Opportunity in America - Events by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program

Markets and our economy don't just happen — they're crafted. While we often hear about the “free market” as a natural force governed by the invisible hand, the reality is far more intentional. In the US, markets are shaped by the decisions of policymakers, business leaders, and advocates. These decisions determine who benefits, who bears the risk, and what goals we prioritize. Understanding markets means understanding the people who design them and the values that guide those choices. It's not just economics — it's about power, accountability, and the kind of future and economy we want to build.In his new book, “Marketcrafters: The 100 Year Struggle to Shape the American Economy,” Chris Hughes, economist, writer, and chair of the Economic Security Project, takes us on a journey through the modern history of American capitalism, telling the captivating stories of the most effective marketcrafters and the ones who bungled the job. He reveals how policymakers across the political spectrum have consistently attempted to organize markets for social and political reasons, like avoiding gasoline shortages, reducing inflation, fostering certain industries, fighting climate change, and supporting financial innovation. Hughes argues that by rediscovering the triumphs and failures of past marketcrafters, we can shape future markets to be more innovative, stable, and inclusive. This virtual book talk — hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on June 5, 2025 — features Hughes in conversation with moderator Natalie Foster, senior fellow with EOP's Future of Work Initiative and president and cofounder of the Economic Security Project.For more information, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our event page.For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to EOP's YouTube channel.Or subscribe to our podcast to listen on the go.Join us on Zoom on Thursday, June 26, at 3 p.m. Eastern time, for our next event, “Advising Small Businesses on Job Quality: Lessons from CDFIs.”

In this clip, ASU's Dr. Christos Makridis speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/asus-dr-christos-makridis-speaks-at-the-2025-employee-ownership-ideas-forum/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

American workers have faced numerous setbacks in the 21st century, including the Great Recession, the COVID-19 pandemic, continued wage stagnation, and an escalated cost of living. While workers made some gains following the pandemic, thanks to a tight labor market and because of a spike in organizing, many still feel their needs are unmet, a major theme of the recent election. Too many workers still live in precarity — a situation that could be exacerbated by the rise of artificial intelligence and new technological developments. In the face of these challenges, a bipartisan consensus has formed around the need for a new form of economics that recognizes and meets the needs of working people and families. In this discussion from the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, panelists discuss the role of employee ownership in helping create a brighter future and better jobs for the American worker.For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/employee-ownership-and-the-future-of-the-american-worker/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

Lauren Starks, director of Good Companies/Good Jobs at the Aspen Institute, recently sat down with two Shared Success grantees — Andrea Levy, senior program manager at California Farmlink, and Janet Brugger, Business Navigator, Colorado Enterprise Fund — to discuss how they've worked with various public and private partners to recruit small businesses and provide technical assistance with an eye toward providing quality jobs.About Shared Success⁠Shared Success⁠, a project of the Economic Opportunities Program, works with community lenders to integrate job quality programming into their small business support services, demonstrating that improved job quality can support the needs of employees while helping small businesses succeed.About the Economic Opportunities ProgramThe Aspen Institute ⁠Economic Opportunities Program⁠ hosts a variety of discussions to advance strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy. To learn about upcoming events and webinars, ⁠join our mailing list⁠ and ⁠follow us on social media⁠.

Markets and our economy don't just happen — they're crafted. While we often hear about the “free market” as a natural force governed by the invisible hand, the reality is far more intentional. In the US, markets are shaped by the decisions of policymakers, business leaders, and advocates. These decisions determine who benefits, who bears the risk, and what goals we prioritize. Understanding markets means understanding the people who design them and the values that guide those choices. It's not just economics — it's about power, accountability, and the kind of future and economy we want to build.In his new book, “Marketcrafters: The 100 Year Struggle to Shape the American Economy,” Chris Hughes, economist, writer, and chair of the Economic Security Project, takes us on a journey through the modern history of American capitalism, telling the captivating stories of the most effective marketcrafters and the ones who bungled the job. He reveals how policymakers across the political spectrum have consistently attempted to organize markets for social and political reasons, like avoiding gasoline shortages, reducing inflation, fostering certain industries, fighting climate change, and supporting financial innovation. Hughes argues that by rediscovering the triumphs and failures of past marketcrafters, we can shape future markets to be more innovative, stable, and inclusive. This virtual book talk — hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on June 5, 2025 — features Hughes in conversation with moderator Natalie Foster, senior fellow with EOP's Future of Work Initiative and president and cofounder of the Economic Security Project.For more information, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our event page.For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to EOP's YouTube channel.Or subscribe to our podcast to listen on the go.Join us on Zoom on Thursday, June 26, at 3 p.m. Eastern time for our next virtual event, “Advising Small Businesses on Job Quality: Lessons from CDFIs.”

In this clip, UNI's Leslie Wilson speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/unis-leslie-wilson-shares-her-big-idea-for-employee-ownership/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

In this clip, Reason Magazine's Jesse Walker speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/reason-magazines-jesse-walker-shares-his-big-idea-for-employee-ownership/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

In this clip, Apis and Heritage's Phil Reeves speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/apis-and-heritages-phil-reeves-shares-his-big-idea-for-employee-ownership/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

In this clip, Tammy Miller, former lieutenant governor of North Dakota, speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/tammy-miller-former-lieutenant-governor-of-north-dakota-speaks-at-the-2025-employee-ownership-ideas-forum/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

Maureen Conway, executive director of the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program, recently sat down with two Shared Success grantees that are integrating job quality into their portfolios as investors: Viola Mai, development director at ICA Fund, and Robert Anderson, business navigation director at Colorado Enterprise Fund. As investors, ICA and Colorado Enterprise Fund have both incorporated job quality assessments as part of their lending and investment process. This conversation explores the various tools capital allocators possess to help and incentivize small businesses to create quality jobs for their employees. About Shared Success⁠Shared Success⁠, a project of the Economic Opportunities Program, works with community lenders to integrate job quality programming into their small business support services, demonstrating that improved job quality can support the needs of employees while helping small businesses succeed.About the Economic Opportunities ProgramThe Aspen Institute ⁠Economic Opportunities Program⁠ hosts a variety of discussions to advance strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy. To learn about upcoming events and webinars, ⁠join our mailing list⁠ and ⁠follow us on social media⁠.

