network speaks with this tech innovator and entrepreneur who is working on a new venture called Ballotted, a simple, secure, fully auditable, and legally defensible e-voting platform that people can trust.

Election Inflection Points in US History

In this Society of Fellows event, Eric Foner, DeWitt Clinton Professor Emeritus of History at Columbia University, and Meg Jacobs, senior research scholar at Princeton University, spoke with The New Yorker's Jelani Cobb about contentious elections and other significant moments of political conflict in US history.?See highlights from this session here, or?learn more about becoming a member of the Society of Fellows?to watch this event in full and attend more like it in the future.?

Inside the Vaccine Approval Process

As the deaths from COVID-19 continue to mount, it is ever more pressing to have safe and effective vaccines. Obama Administration FDA Commissioner Dr. Peggy Hamburg and current FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn joined Aspen Ideas: Health to discuss the process of vaccine development, authorization, or approval.

Upcoming Events

Unfinished Live

Premiered October 27 & continues November 10

This fall, we partnered with Unfinished, a new impact network devoted to advancing powerful solutions to the most critical challenges of our time. Join us for Unfinished Live, a series of interactive shows with interviews, art, videos, stories, and performances as we imagine, amid chaos and uncertainty, what's possible now? Register.

Global Inclusive Recovery and Rebuilding Series,?part of the Aspen Institute and Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth's?Global Inclusive Growth Partnership.?Watch today's session on equitable distribution of vaccines?and?register for the?third event in the series?on November 19 at 10 am ET. It will explore inclusive investing and the question of whether fiduciaries are acting on behalf of beneficiaries in their decision-making.

Domestic and International (Dis)Order: A Strategic Response

October 29, 10 - 11:30 am ET

Join the Aspen Strategy Group for the release of the latest volume in their book series addressing the most pressing foreign policy challenges facing the United States.

Conversations on Food Justice

October 29, 2 - 3 pm ET

The kick off event in a new, year-round series, Conversations on Food Justice, with the Food & Society Program and Share Our Strength, focuses on the radical origins of the free school breakfast initiative.

Aspen Words Book Ball

October 29, 8 - 8:45 pm ET

The fundraiser features international best-selling author and podcast host Cheryl Strayed, plus brief remarks by writers Jericho Brown, Tayari Jones, Christy Lefteri, and Luis Alberto Urrea.?Buy your tickets here.

In Focus is a new multimedia series from the Aspen Institute that brings clear, diverse perspectives to the challenges shaping our society during a historic period of change and uncertainty. This series unites the Aspen Institute's leading policy experts with our networks that span grassroots organizers, CEOs, student activists, and national lawmakers. Together, we're showcasing new ideas, untold stories, and bringing the issues behind the headlines into focus.?

The Aspen Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the greatest challenges of our time.

?Your support makes this work possible.

Join the Society of Fellows to be part of a national community that deeply engages with the ideas and issues that drive the work of the Aspen Institute. Add your voice to the conversation today.?

ASPENINSTITUTE.ORG??.???SIGN UP FOR FUTURE NEWSLETTERS

?FIVE BEST IDEAS OF THE DAY

If, for any reason, you would rather not be included in our database, please email data.privacy@aspeninstitute.org requesting your removal. Please be aware that some information may be retained for legal purposes and that your removal may limit or cancel any services rendered by the Aspen Institute to you. Personal data contained in our database is processed under the lawful basis of legitimate interest and is typically included in our database either because you previously subscribed to a newsletter to receive information about our activities/events or attended a recent event. As always, if you would like to unsubscribe to future emails such as this, please unsubscribe below.

An audit by the Aspen Institute Criminal Justice Reform Initiative seeks to present a clear and complete picture of realities that are too often horrific and nameless.

From Our Archives: John Lewis in His Own Words

How must America move forward on still-unresolved issues of human and civil rights? Congressman John Lewis visited the Aspen Institute stage several times. During a 2014?Aspen Ideas Festival conversation,?Lewis reflected on Jim Crow era protests, organizing, and activism. He acknowledged that bringing about change isn't always on the straight and narrow path. "You have to have the ability to speak up, speak out, and get in the way," he said, "get in trouble, good trouble-necessary trouble."

The US Government Is Still Spying on Activists

Criminal Justice Reform Initiative?

?

