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Aspen Ideas: Climate Heads to Chicago

From the sands of Miami Beach to the shores of the Great Lakes, Aspen Ideas: Climate—the leading climate solutions convening—is making its way to Chicago.

"We're excited to turn the spotlight to a new set of challenges in the Midwest, but more importantly, a new crop of solutions, big ideas, and inspiring leaders," said Kitty Pollack, Senior Advisor for the Aspen Institute Energy & Environment Program.

From 2022-2024, Aspen Ideas: Climate took place in Miami Beach, Florida, where it welcomed thousands of participants and speakers from around the world. Organized by the Aspen Institute in partnership with the Chicago Climate Corps, Aspen Ideas: Climate Chicago will take place for at least the next two years.

The Great Lakes contain 21% of the world’s surface freshwater, and the Midwest represents one of the largest areas of agricultural production in the world. As a place that is predicted to be more climate resilient than others in the U.S., the region is poised to become a global climate hub to advance innovation, collaboration, and investment.

"Up until this point, perhaps a Midwestern sense of modesty and a shortage of connective tissue has contributed to siloes where many people are not inclined to brag about the great climate work they're doing," Pollack shared. "The idea in working with our local partner, the Chicago Climate Corps, is to see if we can bring people out of these silos and to get them to connect and work smarter together."

Beyond promoting collaboration among diverse and interdisciplinary leaders, the event is an opportunity to bring the national climate conversation to the region and—just like in Miami Beach—drive solutions and optimism.

The conference will take place July 21-22, 2025. Register today to save your spot, and subscribe to the Aspen Ideas: Climate newsletter for updates on programming and speaker announcements.

 

Upcoming Events

Societal Trust

How To Tell Governments What You Think

March 10, 2025

Virtual

How can we ensure our voices are truly heard by our governments? Many citizens want to engage civically, but aren’t sure how to effectively share their points of view with policymakers. Join the Aspen Policy Academy for this virtual session to learn practical strategies for communicating with officials across all branches of government.

Leadership

Flash Seminar: Rooting Our Leadership in Humanity

March 26, 2025

Virtual

Want a glimpse into the Aspen Institute’s renowned text-based dialogue and leadership seminars? Join Kalissa Hendrickson, PhD, Managing Director of Executive Leadership Seminars, to explore the moral foundations of leadership through a short reading and guided discussion.

Economic Opportunity

Employee Ownership Ideas Forum

April 9-10, 2025

Virtual

How can employee ownership reshape the workplace while achieving business success? This year’s Employee Ownership Ideas Forum will feature and convene leaders from across fields to share experience and expertise on how policy, investment, and leadership can enable employee ownership and drive economic resilience. Join the conversation online, hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and Rutgers University’s Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing.

Big Ideas

Aspen Ideas Festival and Aspen Ideas: Health

June 22 - July 1, 2025

Aspen, CO



Passes are selling quickly for Aspen Ideas Festival and Aspen Ideas: Health 2025! Engage with inspiring leaders, brilliant thinkers, and bold changemakers on our awe-inspiring Rocky Mountain campus. From dawn to dark, we’ll stretch our minds, feed our imaginations, and explore the ideas that are shaping our collective future.

 

In Focus: Igniting Leadership

Joanna Smith-Ramani, Co-Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program, discusses the importance of leading collaboratively, taking time to reflect, and showing up as your full self in the latest episode of In Session.


Leadership is at the heart of our collective future. We’re exploring the many dimensions of effective leaders and leadership through our In Focus Series on “Igniting Leadership."

 

Around the Institute

Arts & Culture

What Makes the Bauhaus Movement Timeless?

In this Aspen Ignites episode, Sarah Girgis, Art & Entertainment Editor at Aspen Times, and Rob Saunders, Executive Director of Letterform Archive, explore the legacy of Herbert Bayer and his role in bringing Bauhaus aesthetics to America.

Rising Generations

The Stevens Initiative Leads the Way on Virtual Exchange

Last month, the Stevens Initiative convened two new councils that will help guide its future, deepen its impact, and create more opportunities for young people to connect and thrive. Stay connected for the upcoming announcement of inaugural council members.

Leadership

Aspen Latinos and Socrates Program Meet in El Paso

Aspen Latinos' Hunt-Aspen Fellowship partnered with the Aspen Institute Socrates Program to host an exclusive El Paso Socrates Experience. The seminar featured a thought-provoking discussion on "The Art of Uncertainty," exploring how artists have navigated the challenges of their times.

Economic Opportunity

Evolving the Community Foundation Business Model

Since 2023, the Aspen Institute Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation has been working with a core group of community foundation leaders to explore how to evolve the community foundation business model from a traditional “community bank” to a transformational “community asset." Their latest report shares model experimentations and new recommendations for action.

 

In the News

Arts & Culture

In an op-ed for The Colorado Sun, Andrew Travers of the Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies illuminates how the fictional Oscar-winning film “The Brutalist” echoes true accounts of the life and work of Aspen Institute campus designer Herbert Bayer.

Societal Trust

Vivian Schiller, Vice President and Executive Director of Aspen Digital, collaborated with Jim Friedlich and other journalism leaders following the Local News Summit on an essay series for Columbia Journalism Review, highlighting the current challenges facing local news and the path forward.

Leadership

For the Chronicle of Philanthropy, the Business Ownership Initiative’s Joyce Klein demonstrates with LiftFund CEO Amy Hereford how community lenders can help small businesses recover from the devastation of the Los Angeles fires.

Climate & Energy

The Chicago Sun-Times covered the announcement of Aspen Ideas: Climate's relocation to Chicago this summer, which featured remarks from Governor of Illinois JB Pritzker, event co-host Chicago Climate Corps, and our own President and CEO Dan Porterfield.

Rising Generations

Axios detailed the kick off of Aspen Challenge San Diego 2025, where high school students are creating tangible solutions to problems in their city.

 

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