In this clip, CUNY's Jessica Gordon-Nembhard speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/jessica-gordon-nembhard-discusses-her-big-idea-for-employee-ownership/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

In this session from the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, we hear five thought leaders discuss their new ideas and fresh takes on the role of employee ownership in our economy and society and what we can do to help it grow.For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/five-big-ideas-for-employee-ownership/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

In this clip, Rutgers University's Joseph Blasi provides opening remarks on day two of the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/rutgers-joseph-blasi-opens-day-two-of-the-2025-employee-ownership-ideas-forum/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

In this clip, Aspen Institute President and CEO Dan Porterfield speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/aspen-institute-president-dan-porterfield-speaks-at-the-2025-employee-ownership-ideas-forum/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

In this clip, the Aspen Institute's Maureen Conway provides opening remarks on day two of the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/aspen-institutes-maureen-conway-opens-day-two-of-the-2025-employee-ownership-ideas-forum/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

Job quality is vital not only for workers, but also for small businesses and communities. Yet too many jobs today miss the mark on one of the key characteristics of a good job: providing enough pay to live on. Only 56% of full-time workers in the United States make enough money to cover their families basic needs. This problem is particularly acute at small businesses. Nearly 60% of low-wage workers work at businesses with fewer than 100 employees, and 35% of low-wage workers work at micro-businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Small businesses also struggle to address other characteristics of a good job, like providing adequate benefits, stable scheduling, and a positive work culture.Recognizing this context, in 2022, the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program (EOP) launched the Shared Success project, funded by the Gates Foundation. The project supports 11 community development financial institutions (CDFIs) across the country to integrate job quality support into their small business services with the goal of improving job quality for small business employees and building business resilience. Three years later, EOP has seen how grantees have used innovative approaches to recruit, advise, and incentivize small businesses to improve job quality.This discussion is the second of two panels from our event, “How Good Jobs Support Small Business Success: Lessons from the Shared Success Demonstration,” which took place on May 21, 2025 at the Aspen Institute's office in Washington DC. Our speakers include Viola Mai (Director of Development and Impact, ICA Fund), Betsy Biemann (Chief Executive Officer, Coastal Enterprises, Inc.), Barbara Magnoni (President, EA Consultants), and moderator Maureen Conway (Vice President, The Aspen Institute; Executive Director, Economic Opportunities Program).During this event, we heard from leaders of CDFIs, their small business clients, philanthropic supporters, and other experts, and we discussed the lessons learned from Shared Success, ranging from practical tips about strategies for engaging small businesses in discussions of job quality to the range of job quality improvements CDFI clients helped their businesses make. We hope you enjoy this important discussion on small business support strategies that help businesses and workers both thrive, achieving Shared Success.For more information, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our event page. And add our first panel, “Driving Innovation in Small Business Lending: Examples of How Small Business and CDFIs are Working Together to Advance Job Quality,” to your podcast queue.For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to EOP's YouTube channel.Join us on Zoom on June 26 for our webinar on Advising Small Businesses on Job Quality: Lessons from CDFIs.

Doing job quality work requires CDFI business advisors to broaden the conversations they have with business owners to include topics related to human resources (HR), employee management, and business operations and strategy. Lauren Starks, Director of Good Companies/Good Jobs at the Economic Opportunities Program, recently sat down with three Shared Success grantees—Tabin Tangila Mesu Kamba, Program Developer, Workforce Solutions at Coastal Enterprises, Inc., Dionne McGee, Consultant at Institute Capital, and Israel Flores, Business Services Director at Northern Initiatives—to discuss how their CDFIs advise small businesses on how investing in employees can allow for increased productivity and innovation, as well as business stabilization or growth. About Shared Success⁠Shared Success⁠, a project of the Economic Opportunities Program, works with community lenders to integrate job quality programming into their small business support services, demonstrating that improved job quality can support the needs of employees while helping small businesses succeed.About the Economic Opportunities ProgramThe Aspen Institute ⁠Economic Opportunities Program⁠ hosts a variety of discussions to advance strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy. To learn about upcoming events and webinars, ⁠join our mailing list⁠ and ⁠follow us on social media⁠.

Job quality is vital not only for workers, but also for small businesses and communities. Yet too many jobs today miss the mark on one of the key characteristics of a good job: providing enough pay to live on. Only 56% of full-time workers in the United States make enough money to cover their families basic needs. This problem is particularly acute at small businesses. Nearly 60% of low-wage workers work at businesses with fewer than 100 employees, and 35% of low-wage workers work at micro-businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Small businesses also struggle to address other characteristics of a good job, like providing adequate benefits, stable scheduling, and a positive work culture.Recognizing this context, in 2022, the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program (EOP) launched the Shared Success project, funded by the Gates Foundation. The project supports 11 community development financial institutions (CDFIs) across the country to integrate job quality support into their small business services with the goal of improving job quality for small business employees and building business resilience. Three years later, EOP has seen how grantees have used innovative approaches to recruit, advise, and incentivize small businesses to improve job quality.This discussion is the first of two panels from our event, “How Good Jobs Support Small Business Success: Lessons from the Shared Success Demonstration,” which took place on May 21, 2025 at the Aspen Institute's office in Washington DC. Our speakers include Maureen Conway (Vice President, The Aspen Institute; Executive Director, Economic Opportunities Program), Israel Flores (Business Services Director, Northern Initiatives), Tristan Bredehoft (Co-Owner and Founder, Cafe Rica), Laura Owens (Chief of Staff,  VChief; Consultant, Four Bands Community Fund), Eunice Straight Head (Co-Director, Oyate Studio), and moderator Lauren Starks (Director, Good Companies/Good Jobs, Economic Opportunities Program, The Aspen Institute).During this event, we heard from leaders of CDFIs, their small business clients, philanthropic supporters, and other experts, and we discussed the lessons learned from Shared Success, ranging from practical tips about strategies for engaging small businesses in discussions of job quality to the range of job quality improvements CDFI clients helped their businesses make. We hope you enjoy this important discussion on small business support strategies that help businesses and workers both thrive, achieving Shared Success.For more information, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our event page. For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to EOP's YouTube channel.Join us on Zoom on June 26 for our webinar on Advising Small Businesses on Job Quality: Lessons from CDFIs.