John Lewis, Rev. C.T. Vivian, and other civil rights leaders were unlawfully surveilled by the US government during the civil rights movement. The measures were justified by the FBI for a country "engaged in a form of social revolution." Protesters remain monitored 60 years later. Without oversight, newer forms of surveillance like facial recognition technologies will be systematically weaponized against Black and brown lives.

The Fight for Women's Equality, Continued

Aspen Community Programs

?

?It's been a century since American women won the right to vote. In recognition of the anniversary of the 19^th?Amendment, the?McCloskey Speaker Series?invited three powerful leaders to speak. Cecile Richards, Ai-jen Poo, and Katherine Grainger discussed the strides women have made toward gender equality and the hurdles that still remain.

Ten Truths about Race and Racism in America

Citizenship and American Identity Program

?

If you want to understand what's happening in America right now, start by acknowledging that racial oppression and white supremacy have been a part of the nation since it was founded. The Aspen Institute's Citizenship and American Identity program, in collaboration with the Center for Native American Youth and the Latinos and Society Program, created a list of movements and moments from the country's history to help every American contextualize systemic racism-and help repair the damage it causes.

People-Centered Tech Can Fix the Safety Net

Global Inclusive Growth Partnership

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?The pandemic put millions of Americans into immediate and ongoing economic peril. The safety net-that suite of government assistance programs that should have been there to help-was exposed as inadequate to deal with a crisis of this magnitude. As the nation rebuilds, organizations which help people access benefits through smart design technology can show us how to be prepared for the next economic shock. The Institute's?Financial Security Program and the Beeck Center are working together to map a way forward.

Podcast

?Aspen Ministers Forum- Madeleine Albright in Conversation with Jan Eliasson

Aspen Insight

?

Former US Secretary of State and?Aspen Ministers Forum?founding member Madeleine Albright sat down with Jan Eliasson,?Swedish diplomat and former deputy secretary-general of the United Nations. The pair discussed the new thinking required to tackle present-day issues like a pandemic, climate change, and war.

In the News

In?Newsweek, the Economic Opportunities Program's?Maureen Conway?and?Mark G. Popovich?explain why a "Buy America" approach alone isn't enough to restack the deck in favor of American workers.

Upcoming Events

Aspen Security Forum 2020

Aspen Strategy Group

Tuesday August 4-6, 8:30 - 7:30 ET

Join the Aspen Strategy Group as they explore the most pressing foreign policy and national security issues of the day facing the United States and its allies. Leading journalists from NBC News and MSNBC will drive discussions with speakers like US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms,?and former National Security Advisor John Bolton. Register

The Tyranny of Merit: What's Become of the Common Good?

McCloskey Speaker Series?

Tuesday August 4, 3:00 - 4:00 pm MT

Michael Sandel,?professor of political philosophy at Harvard University has been described as "the most popular professor in the world." In this talk about his forthcoming book, Sandel examines how we define success and how our meritocracy is hurting the common good. Register

Emerging from the Covid-19 Crisis as a More Resilient Society

Hurst Lecture Series

Wednesday, August 5, 3:00 - 4:00 pm MT

Hear and learn from experts in the realm of access to parks, open space and public lands as they come together to share recent efforts to increase access, that also move us closer to achieving equitable access to the outdoors. Register

Citizen Leadership Awards Program

?Tuesday, August 11, 8:00 - 9:00 pm ET

Each summer, we come together to recognize leaders who have made important contributions to their own fields and society while also raising critical support for the Institute and its programs.?This year, we are proud to present the?Citizen Leadership Award?to?four individuals who have demonstrated true civic leadership during these uncertain times:?Chef Jos? Andr?s, founder of World Central Kitchen;?Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft;?Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the Center for Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and?Mellody Hobson, President and co-CEO of Ariel Investments. Register

Newsletter Opportunities

Aspen Ideas Now

Each week we curate timely conversations from across the Aspen Institute. Our most recent conversation centered around a new brand of conservatism that is challenging the Republican party's orthodoxy. We seek to elevate formidable leaders, inspiring thinkers, and remarkable stories. Subscribe here to receive emails from Aspen Ideas Now.

Codebook

Aspen Digital, in partnership with Axios, has re-launched the weekly Codebook newsletter. Zach Dorfman, a senior staff writer at the Institute, reports on the latest at the intersection of cybersecurity, national security, and technology.?Follow along every Wednesday by subscribing?here.

