Ascend at the Aspen Institute

01/07/2025

Leaders who work for and with families will know that America’s new political climate will lead to a very different reality for families and the organizations that support their economic well-being.

Join Ascend at the Aspen Institute on January 16th, 2025, from 4:00 – 5:00p.m. ET to hear from Aspen Institute Vice President Anne Mosle and our partners at Future Caucus about how we can lead with conviction to keep society moving forward when our political landscape is in flux.

Building on our November conversation about public support and opinion on family well-being, “Courageous Leadership For and With Families: Policy, Systems & Structural Change in a New Era” will offer practical solutions for enhanced leadership.
https://aspeninstitute.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IjzU1RRNTYmVUboiIZKtlg #/registration

11/19/2024

The election results will forge new government priorities at every level, but what do the voting trends driving these changes tell us about the future of a two-generation approach to family prosperity? The answer to this question will empower us to find common ground and shape a pragmatic way forward in policy, practice, and in future-proofing .

We partnered with bipartisan pollsters to survey voter attitudes about support for a 2Gen approach to family prosperity and expectations for new leaders to improve outcomes for parents and children.

Join us on Thursday, November 21st from 4:00 – 5:00pm ET (1:00 - 2:00pm PT), to learn more about these important findings and where the 2Gen approach offers new leaders with opportunities to find common ground for families. Register now: https://aspeninstitute.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SUBVQnpQRbetuhLthFAQ-A #/registration

09/26/2024

We're looking forward to welcoming over 200 leaders to Aspen ThinkXChange: The National Forum on Approaches! We're gathering this October 15-18 on the Aspen Meadows Resort to dive into policies and practices that advance intergenerational family well-being.

Over the course of 4 days we’ll explore breakthroughs and best practices that create better outcomes for children and the adults in their lives together. Stay tuned next month as we'll share session recordings and takeaways from this convening!

09/25/2024

Earlier this year, we surveyed current Partner organizations to gain insights about their Network participation and the influence a approach has had on outcomes for children and families. Check out our new blog with 5 rich insights and 3 actionable strategies:

We surveyed current Ascend Network Partner organizations to gain insights about the impact of their Network participation and the influence that taking a 2Gen approach has had on outcomes for children and families.

09/12/2024

Our latest publication offers concrete examples of how we and others in the field center parent voice in work. “Ascending with Parents: A Guide to Centering Parent Voice in Policy and Practice” outlines the principles you can use to develop true partnerships with parents. Learn more about several topics including: surveys, focus groups, convenings, Parent Advisor groups, compensation, and ethical storytelling.

Parent participation is essential - not an afterthought. We hope that organizations, practitioners, policymakers, and researchers will engage with this guide and benefit from the lessons we have learned since our inception.

On the heels of U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s warning about parental mental health and well-being, Ascend at the Aspen Institute has released the groundbreaking publication, Ascending with Parents: A Guide to Centering Parent Voice in Policy and Practice. This new guide aims to equip organiz...

09/04/2024

The 2024 Class of Aspen Institute Ascend Fellows brings together 22 leaders working across systems and sectors around the country to advance intergenerational prosperity and well-being for our youngest children and families.

Learn more about the 2024 Class here: https://ascend.aspeninstitute.org/asp...

08/08/2024

Vimenti is an integrated service center and school in Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 that provides a variety of family services using a two-generation approach. A new research study with Urban Institute shows that Vimenti families performed better than comparison families across education 📒, economic 💸, and social outcomes 💟. Vimenti families were also more satisfied with their school and community services than those in a comparison group. See the full study and an executive summary in Spanish and English. ⬇

In this study, we assess the effectiveness of Vimenti, an integrated service center and school for families in Puerto Rico that provides a variety of family services using a two-generation approach.

07/23/2024

We're proud to partner with Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. to launch Futuro Juntos (Future Together)! This new Learning Community will equip participating organizations with the knowledge and resources to increase families’ economic mobility in South Texas.

13 organizations have been selected to receive a structured learning agenda and participate in small-group coaching sessions to deepen their understanding of the 2Gen approach, build connections to support community-public-private partnerships, and ultimately strengthen opportunities for families in South Texas and beyond. Learn more about these incredible organizations: https://ascend.aspeninstitute.org/13-nonprofits-join-partnership-to-advance-family-well-being-in-south-texas/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_id=Futuro+Junto

07/01/2024

We’re excited to partner with Annie E. Casey Foundation on the release of its 2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book! This yearly report tracks the latest data on child well-being around the country. Download the full report to learn how we can join together to build a brighter future for our nation’s kids:
https://bit.ly/2024KCDB-PartnerTwitter

06/19/2024

Juneteenth is a day of reflection for all Americans. Also known as Emancipation Day, it recognizes an important moment in US history — when nearly a quarter of a million men, women, and children were freed — ending slavery nearly two years after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect.

Take a moment to listen to reflections and insights from Dr. Wendy Ellis, a 2018 .

06/11/2024

Join us and the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities - LEO - at Notre Dame on Thursday, 6/13 at 2pm ET!

LEO matches top researchers with leaders in the social service sector to conduct impact evaluations that help people move permanently out of poverty. LEO is looking for organizations to join their next cohort of partners to support their Strengthening Families Research Initiative. If you’re looking to conduct or refine your evaluations of your approaches, you should join to hear an overview of the work they do and discuss the practicalities of integrating rigorous research into everyday service provision.

RSVP: https://aspeninstitute.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1gzqi9BsSxmMixnEpVlNOA #/registration

05/16/2024

Check out our newest case study 📑, A 2Gen Approach in Wisconsin: A State Case Study for Systems Leaders & Policymakers: https://ascend.aspeninstitute.org/resources/a-2gen-approach-in-wisconsin-a-state-case-study-for-systems-leaders-policymakers/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Launch&utm_id=Wisconsin+Case+Study&utm_content=carousel

Wisconsin has long embraced a two-generation approach and it builds upon decades-long, ground-up, hyperlocal programs developed in small towns, suburban communities, and rural neighborhoods.

We're inspired by the policymakers, systems leaders, and practitioners in the state redesigning policies and services to drive equity. We hope these real-world solutions generate new actions and ideas for other states and communities working toward family prosperity.