In this clip, Prudential Financial's Sarah Keh speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/prudential-financials-sarah-keh-closes-day-one-of-the-2025-employee-ownership-ideas-forum/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

In this clip, the Democracy at Work Institute's Julian McKinley speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. For a transcript and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/the-democracy-at-work-institutes-julian-mckinley-speaks-at-the-2025-employee-ownership-ideas-forum/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

In this clip, Tammy Miller, former lieutenant governor of North Dakota, speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/tammy-miller-former-lieutenant-governor-of-north-dakota-speaks-at-the-2025-employee-ownership-ideas-forum/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

UpSkill America's new Upskilling Playbook is a strategic guide for organizations to build, scale, and integrate skills-based workforce development initiatives that drive business performance and career growth. In this conversation, UpSkill America Associate Director Chelsea Miller and Senior Advisor Chris Huyck Trout offer a preview of the Playbook, including its forthcoming content and value to leaders.About the Upskilling PlaybookDespite rapid economic and technological shifts making upskilling a business imperative, many efforts struggle to gain traction and become embedded in business strategy. This playbook cuts through the noise while preserving the depth needed to drive real change — integrating corporate best practices, academic research, and practical application. It helps organizations amplify the impact of existing initiatives or launch new efforts with clarity and measurable results. It provides a practical framework for navigating challenges, capitalizing on opportunities, and implementing upskilling at scale. Covering key areas such as workforce ecosystem development, program design, measurement strategies, and leadership alignment, it delivers actionable insights for HR professionals, business leaders, and decision-makers.When organizations fully embed upskilling into their talent and business strategy, they create sustainable talent pipelines, improve retention, and future-proof their workforce against industry shifts and technological advancements. Click below to read the first three chapters, and join our mailing to be notified when new chapters are released.OverviewEcosystemTypes of UpskillingProgram Components — coming May 29Metrics — coming June 5Implementation — coming June 12Maturity Levels — coming June 19Reference and Citations — coming June 26The first edition of UpSkill America's Upskilling Playbook launched in 2017. If you are trying to access content from the original playbook, please email us at eop.program@aspeninstitute.org. About UpSkill AmericaUpSkill America, an initiative of the Aspen Institute's Economic Opportunities Program, supports employers and workforce organizations to expand and improve high-quality educational and career advancement opportunities for America's front-line workers. We seek to create a movement of employers, civic organizations, workforce intermediaries, and policymakers working collaboratively to implement education, training, and development strategies that result in better jobs and opportunities for front-line workers, more competitive businesses, and stronger communities. Follow us at upskillamerica.org and on LinkedIn.

Lauren Starks, Director of Good Companies/Good Jobs at the Economic Opportunities Program, recently sat down with two Shared Success grantees—Felicia Ravelomanantsoa, Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer at African Development Center (ADC), and Elaine Neigel, Business Loan Officer at Four Bands Community Fund—to discuss how job quality work needs to be connected to the unique challenges, assets, and strategies of the local community. ADC, based in Minneapolis where there is a large Somali community, has many clients considering job quality improvements that are aligned with workers' cultural and religious identities. Four Bands, which works with Native American business owners off and on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation, has found that workers on the Reservations prioritize benefits such as affordable housing and flexible schedules for caretaking more than employer-sponsored healthcare plans because of the availability of healthcare through Indian Health Services. About Shared Success⁠Shared Success⁠, a project of the Economic Opportunities Program, works with community lenders to integrate job quality programming into their small business support services, demonstrating that improved job quality can support the needs of employees while helping small businesses succeed.About the Economic Opportunities ProgramThe Aspen Institute ⁠Economic Opportunities Program⁠ hosts a variety of discussions to advance strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy. To learn about upcoming events and webinars, ⁠join our mailing list⁠ and ⁠follow us on social media⁠.

Maureen Conway, Executive Director of the Economic Opportunities Program, recently sat down with two Shared Success grantees—Jataune Hall, Director of Special Projects and Partnerships at Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon, and Lamont Jackson, Director of Technical Assistance, Black Business Investment Fund—to learn more about the challenges of and opportunities for small business childcare providers. The critical service childcare businesses supports the entire family, community, and workforce. Low job quality in the childcare industry has negative impacts on the childcare workforce, which is overwhelmingly female and disproportionately women of color, on childcare businesses, which struggle with turnover and staff training costs, and on the availability and quality of care in a given community. In the absence of a national policy, Shared Success grantees like MESO in Oregon and BBIF in Florida are leading the way.About Shared Success⁠Shared Success⁠, a project of the Economic Opportunities Program, works with community lenders to integrate job quality programming into their small business support services, demonstrating that improved job quality can support the needs of employees while helping small businesses succeed.About the Economic Opportunities ProgramThe Aspen Institute ⁠Economic Opportunities Program⁠ hosts a variety of discussions to advance strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy. To learn about upcoming events and webinars, ⁠join our mailing list⁠ and ⁠follow us on social media⁠.

