[1]

Far from settling the debate on what it means to be an American, the past
election cycle further exposed deep fissures in our politics and our
identities. Now in the vaunted “100 Days,” the Biden-Harris administration
has hit the ground running. With a to-do list that runs from cybersecurity
to education, the programs of the Aspen Institute have developed sound
policy ideas to help America come back stronger and more resilient. For
each of these proposals—and for each and every American—time is of the
essence. In this first 2021 installment of [2]In Focus, we look forward to
those solutions through the lens of new leadership in the White House.

[3]

[4]

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[5]What We’ve Learned From a Year Spent Fighting COVID-19

This week marks one year since a new, rapidly spreading disease got its
name: COVID-19. At the time, Ruth Katz, executive director of the
[6]Health, Medicine and Society Program, gathered a panel of public health
experts to discuss the looming crisis. She returns now [7]to share lessons
learned during “the biggest public health challenge” the world has seen in
a century.
[8]Read

[9]

[10]

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[11]Getting Rental Assistance Right

As Congress moves toward another relief package, tenants across the country
wade further into debt, and, as found by the [12]Financial Security
Program, 30-40 million Americans [13]are at risk for eviction. The Program
has [14]developed a set of best practices for emergency rental assistance
programs so states, localities, and their non-profit partners, who together
are responsible for disbursing billions in rental assistance, can act
quickly and effectively.
[15]Read

[16]

[17]

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[18]No Dream Delayed

Community colleges are a reliable on-ramp to higher education for students
of color and from low-income backgrounds. This fall, [19]they lost more
than 500,000 students—that’s half a million dreams delayed. The new
administration can address this setback through changes to the Pell Grant
program and a commitment to tuition-free education for frontline workers,
says the [20]College Excellence Program.
[21]More

[22]

[23]

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[24]Winning the Cyber Battle

Despite more than a decade of studies, warnings, and high-profile cyber
attacks, the government’s investment in prevention and response is still
shockingly inadequate. The early weeks of a new Congress present a chance
for collaboration and consensus on key cybersecurity priorities, and The
[25]Aspen Cybersecurity Group has released a [26]National Cyber Agenda,
proposing areas where policymakers can make measurable progress in the next
four years.
[27]Read

[28]Featured artwork by 2020 Creative Native artist, Ayebah Wilson, Navajo
Nation, 20 years old.

[29]

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[30]Respect and a Seat for Indigenous Youth

Last month, President Biden set a long-overdue priority for the Federal
government: to respect the sovereignty and self-governance of Tribal
Nations and [31]consult them meaningfully on federal policy. Young people
have a big part to play, says the [32]Center for Native American Youth,
whose Youth Advisory Board [33]created a set of recommendations for the
administration, including reforms to the Department of Justice’s approach
to Indian Country.

Featured artwork by [34]2020 Creative Native artist, [35]Ayebah Wilson,
Navajo Nation, 20 years old.
[36]More

[37]

[38]

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[39]Changing Our Approach to Climate

January 27th was coined “Climate Day” by the Biden-Harris administration,
and the President signed executive orders that prioritize the climate
crisis, [40]centering the fight around environmental justice. But one day
of action is not enough, says the [41]Energy and Environment Program, which
calls on America to carry Climate Day past its moment in the news cycle.
The program [42]outlined seven steps the administration can take to
reorient our climate policy.
[43]More

[44]

[45]

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[46]Rethinking Corporate Influence

As some big brands pulled money from Republican politicians who sought to
delegitimize the outcome of the US presidential election, others hit the
pause button on all political spending. [47]“What now?” asks Judy
Samuelson, executive director of the [48]Business and Society Program. “Can
this be a moment of real change in the practice of influence-peddling by
private interests?”
[49]More

Upcoming Events

[50]

[51]Aspen Ideas: RE$ET

Feb. 22 - 23

Join [52]Aspen Ideas as we explore how to rebuild a US economy in light of
the pandemic and associated recession, which has laid bare inequities in
our economic system. Brought to you with our partners at Bloomberg
Economics, we will share fascinating ideas from around the US and some
remarkable thinkers to discuss what is possible.

[53]Beyond Policing: Creating Safe and Just Communities

Feb. 11 at 6:00 pm EST

The nation is witnessing increasing public support for a transformation of
the criminal justice system. How we and our leaders make change happen in a
way that takes into consideration historic injustices, as well as the
underlying social, economic, education and health disparities in the United
States? Join the [54]Criminal Justice Reform Initiative for their Aspen
Institute Conversations with Great Leaders Series as we untangle this
pressing question.

[55]Supporting Climate Change Education

Feb. 17 at 2:00 pm EST

In a listening session, participants will focus on how educators can
prepare a new generation of students to address climate change. This is the
fourth in a series of listening sessions from [56]K12 Climate Action. The
event will be [57]livestreamed on YouTube.

[58]Future of College Sports: Reimagining Athletes' Rights

Feb. 19 at 2:00 pm EST

College sports’ future faces a pivotal year in 2021, with a democratic
majority in the U.S. Senate, a Supreme Court case on college athlete
compensation, and some states allowing athletes to be paid for use of their
name, image and likeness. Join the [59]Sports & Society Program for a
conversation with Senator Cory Booker, Coach Tony Franklin, and CEO of
Opendorse, Blake Lawrence.

[60]Digitally-Enabled, People-Centric Retirement Savings Virtual Event
Series

Feb. 24 and Mar. 10 at 1:00 pm EST

The Aspen Institute's [61]Financial Security Program and the [62]Future of
Work Initiative will host a two-part discussion series for leaders who seek
to explore the untapped potential technology to improve the performance of
today’s workplace retirement savings programs.

[63]Aspen Words: The Art of Food Memoir

Mar. 16 at 6:00 pm EST

The “Art of Food Memoir” will focus on breaking the bubble of food writing
and cultivating diverse stories, as well as the way that food writing and,
specifically, memoirs can evoke new and unfamiliar words readers can
connect to in a visceral, sensual way. Featured panelists include Padma
Lakshmi (Love, Loss and What We Ate), Ronni Lundy (Victuals: an Appalachian
Journey, with Recipes) and Toni Tipton-Martin (Jubilee: Recipes from Two
Centuries of African American Cooking). The moderator will be Dawn Davis,
editor-in-chief for Bon Appetit.

[64]What Is the Future of Health?

Apr. 27 - 29

Mark your calendar for [65]Aspen Ideas: Health, an all-digital three-day
gathering of health innovators, community leaders, researchers, and
changemakers. This free, virtual event will explore big ideas and bold
approaches shaping the future of health.

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

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

Your support makes this work possible.

[67]Support Us

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

[68]Learn More

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