This summer was like a homecoming for the Aspen Institute. Our marquee convenings were back in person, and the energy was palpable. Audiences were reinvigorated by big ideas at the Aspen Ideas Festival; domestic and global perspectives at the Aspen Security Forum; and inspirational leadership at the Resnick Aspen Action Forum.

Speakers and attendees at these events discussed urgent topics from the state of Russia's invasion of Ukraine to US-China relations at the Security Forum to gender justice and our tied global future at the Action Forum. At the inaugural Aspen ESG Summit, business leaders, investors, and corporate governance experts debated the role of companies as societal influencers. Read more below about the return of summer discourse to the Aspen campus.

Breaking News at the Aspen Security Forum

The Aspen Security Forum is a hallmark event for the who’s who in national security, and the issues discussed affect nearly everyone on the planet. Policymakers, diplomats, academics, and commentators recently gathered in Aspen for the first time since 2019 and made global headlines.

In Alaska, a Better Way to Argue about Climate Change

“Helping people argue” may sound unusual, but that’s the philosophy behind the Better Arguments Project, a national civic initiative that helps bridge divides by training people to have more civil disagreements. Oliviah Franke, a project ambassador based in Alaska, facilitates discussions around climate change in her home state. She brings Indigenous and other communities of color into discussions with energy industry leaders, helping them overcome their differences and connect as fellow Alaskans.

How to Best Support Refugee Families

Since the American military withdrawal from Afghanistan a year ago, tens of thousands of Afghans have been evacuated to the US. Like others before them, these refugees face challenges adjusting to a new culture, climate, language, and way of life. The Community Strategies Group, in partnership with Ascend Network Partners, identified four essential practices that communities and organizations can employ to help refugee families reach their full potential.

From the Archives: Why Good Coaches Matter

Heading into another school year, parents and students face the competing demands of learning and extracurricular activities. But there is a lot that can be taught on the playing field. The Sports and Society program offers tips and resources on how to develop young athletes.

In the News

Why Banks Are Failing Millions of Americans

During this year’s Aspen Ideas Festival, Jenn White of NPR’s interview program 1A spoke with three people working to create a more inclusive banking ecosystem: Ida Rademacher of the Institute’s Financial Security Program, Wole Coaxum of Mobility Capital Finance, and Shamina Singh of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. Together, they explored why traditional banking doesn’t work for so many Americans and what can be done to fix the system.

Meet the Teens Using Kindness to Heal their Community

At this year’s culminating Aspen Challenge event, high school students took the stage in Aspen, Colorado, to showcase their solutions to the biggest problems facing their communities. In an interview with Colorado Public Radio, one enterprising group from New Orleans discussed their project “Love in Action,” a program that uses kindness to support mental health in their region.

Register Now

Is the US Headed for Stagflation?

August 10, 2:00 - 3:00 pm ET

How great are the risks of stagflation, an economic dynamic not seen in the US since the 1970s? The Economic Strategy Group will host a McCloskey Speaker Series discussion with leaders including Larry Fink, Neel Kashkari, Melissa Kearney, and Larry Summers in conversation with Greg Ip of the Wall Street Journal via livestream and with a live audience in Aspen.

Racing to Justice: Transforming Our Concepts of Self and Other to Build an Inclusive Society

August 11, 7:00 - 8:00 pm ET

In Aspen this week, john a. powell, Director of the Othering and Belonging Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, will be in conversation with Aspen Institute President and CEO Dan Porterfield at a Murdock Mind, Body, Spirit Series talk. They will explore the newly published Structural Racism Remedies Repository, an archive of policy-based recommendations for addressing structural and systemic racism and advancing racial equity.

At this year’s Summer Celebration on August 13, the Institute is honored to present Pulitzer prize-winning authors and historians Professor Annette Gordon-Reed and Jon Meacham with the Public Service Award in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to the American historical narrative. They’ll sit down for an engaging conversation with host of NPR’s “Weekend Edition Saturday” Scott Simon. Register now.

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.

ASPENINSTITUTE.ORG  •   SIGN UP FOR FUTURE NEWSLETTERS

FIVE BEST IDEAS OF THE DAY

If, for any reason, you would rather not be included in our database, please email [email protected] requesting your removal. Please be aware that some information may be retained for legal purposes and that your removal may limit or cancel any services rendered by the Aspen Institute to you. Personal data contained in our database is processed under the lawful basis of legitimate interest and is typically included in our database either because you previously subscribed to a newsletter to receive information about our activities/events or attended a recent event. As always, if you would like to unsubscribe to future emails such as this, please unsubscribe below.