In addition to their mission of providing financial services and products to people and businesses in low-income communities, many Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) consider themselves more broadly as vehicles for economic development in their communities. Beyond supporting business creation and growth, they support the creation of quality jobs for community members. Maureen Conway, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program, recently sat down with executives from two leading CDFIs and Shared Success grantees: Amanda Blondeau, the Chief Strategy Officer of Northern Initiatives (founded in the face of declining resource extraction in Michigan's Upper Peninsula), and Robert Boyle, CEO of Justine PETERSEN (founded to serve the greater St. Louis region). About Shared SuccessShared Success, a project of the Economic Opportunities Program, works with community lenders to integrate job quality programming into their small business support services, demonstrating that improved job quality can support the needs of employees while helping small businesses succeed.About the Economic Opportunities ProgramThe Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program hosts a variety of discussions to advance strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy. To learn about upcoming events and webinars, join our mailing list and follow us on social media.

A new Congress and presidential administration always bring about change for any issue. However, employee ownership stands out as unique because it has been an issue of strong bipartisan support. As this new Congress and administration begins, what is on the horizon for employee ownership? What are the legislative opportunities and challenges? Policy experts discuss these questions in this conversation from the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum.For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/the-employee-ownership-agenda-views-from-the-hill/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

In this clip, Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/utah-congressman-blake-moore-speaks-at-the-2025-employee-ownership-ideas-forum/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

In this clip, Utah Congressman Blake Moore speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/utah-congressman-blake-moore-speaks-at-the-2025-employee-ownership-ideas-forum/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

On May 6, 2025, we hosted an informational webinar about theJob Quality Fellowship, Class of 2025-26: Fixing Work in the South. In addition to providing an overview of the nomination and application process, we welcomed two Job Quality Fellows to this conversation — Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, founding executive director of Organized Power in Numbers, and Bo Delp, executive director of the Texas Climate Jobs Project — who shared their experience as members of the Fellowship, with time for audience questions atthe end.For more information about this webinar, visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/job-quality-fellowship-informational-webinar-fixing-work-in-the-south/To learn about the 2025-26 Job Quality Fellowship, read ourannouncement: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/nominations-are-open-for-the-job-quality-fellowship-class-of-2025-26-fixing-work-in-the-south/And frequently asked questions: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/of-interest/frequently-asked-questions-job-quality-fellowship-class-of-2025-26-fixing-work-in-the-south/Nominations are due Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 10:00 p.m. EDT.

In this clip, Expanding ESOPs' Danny Massey speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/expanding-esops-danny-massey-speaks-at-the-2025-employee-ownership-ideas-forum/Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

In this clip, Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/louisiana-senator-bill-cassidy-speaks-at-the-2025-employee-ownership-ideas-forum/Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

Tens of millions of employee-owners go to work every day in the US. What they experience is often different from the rest of the workforce in terms of the financial rewards they receive, the culture they operate within, and the roles and responsibilities they assume. These experiences offer a different vision for our economy and our approach to work in the US. In this discussion from the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, we hear from employee-owners about their experiences with ownership and the effects it has had on their lives and communities. Panelists discuss how ownership affects their job quality, their performance, their relationship with their company, and their perspectives on other outcomes from employee ownership.For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/owning-it-experiences-from-the-front-lines-of-employee-ownership/Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

In this clip, Massachusetts Congresswoman Lori Trahan speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/massachusetts-congresswoman-lori-trahan-speaks-at-the-2025-employee-ownership-ideas-forum/Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

In the wake of supply chain shocks, increased global competition, and fears of global conflict, policymakers over the last several years have made concerted efforts to strengthen our manufacturing and industrial base, as well as protect and advance high-tech sectors. As the country seeks to further develop and retain these strong assets, many are concerned that a large wave of retiring business owners in manufacturing and the uncertainties of ownership and leadership in the tech sector could lead to the loss of many of these businesses through closure, offshoring, or sales to parties that are unlikely to maintain US operations. In this discussion from the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, panelists discuss the critical role these industries play and how employee ownership can potentially help strengthen and retain these important sectors and the jobs they provide.For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/securing-the-future-of-americas-critical-industries/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

In this clip, ESOP Association President Jim Bonham speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/esop-association-president-jim-bonham-speaks-at-the-2025-employee-ownership-ideas-forum/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

The US faces a national crisis of homelessness and housing affordability like few other times in our history. Increasing rents and housing shortages have had devastating effects on nearly every major metropolitan area in the US and many rural communities as well. This crisis has affected everyone including children, seniors, military veterans, people with disabilities, and people working full-time. In his new book, “There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America,” journalist Brian Goldstone exposes how the decline of work and pay in the US has left many full-time workers homeless. People who clock in at hospitals, drive for delivery apps, and care for others cannot afford stable housing as increases in rent continue to outpace wage growth.Goldstone follows five families in Atlanta as they navigate the impossible demands of low wages, skyrocketing rents, and an inadequate social safety net. Through his reporting, Goldstone lived alongside families in extended-stay motels, witnessing the cycles of eviction and rejection, and capturing the resilience of those caught in a system designed to exclude them and in one that often doesn't count them in official statistics. “There Is No Place for Us” not only brings these unseen lives into focus but also forces us to confront a pressing question: If hard work is no longer enough to keep a roof over one's head, what does that say about the promise of economic opportunity in the US?This virtual book talk — hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on April 30, 2025 — features Goldstone in conversation with moderator Maureen Conway, a vice president at the Aspen Institute and executive director of the Institute's Economic Opportunities Program. Topicsinclude:00:00:00 – Opening and Introductions00:06:05 – Why Brian Goldstone Wrote “Working and Homeless”00:09:50 – Celeste's Story: How a Working Single Mom Lost Everything00:18:10 – The True Scale of the Homelessness Crisis00:22:05 – Mental Health, Addition, and Homelessness: Narratives and Misconceptions00:26:59 – The Cause of Homelessness Is a Lack of Affordable Housing00:29:26 – Why Homelessness Disproportionately Affects Single Moms in the US00:34:05 – Housing First: Concept, Limitations, and Alternatives00:38:20 – The “Churn” of Homelessness and Approaches to Prevention00:40:45 – The “Hotel Trap”: Extended-Stay Hotels and Private Equity's Role00:47:44 – Definitions & Data: HUD vs. Department of Education00:49:30 – Homelessness and Job Quality: Work, Wages, Scheduling, and Child Care00:54:02 – “How did this happen?”00:55:44 – Social Housing: A Solution at Scale00:56:45 – Next Steps and Call to Action00:59:30 – Closing Remarks and Upcoming EventsFor more information, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/working-and-homeless-in-america-a-book-talk-with-brian-goldstone/ For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to EOP's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AspenEOPOr subscribe to our podcast to listen on the go: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aspeneopJoin us on Zoom on Thursday, June 5, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time, for our next virtual book talk, “Marketcrafters: The 100-Year Struggle To Shape the American Economy,” with author Chris Hughes: https://aspeninstitute.zoom.us/webinar/register/3617461256930/WN_OKU0ubWLTtqF5FhHu9trjA 

