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 In Focus, we look forward to those solutions through the lens of new leadership in the White House.

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 Health, Medicine and Society Program, gathered a panel of public health experts to discuss the looming crisis. She returns now to share lessons learned during “the biggest public health challenge” the world has seen in a century.

As Congress moves toward another relief package, tenants across the country wade further into debt, and, as found by the Financial Security Program, 30-40 million Americans are at risk for eviction. The Program has 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.

Community colleges are a reliable on-ramp to higher education for students of color and from low-income backgrounds. This fall, 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 College Excellence Program.

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 Aspen Cybersecurity Group has released a National Cyber Agenda, proposing areas where policymakers can make measurable progress in the next four years.

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

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

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

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. “What now?” asks Judy Samuelson, executive director of the Business and Society Program. “Can this be a moment of real change in the practice of influence-peddling by private interests?”

Aspen Ideas: RE$ET

Feb. 22 - 23

Join 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.

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 Criminal Justice Reform Initiative for their Aspen Institute Conversations with Great Leaders Series as we untangle this pressing question.

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 K12 Climate Action. The event will be livestreamed on YouTube.

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 Sports & Society Program for a conversation with Senator Cory Booker, Coach Tony Franklin, and CEO of Opendorse, Blake Lawrence.

Digitally-Enabled, People-Centric Retirement Savings Virtual Event Series

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

The Aspen Institute's Financial Security Program and the 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.

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.

What Is the Future of Health?

Apr. 27 - 29

Mark your calendar for 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.

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

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