What's New @ The Aspen Institute May 2009

Live @ the Institute

Acumen Fund CEO and Institute trustee Jacqueline Novogratz discusses her new book, The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Internconnected World.

Dana Gioia talks with Clive Gillison, Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall, and Don Randel, President of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, about the role of arts in America. See behind the scenes interviews.

Chancellor of DC Public Schools Michelle Rhee and Institute CEO Walter Isaacson have a conversation about education reform at Georgetown University.

Walter Isaacson sits down with Steve Pearlstein of the Washington Post to discuss leadership.

Jane Wales, VP, Philanthropy and Society, kicks off the 2009 Global Philanthropy Forum.

Mark Whitaker of NBC News, Barbara Slavin of The Washington Times, and Kimberly Dozier of CBS News talk about US media covering America’s role in the world.

Watch more video clips here.

May 2009

Dear Friends,
The Aspen Institute is gearing up for another ambitious season of programming and special events in Aspen this summer. The McCloskey Speakers Series begins on June 16 with a talk by award-winning documentarian Ken Burns. The Aspen Ideas Festival kicks off on June 29. Please refer to our Summer Calendar for details on those programs that have currently been scheduled. If you are unable to join us this summer be sure to check out the video from many of the events at video.aspeninstitute.org.

Best regards,
Jim Spiegelman
VP/Communications and Public Affairs

Coming Soon:

Aspen Ideas Festival: Speakers joining us for this weeklong exploration of some of the most important ideas and pressing issues we face include Arne Duncan, Chuck Close, Stephen Breyer, Frank Gehry, Antonio Damasio, and Condoleezza Rice, among more than 175 others. Video and audio of many sessions will be online at aifestival.org. The festival is presented jointly by the Aspen Institute and The Atlantic. Aspen, CO — June 29-July 5

Aspen Health Forum: Join the Aspen Institute and Time magazine as we bring together 100 leading thinkers in an exploration of the science of sex, food for a new world, the mysteries of the mind, boomer medicine, health in times of stress, frontiers in biotechnology, and how our nation can make smart, sustainable improvements to the US health care system. To register or learn more, visit the website. Aspen, CO — July 24-27

16th Annual Summer Celebration: Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Goethe Convocation and Institute founders Walter & Elizabeth Paepcke.   Lester Crown will receive the Walter Paepcke Memorial Award.   The evening will begin with a concert by opera singer Jessye Norman at the Benedict Music tent performing pieces from her "American Masters" portfolio of American Music.   Dinner co-chairs are Jessica and Henry Catto, and Julia and David Koch, and honorary co-chairs are Antonia Paepcke DuBrul and Paula Paepcke Zurcher. For tickets, contact Becky Ward, (970) 544-7925. Doerr-Hosier Center, Aspen, CO — August 8, 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Socrates Society: Socrates brings together a diverse group of emerging leaders to engage in expert moderated seminars on contemporary issues and we will meet again in Aspen on June 26-29. Also join us in Aspen on June 28 for the annual Socrates Society benefit dinner featuring New York Times columnist Tom Friedman. Contact Melissa Ingber or Margaret Fisher to learn more. Aspen, CO — June 26–29

Aspen Seminar: The Institute's signature seminar invites a group of accomplished participants to engage in a Socratic exploration of classic and contemporary texts about leadership, values, and the good society. For information on being nominated to attend the Aspen Seminar, visit the website or contact Todd Breyfogle. Aspen, CO — May 16–21; June 6–11

Sixth Annual Meeting of the Ministerial Initiative for Health: This meeting, held by the Council of Women World Leaders, will bring together women ministers of health to discuss current issues, and share best practices, and provide feedback to the first-ever World Health Organization global report on women’s health. For more information, visit the CWWL website. Geneva, Switzerland — May 19

Metrics from the Ground Up: The Grassroots Business Fund and the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), with Keystone Accountability, Dalberg Global Development Advisors, and Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, invite you to participate in a workshop on the different approaches to monitoring and evaluating the impact of social enterprises. To RSVP, contact workshop@gbfund.org. Washington, DC — May 19-20