A depth of research shows the impacts employee ownership can have on company performance when it is combined with efforts to increase employee participation in solving company problems. Higher productivity, lower employee turnover, and greater resilience to economic downturns are all common outcomes of many employee-owned firms. However, greater employee involvement, when combined with ownership, also offers potential for other benefits, including enhanced innovation and problem-solving. The result is that some of the strongest performing and most resilient businesses in the US are employee-owned. In this conversation from the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, leaders from employee-owned companies discuss how ownership drives business success.For a transcript and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/fireside-chat-the-ownership-advantage/Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

In this clip, AEI'S Alex Brill speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. For a transcript and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/aeis-alex-brill-speaks-at-the-2025-employee-ownership-ideas-forum/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

In this clip, the Aspen Institute's Maureen Conway and Rutgers University's Joseph Blasi give opening remarks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. For a transcript and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/maureen-conway-and-joseph-blasi-give-opening-remarks-at-the-2025-employee-ownership-ideas-forum/ Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year's theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/

This conversation took place during our March 24 event, “Advancing Innovation and Fairness in Small Business Finance,” hosted by the Responsible Business Lending Coalition and the Aspen Institute's Business Ownership Initiative. It features a panel discussion with Cailey Locklair (Maryland Retailers Alliance), Hal Martin (Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland), Carolina Martinez (CAMEO Network), Awesta Sarkash (Small Business Majority), and moderator Louis Caditz-Peck (Responsible Business Lending Coalition).Ten years ago, when the Responsible Business Lending Coalition was founded, the nation was experiencing dramatic changes in the small business financing landscape, stemming in part from market adjustments after the Great Recession. Ten years later, the forces driving change are accelerating. The growth in new technologies, including AI; the aftermath of the COVID pandemic; and unprecedented growth in new small businesses starting are only some of the factors shaping the market.Yet the challenge remains: how do we harness the power of technology and innovation to drive greater prosperity and inclusion for small business owners, while ensuring that financial products support small businesses rather than undermine them?During this event, we heard perspectives from lenders, investors, policymakers, small business owners, and advocates about how to build a financing market that truly works for small businesses. The event featured three moderated conversations highlighting key trends, opportunities, and challenges in the small business financing market, followed by a reception that gave attendees the opportunity to explore this issue in greater detail with fellow stakeholders.For more information, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/advancing-innovation-and-fairness-in-small-business-finance/Or subscribe to our podcast to listen on the go: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aspeneopFor more information about the Responsible Business Lending Coalition, visit: https://www.borrowersbillofrights.org/We thank our colleagues at Community Investment Management for their generous support of this event.

This conversation took place during our March 24 event, “Advancing Innovation and Fairness in Small Business Finance,” hosted by the Responsible Business Lending Coalition and the Aspen Institute's Business Ownership Initiative. It features a panel discussion with Mickey Konson (Quantum Financial), Phil Goldfeder (American Fintech Council), Luz Urrutia (Accion Opportunity Fund), and moderator Jacob Haar (Community Investment Management).Ten years ago, when the Responsible Business Lending Coalition was founded, the nation was experiencing dramatic changes in the small business financing landscape, stemming in part from market adjustments after the Great Recession. Ten years later, the forces driving change are accelerating. The growth in new technologies, including AI; the aftermath of the COVID pandemic; and unprecedented growth in new small businesses starting are only some of the factors shaping the market.Yet the challenge remains: how do we harness the power of technology and innovation to drive greater prosperity and inclusion for small business owners, while ensuring that financial products support small businesses rather than undermine them?During this event, we heard perspectives from lenders, investors, policymakers, small business owners, and advocates about how to build a financing market that truly works for small businesses. The event featured three moderated conversations highlighting key trends, opportunities, and challenges in the small business financing market, followed by a reception that gave attendees the opportunity to explore this issue in greater detail with fellow stakeholders.For more information, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/advancing-innovation-and-fairness-in-small-business-finance/Or subscribe to our podcast to listen on the go: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aspeneopFor more information about the Responsible Business Lending Coalition, visit: https://www.borrowersbillofrights.org/We thank our colleagues at Community Investment Management for their generous support of this event.