ASPENINSTITUTE.ORG??.???SIGN UP FOR FUTURE NEWSLETTERS

?FIVE BEST IDEAS OF THE DAY

The Aspen Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the greatest challenges of our time. Your support makes this work possible.

If, for any reason, you would rather not be included in our database, please email data.privacy@aspeninstitute.org requesting your removal. Please be aware that some information may be retained for legal purposes and that your removal may limit or cancel any services rendered by the Aspen Institute to you. Personal data contained in our database is processed under the lawful basis of legitimate interest and is typically included in our database either because you previously subscribed to a newsletter to receive information about our activities/events or attended a recent event. As always, if you would like to unsubscribe to future emails such as this, please unsubscribe below.

Also: How do we rewrite the rules that contribute to systemic racism?

Timely conversations that elevate formidable leaders, inspiring thinkers, and remarkable stories.

WEEKLY READS

?FROM INSTITUTE LEADERS

Black Business Must Be Part Of The Solution

Forbes, June 9, 2020

By Rhett Buttle, Founder, Public Private Strategies, Financial Security Program

Resources to Combat Structural Racism in America

The Aspen Institute, June 11, 2020

By Azalea Milan & Christen Comer, Public Programs

Time for Smart Leaders to Come Forward on Relations with China

The Hill, June 3, 2020

By Dan Glickman, Vice President and Executive Director Congressional Program

In Focus: Election 2020 and the Future of Civic Engagement

For all the work that goes into a functioning democracy, none is more important than free and fair elections-with, ultimately, the peaceful transfer of power. But beyond voting, this system depends on a web of individuals and institutions that value the integrity of the process as much as the actual result. In this installment of In Focus, we explore the gears of democracy during an American election year unlike any other, featuring the work of a variety of programs including the upcoming event Aspen Ideas: Show Up.

American Democracy Needs a Tune-Up

Democracy is a complicated mechanism that's not working to specifications lately. Some problems are new, some are old, and some are simply the result of poor design. In this post, the Aspen Institute's programs share what they're contributing to diagnosing these problems - and fixing them.?

Delayed Decisions and the Potential of a Contested Election

With record levels of mail-in voting, counting the ballots may go on for weeks beyond the election-night call we're all used to. This could lead to speculation about ballot rigging and the integrity of the count, even in the absence of evidence. In a panel discussion, legal, civic, and media experts explain how to prepare for what might be an unprecedented constitutional crisis.

Election Security and Public Confidence

Authoritarians around the world are trying to undermine and weaken democracy, and as a result, people are losing trust in institutions and information. The Aspen Strategy Group looks at these continued attacks and offers a blueprint for how to protect the digital landscape this election season.?

Giving Voice to Young People

Engaging youth in government decision-making processes is much harder than just setting up youth council meetings. Columbia University freshman Jenna Yuan and the Education and Society program offer three ways that state and local governments can get young people engaged in the policymaking process.?

A Healthy Press in Rural America

Journalism is an essential driver of democracy, ensuring public awareness in a busy world. But local outlets are shuttering, widening the gap between rural realities and the public perception of these communities. Accurate rural and Native American voices also are missing from these conversations. In this report, the Community Strategies Group maps a way forward for rural journalism.

The Right Way to Cover Hacks and Leaks Before the Election

In our fast-moving media environment, "hack-and-leaks" are one of the most difficult stories to cover responsibly. Entering the final weeks of the 2020 presidential campaign, Aspen Digital's Garrett Graff writes in Wired about what makes these incidents so pernicious-and how we might respond to them.

Upcoming Events

Aspen Ideas: Show Up

?October 20-21 at 7:00 pm ET

Join Aspen Ideas: Show Up to learn about the most effective ways to be part of the democratic process in November - and beyond.

Project Play 2020

Through October 16, 11:00 am ET

Bestselling author Michael Lewis and others discuss how we can build healthy communities through youth sports.?

President Trump's National Security Agenda

October 16, 9:00-10:00 am ET

?United States National Security Advisor Ambassador Robert O'Brien and former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley discuss domestic election security and counterterrorism, the economic and health crisis caused by COVID-19, and more.