ANDE Reception: In conjunction with the Metrics from the Ground Up, the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs will host a DC reception to facilitate networking and further discussion among members and potential members. To attend, contact Joanna Herrmann. Washington, DC — May 19, 6:30pm

Microenterprise Funders Group: This twice-annual meeting is open to all funders interested in learning more about microenterprise. The agenda will include: a discussion of how the current financial crisis is affecting the microenterprise field, a look at some policy initiatives proposed to the new administration, and a review of key strategies for the field. Register online. Arlington, VA — May 19

Roundtable Series on Public Service Media: At the behest of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Communications and Society Program is convening a series of invitation-only roundtables aimed at aligning public service media in the move from public broadcasting to public media 2.0. To learn more, contact Sarah Snodgress. Wye, MD — May and September 2009

Alma and Joseph Gildenhorn Book Series: Join us for the next installment of the Institute’s DC-based lunchtime book talks. To RSVP, contact Rachel Sommers.

• Steve Luxenberg, author of Annie's Ghosts: A Journey Into a Family Secret, and Karl Taro Greenfeld, author of Boy Alone: A Brother's Memoir. Washington, DC — June 8

Emily Saidy de Jongh-Elhage, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles: The Council of Women World Leaders will welcome Council member HE de Jongh-Elhage for a keynote on the political restructuring of her country. For more information, contact Alina Dumitrasc. Washington, DC – June 10

Society of Fellows Luncheon with David M. Rubenstein: The co-founder and managing director of the Carlyle Group, Rubenstein will address SOF and members of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. For more information, contact Patrick Kelly. Visit the website for additional SOF events. Aspen, CO — June 13

Aspen Writers' Foundation: Join us for Aspen Summer Words, a five-day gathering featuring book panel discussions, writing retreats, literary festival, and professional consultations with agents and editors. For more information, visit the website. Aspen, CO — June 21-26

Justice & Society Seminar: This seminar brings together participants from diverse backgrounds to discuss the meaning of justice and how a just society ought to deal with issues such as private conduct and public mores, the extent of entitlements, race, gender, and international justice. Applications open to the public. For more information, contact Michael Doyle or visit the website. Aspen, CO — July 10-16

Wildlife Conservation & Human Well Being in Africa: Last October, the Aspen Institute and the African Wildlife Foundation teamed up to present an one-of-a-kind seminar about African wildlife and wildlands conservation in the context of African politics and equitable development. The combination of wildlife viewing, seminars, and special guests added a unique dimension and learning experience to the wonder of the world-class African safari. To reserve your place for 2011 or for more information, please contact Donna Horney.

Aspen-Rodel Fellowships in Public Leadership: Nominations are now being accepted for the next class of Aspen-Rodel Fellows. Visit our website to learn about the nomination process; contact Mickey Edwards, 202-736-5823, for more information.

For events all year long, visit our global calendar.

Hot Off the Presses:

“How to Raise the Standard in America's Schools”: In a recent issue of Time, Walter Isaacson writes about the challenges and opportunities behind national school standards.

“International Philanthropy in a Time of Recession”: Jane Wales, executive director of the Aspen Institute Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation, sat down with The Chronicle of Philanthropy for a discussion.

“Expectations for the New President”: In looking at the African-American community's expectations of Barack Obama, Laura Liswood, Secretary General for the Council of Women World Leaders, draws a comparison on Huffington Post to her conversations with Benazir Bhutto about the expectation of Pakistani women when Bhutto came to power.

Encouraging Entrepreneurship: A Microenterprise Policy Agenda for a New Political Era: This guide from the Institute’s FIELD program lays out some of the philanthropic initiatives that could support policy ideas and outlines how funders can support policy development.

The Instruments & Institutions of American Purpose: This book is a collection of papers prepared for the Aspen Strategy Group that represent a thorough accounting of the capabilities and limitations of the key organizations—diplomatic, military, financial, and intelligence—that American policymakers rely upon to address global challenges.