This conversation took place during our March 24 event, “Advancing Innovation and Fairness in Small Business Finance,” hosted by the Responsible Business Lending Coalition and the Aspen Institute's Business Ownership Initiative. It features opening remarks from Joyce Klein (The Aspen Institute) and Louis Caditz-Peck (Responsible Business Lending Coalition), followed by a conversation with Michael Barr (Federal Reserve Board of Governors), moderated by Klein.Ten years ago, when the Responsible Business Lending Coalition was founded, the nation was experiencing dramatic changes in the small business financing landscape, stemming in part from market adjustments after the Great Recession. Ten years later, the forces driving change are accelerating. The growth in new technologies, including AI; the aftermath of the COVID pandemic; and unprecedented growth in new small businesses starting are only some of the factors shaping the market.Yet the challenge remains: how do we harness the power of technology and innovation to drive greater prosperity and inclusion for small business owners, while ensuring that financial products support small businesses rather than undermine them?During this event, we heard perspectives from lenders, investors, policymakers, small business owners, and advocates about how to build a financing market that truly works for small businesses. The event featured three moderated conversations highlighting key trends, opportunities, and challenges in the small business financing market, followed by a reception that gave attendees the opportunity to explore this issue in greater detail with fellow stakeholders.For more information, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/advancing-innovation-and-fairness-in-small-business-finance/Or subscribe to our podcast to listen on the go: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aspeneopFor more information about the Responsible Business Lending Coalition, visit: https://www.borrowersbillofrights.org/We thank our colleagues at Community Investment Management for their generous support of this event.

Asutosh Padhi is McKinsey & Company's Global Leader of Firm Strategy, responsible for shaping the strategic vision, accelerating the firm's pace of innovation, and evolving the partnership model as McKinsey turns 100 in 2026. He's currently an active board member of the Aspen Institute, the Brookings Institution, and the Field Museum. We had the pleasure of speaking with him as part of our series, “Back to the Future of Work: Revisiting the Past and Shaping the Future,” curated by the Aspen Institute's Future of Work Initiative.In this conversation with Economic Opportunities Program Executive Director Maureen Conway, Padhi explores the massive potential of scaling technology and generative artificial intelligence (AI) and where many companies have fallen short of realizing these benefits. “I think the promise of technology, particularly AI, is going to be that it can actually help us boost labor productivity…” he notes, “the productivity improvement, that then drives GDP, that drives economic wealth creation in a way that's inclusive.” However, Padhi emphasizes the importance of thoughtful adoption of technology, scaling, and the social trust necessary to make it happen. Trust, especially concerning misinformation and the ethical use of AI, is a major challenge. Looking to the future, Padhi underscores the importance of aligning technology with core human values — the need for leaders to reaffirm values as a guiding principle when making decisions about the future of work. While AI holds great promise for improving productivity and economic growth, it will require careful management, trust-building, and a focus on the human aspects of work to ensure a positive and inclusive future.For more from this discussion, including a video and transcript, visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/the-potential-for-scaling-technology-increased-labor-productivity-if-we-get-it-right/Check out our full series at: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/future-of-work/back-to-the-future-of-work-revisiting-the-past-and-shaping-the-future/

A career in trucking was once considered a pathway to the middle class. Yet the quality of jobs in the industry has steeply declined in recent decades. Long-haul truckers, who might spend days or weeks away from home, have seen their salaries fall by as much as half since the deregulation of the industry a half century ago, and annual turnover hovers near 100%. Short-haul truckers are frequently misclassified as independent contractors, stripping them of benefits and worker protections and burdening them with the costs of owning and operating a truck. And predatory leasing arrangements are pushed on truckers by the industry, saddling many with debt that they struggle to pay off. All of this is in spite of the fact that truckers work year-round, at all hours of the day, while exposed to hazards, to ensure that our economy keeps moving.In recent years, a common narrative developed that there is a shortage of truck drivers. What is missing, however, is that this shortage is driven in large part by the industry's turnover rates and the lack of good jobs that allow truckers to thrive. Today, there are nearly three times as many people with the necessary licensing and qualifications as there are trucking jobs. In addition, new developments in technology promise to upend the industry as companies embrace automation and increasingly deploy methods of surveillance. As a key pillar of our economy and supply chain, and one of the largest occupations in the US, the job quality of workers in the trucking sector has far-reaching implications. In this virtual event — hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on March 19, 2025 — we explore the challenges truckers face and ideas for improving the returns for the essential work they do. Our conversation includes opening remarks by Desiree Wood (REAL Women in Trucking, Inc.), followed by a panel discussion with Robin Hutcheson (Hutcheson Advisory), Rebecca King (Getman, Sweeney & Dunn, PLL), Michael Muñoz (Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy), Steve Viscelli (Associate Professor of Practice, University of Pennsylvania), and moderator Alana Semuels (TIME).For more information, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/driving-the-economy-the-essential-and-undervalued-work-of-truckers/ For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to EOP's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AspenEOPOr subscribe to the “Opportunity in America” podcast to listen on the go: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aspeneopJoin us April 30 on Zoom for our next event, “Working and Homeless in America,” a book talk with Brian Goldstone: https://aspeninstitute.zoom.us/webinar/register/5817429387834/WN_lYXzrIx8RlS9RJEpo84Log 

Today approximately 77 million Americans, or 1 in 3 adults have a criminal record. While not everyone represented in this statistic has experienced incarceration, it serves to highlight that the barriers formerly incarcerated people face finding quality jobs are far more commonplace than we might think. Many returning citizens, who worked for little or no pay while incarcerated, will struggle to find quality jobs after release. Discrimination against those with a record, restrictions on what occupational licenses are available to those with a record, existing debts, punitive court supervision policies, and lack of support to meet basic needs in areas such as housing can force those leaving incarceration into dead-end, low-paying, and exploitative jobs. Some will find they are barred from doing the  jobs they worked or were trained to do while incarcerated. And many more lacked opportunities to participate in education or training opportunities while incarcerated.But across the country, innovative efforts are underway to revamp our re-entry system by opening up access to good jobs.  New laws to wipe criminal records and address occupational licensing barriers, legal action aimed at discrimination, and a growing coalition of  employers and union leaders are showing that providing a second chance is possible.In this virtual event — hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on February 26, 2025 — we explore the opportunities and challenges accessing good jobs for people after incarceration. Our conversation features opening remarks from Sappho Fulton (Womxn Beyond Borders), followed by a panel discussion with Daryl V. Atkinson (Forward Justice), Beth Avery (National Employment Law Project), Sharon Dietrich (Community Legal Services), Minna Long (Washington State Building & Construction Trades Council), Gina Schaefer (A Few Cool Hardware Stores), and moderator Jamiles Lartey (The Marshall Project).This discussion is the second in our two-part series, “Work Behind and Beyond Bars: Improving Job Quality During and After Incarceration.” Our first discussion, “A Hidden Workforce: Prison Labor, Human Rights, and the Legacy of Slavery,” is available here.For more information, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/re-entry-and-good-jobs-building-the-second-chances-we-all-believe-in/ For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to EOP's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AspenEOPOr subscribe to the “Opportunity in America” podcast to listen on the go: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aspeneopJoin us March 19 on Zoom for our next event, “Driving the Economy: The Essential and Undervalued Work of Truckers”: https://aspeninstitute.zoom.us/webinar/register/3717407587547/WN_VamBysDcQf6DbDg73R2DfA