Global Inclusive Recovery and Rebuilding Series

Starts October 19

The first event in the series explores the challenges that entrepreneurs of color face in accessing credit, and what can be done to address them. Register to watch and to receive ongoing series updates.?

Informing COVID Response and Communication Through Tech

October 21, 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET

The COVID-19 crisis has turned many of our traditional communication and information systems upside-down. Aspen Tech Policy Hub grantees propose how to build resilient tools for accessing resources and information in the midst of a pandemic.

From R&D to the FDA: The COVID-19 Vaccine Process

October 23, 3:00 - 3:45 pm ET

Aspen Ideas: Health explores the process of vaccine development, authorization or approval, and deployment with Obama administration FDA Commissioner Dr. Peggy Hamburg and current FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn Moderated by Fortune editor Clifton Leaf.

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Also: How can parents help kids cope with quarantine?

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CELEBRATING GREAT WORK

A Cleveland organization is tackling the problem of recidivism and feeding its community at the same time. Aspen Global Leadership Network Fellow Matthew Fieldman and the team at EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute are working to improve the futures of formerly incarcerated people. During the Covid crisis, EDWINS has pivoted its dining and food service model to meet the needs of its community. Read more.

We don't have to tell you that 2020 was not a normal year. The spring brought a global pandemic and new vocabulary like 'social distancing.' We protested racial injustice, mourned lives lost, and experienced an election year like no other. Now as we look ahead to the new year, we are shining a light on problems and offering solutions that make us hopeful for the future.

How-to Guides for the Rest of the Pandemic

The good news is that we can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Vaccines are approved and being received by the first wave of Americans, including frontline workers and elected officials. But what will it take for the rest of us to have access? And what could daily life look like thereafter? The Institute is addressing these big questions, from a Global Inclusive Growth Partnership discussion about equitable and effective vaccine distribution to an Aspen Ideas Now event about the future of remote work.

The Next Big Crises

The new year holds an opportunity to amend many of the biggest challenges that were exposed or exacerbated in 2020. The new stimulus deal provides $25 billion in rental relief and extends an eviction moratorium, but the Financial Security Program asks: can it protect the 30-40 million Americans at risk of eviction? The Food and Society Program highlighted the ongoing legacy of systemic racism that led to a hunger crisis - and how to fix it. To address climate change, the Energy and Environment Program argues that we need a cross-sector agenda that includes K-12 education.

Hopeful News in the Face of Despair

Hope is on the horizon, but humanity will be dealing with the overlapping traumas of the pandemic for decades. Still, good things are happening and will continue to happen. Take, for example, the Business Ownership Initiative, which helped expand access to capital for US small businesses owned by people of color. The Institute's Ascend program announced that states are enacting child care policies that promote financial and family health. And Fred Riley at Weave: The Social Fabric Project reminded us that even in earlier times of tumult we have always found strength in one another.

Rethinking the Future

Facing our current situation with honesty may be the first step in creating a better tomorrow, but we also need to reconsider how we think about the future. For example, though the pandemic gutted youth sports, the Sports and Society program outlined a model that could make local, affordable, quality sports options available to all kids. Aspen Words and Aspen Digital tackled the lack of diversity in the publishing industry. And the Business and Society Program suggested that the way to unlock a new version of American capitalism is by fixing CEO pay.

Life and Legacy Celebrations

As we close out the year, we are looking back on and celebrating the lives of those we lost. Join us in remembering the "good trouble" started by civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis; the barrier-breaking work of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; the integrity and patriotism of?Lt. General Brent Scowcroft; the flexibility and vision of NBA Commissioner David Stern; the generosity of philanthropist and former Institute trustee Michelle Smith; and the legacy of flawed but beloved citizen-athlete Kobe Bryant.?

Join Us

If there is anything this moment in history proves, it is that the way forward is together. The Aspen Institute brings together people from all backgrounds, providing structure for difficult conversations and practical solutions to our greatest challenges.

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If, for any reason, you would rather not be included in our database, please email data.privacy@aspeninstitute.org requesting your removal. Please be aware that some information may be retained for legal purposes and that your removal may limit or cancel any services rendered by the Aspen Institute to you. Personal data contained in our database is processed under the lawful basis of legitimate interest and is typically included in our database either because you previously subscribed to a newsletter to receive information about our activities/events or attended a recent event. As always, if you would like to unsubscribe to future emails such as this, please unsubscribe below.