Ai-jen Poo is the president of theNational Domestic Workers Alliance, director ofCaring Across Generations, and a leading voice for worker rights and dignity. And we had the pleasure of speaking with her as part of our series, “Back to the Future of Work: Revisiting the Past and Shaping the Future.”In this conversation with Economic Opportunities Program Senior FellowNatalie Foster, Ai-jen paints the picture of an economy that domestic workers have long known: low wages, unstable employment, unfair scheduling, and few workplace protections. Domestic workers like caregivers, cleaners, and home aides routinely work in precarious conditions, often without job security, clear contracts, or basic benefits like paid sick leave.What's changed in the last 10 years is the degree to which their experience is no longer unique. From increased automation to the rise of the gig economy, work across many industries has become more unstable, mirroring the conditions that domestic workers have faced for generations."We saw that the conversation often overlooked workers' experiences in favor of technology-driven narratives,” she notes. “But the real future of work is about ensuring workers — regardless of job classification — have power, rights, and dignity." In this conversation, we explore what the past can teach us about the future — and how we can ensure that workers have a say in what comes next.About This SeriesThis is part of a series called “Back to the ‘Future of Work': Revisiting the Past and Shaping the Future,” curated by theAspen Institute Future of Work Initiative. For this series, we gather insights from labor, business, academia, philanthropy, and think tanks to take stock of the past decade and attempt to divine what the next one has in store. As the future is yet unwritten, let's figure out what it takes to build a better future of work.

A key piece of the American dream is that hard work leads to economic success. Yet in recent years, many people seem to be working harder while reaping fewer rewards. Moreover, even people who are successful in economic terms often feel compelled to participate in overwork. In her new book “Over Work: Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life,” author Brigid Schulte dismantles the pervasive idea that overwork guarantees success, happiness, or economic security. In this virtual book talk — hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on January 16, 2025 — Schulte challenges participants to rethink their conceptions about time use and productivity, to envision new and healthier relationships to work and to advocate for bold policy changes, like paid family leave, that would support better work and better lives. Drawing on her experience as a journalist and director of New America's Better Life Lab, she makes a compelling case that rejecting a culture of overwork can reduce burnout, promote fairness, and contribute to a more stable economy and a future rooted in shared prosperity, well-being, and dignity. Schulte's work is a call to action for policymakers, employers, and individuals to rethink what it means to lead a fulfilling life and the role work should play in that. By confronting the glorification of overwork and advancing practical, people-centered policies, “Over Work” offers a roadmap toward a balanced and better life for all. For more information about this event, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/a-new-years-resolution-to-reject-over-work-a-book-talk-with-brigid-schulte/ For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to EOP's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AspenEOP Or subscribe to the “Opportunity in America” podcast to listen on the go: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aspeneop Join us February 26 on Zoom for our next event, “Re-Entry and Good Jobs: Building the Second Chances We All Believe In”: https://aspeninstitute.zoom.us/webinar/register/1217374960165/WN_nOV5449xRv6gTAugEPy1Cw 

Democracy may be top of mind for many Americans this election season, but it's easy to forget that the ideal of democracy has always been about more than filling out one ballot every couple of years. Democratic and participatory principles and practices can strengthen our public spaces, community organizations, social media platforms, and even our workplaces.   Workers are closest to many of the problems and potential solutions most critical to an enterprise's performance, holding essential knowledge about safety, productivity, and culture. Employers who fail to sufficiently listen or value their workers' voices miss opportunities to innovate and improve productivity — and may suffer from workers' decreased job satisfaction, productivity, and retention. We know workers want a seat at the table on issues from pay and benefits to safety, culture, and accountability, not only because they say so in surveys, but, increasingly, because they're organizing to win it. Companies that genuinely seek to leverage workers' insights often deploy tactics like surveys and town hall meetings that fall short of capturing representative input or turning feedback into action. But democratic mechanisms like shared ownership, board level co-determination, and labor-management partnerships can unlock benefits by enabling a truly collaborative, participatory work environment. In this virtual event — hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on November 20, 2024 —  experts and practitioners share insights on how different democratic structures and strategies can create better workplaces and businesses. Panelists also share their own experiences and extrapolate learnings that may apply to others looking to build more vibrant, participatory work environments. Our speakers include: Julian McKinley, Co-Executive Director, Democracy at Work Institute Lenore Palladino, Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts Amherst Larry Williams Jr., Founder and President, UnionBase Liba Wenig Rubenstein (moderator), Director, Aspen Business Roundtable on Organized Labor For more information about this event, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/workplace-democracy-sharing-power-and-decision-making-at-work/ For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to EOP's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AspenEOP Or subscribe to the “Opportunity in America” podcast to listen on the go: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aspeneop

Announcements of a big employer moving to town, or a large infrastructure project, can often spark excitement. Local communities see the potential for big benefits, including new and better jobs and other investment in community needs. Too often, however, these benefits do not materialize. Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs), binding agreements created between community groups and organizations like real estate developers or large employers, are a powerful alternative that ensure people have a real say in shaping the outcomes these new investments will create for their communities. Jobs to Move America (JMA) is a national leader in leveraging CBAs to improve jobs and provide opportunities for historically disadvantaged communities and workers. CBAs have allowed JMA to build consensus between affected workers and employers on policies that would benefit the community — from reformed hiring practices to improved training and protecting workers from discrimination.  In this webinar — which took place on October 23, 2024 — we hear from experts and practitioners about their experiences implementing CBAs and leveraging them to improve job quality in their communities. Our speakers include: Jay Mehta, Manager (opening remarks), Community Benefits Agreement Resource Center, Jobs to Move America Erica Iheme, Co-Executive Director, Jobs to Move America Amanda Woodrum, Co-Director, ReImagine Appalachia Grace Adcox, Senior Climate Strategist, Data for Progress Matt Helmer (moderator), Managing Director, Economic Opportunities Program, The Aspen Institute This event was co-hosted by JMA and the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program (EOP). It is part of EOP's Job Quality in Practice webinar series, which examines the strategies and approaches practitioners are using to improve job quality and expand economic opportunity.  For more information about this event, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/community-benefits-agreements-a-tool-for-creating-good-jobs/ For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to EOP's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AspenEOP Or subscribe to the “Opportunity in America” podcast to listen on the go: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aspeneop Join us November 20 on Zoom for our next webinar, “Workplace Democracy: Sharing Power and Decision Making at Work.” Click here to RSVP: https://aspeninstitute.zoom.us/webinar/register/5817297828083/WN_XAV8eUIoS6W6OSjNrSojbQ

The passage of the 13th Amendment following the American Civil War abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, but it included a crucial exception: “except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.” This exception allowed southern governments to institute an early version of prison labor called convict leasing. Black Americans arrested for minor offenses, once imprisoned, were effectively purchased from state and local governments by individuals and companies looking to continue using cheap labor. This allowed individuals and companies to keep slavery in action. Though the practice of convict leasing ended in the mid-20th century, its infamous traits can still be seen in today's incarceration system.  Today, the majority of incarcerated workers in the US, who are disproportionately Black and people of color, are often required to work or face retaliation such as solitary confinement, denial of opportunities to reduce their sentence, and loss of family visitation. They work jobs that might pay pennies on the hour, if they are paid at all, and are often not protected by labor laws. Many work in dangerous conditions. At the same time, some find deep purpose in their work behind bars, an opportunity to build skills, and support in making a successful transition to life after incarceration. In this webinar — which took place on October 10, 2024 — we explore the history and conditions of work for incarcerated people and ideas for creating more humane and dignified work for those behind bars. Our speakers include: Andrea Armstrong, Dr. Norman C. Francis Distinguished Professor of Law, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law; Founder, IncarcerationTransparency.org Anthony Cantillo, Deputy Commissioner, Maine Department of Corrections Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO Terrance Winn, Founder and Director, Priorities, Intentions, Practical Exchanges (PIPES) Margie Mason (moderator), Investigative Reporter, The Associated Press Matt Helmer (opening and closing remarks), Managing Director, The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program For more information about this event, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/a-hidden-workforce-prison-labor-human-rights-and-the-legacy-of-slavery/ For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to EOP's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AspenEOP Or subscribe to the “Opportunity in America” podcast to listen on the go: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aspeneop Join us October 23 on Zoom for our next webinar, “Community Benefits Agreements: A Tool for Creating Good Jobs,” hosted in partnership with Jobs to Move America. Click here to RSVP: https://aspeninstitute.zoom.us/webinar/register/8117286582590/WN_l4Lcw4p5Qji2hC7BgeuUOQ

Today's politicized environment poses unique challenges for worker rights advocates. With Congress often divided, and many state and local governments as well, the path to improving worker rights through legislation is narrow. Nonetheless, we have seen some remarkable progress on worker rights over the last few years through executive action. Leveraging executive action, however, is not a straightforward and easily discernible path for grassroots activists and organizations interested in advancing worker rights and job quality.  Workshop's “Toolkit: An Organizer's Guide to Executive Action” authored by Executive Director Mary Beth Maxwell, demystifies and democratizes the policy-making process by sharing lessons learned during her time in federal government. Toolkit offers a blueprint for advocates inside and outside on how they can collaborate to build an economy that works for all and, in the process, rebuild a healthy democracy. This webinar — which took place on September 4, 2024 — features a panel of experienced public servants and organizers, who dive into the lessons and stories from Toolkit and provide guidance to advocates and organizers striving to advance worker rights. Our speakers include: Gail Haywood, Domestic Worker Leader Cecilia Muñoz, Senior Advisor, New America; Former Director, Domestic Policy Council David Weil, Professor, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University;  Former Administrator, Wage and Hour Division, US Department of Labor Jonathan Njus, Director of Family Economic Security and Program Lead for Expanding Equity, W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Former Senior Policy Advisor, Domestic Policy Council and Senior Policy Advisor, U.S. Department of Labor Haeyoung Yoon, Vice President, Policy and Advocacy, National Domestic Workers Alliance; Former Member, COVID-19 Equity Task Force Mary Beth Maxwell, Executive Director, Workshop; Former Senior Advisor, Acting Administrator of Wage and Hour Division, and Acting Assistant Secretary for Policy at the US Department of Labor Eleanor Mueller (moderator), Economics Reporter, Politico For more information about this event, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/seizing-the-moment-on-worker-rights-a-toolkit-for-organizers-and-practitioners/ To download “Toolkit: An Organizer's Guide to Executive Action,” visit: https://www.workshop1933.org/toolkit For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to EOP's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AspenEOP Join us October 10 on Zoom for our next event, “A Hidden Workforce: Prison Labor, Human Rights, and the Legacy of Slavery.” Click here to RSVP: https://aspeninstitute.zoom.us/webinar/register/6517255601925/WN__24hSIjGQbizD5K_QINy2g