Overview of the Aspen Institute Policy Programs

James Spiegelman, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Vice President; Ph: 202.736.3849 Fx: 202.833.1813 jim.spiegelman@aspeninstitute.org.

The Aspen Institute policy programs have achieved an international reputation as an effective and impartial forum for constructive dialogue on significant policy issues confronting contemporary society. Policy programs frame critical topics and convene leaders and experts from relevant fields to reach constructive solutions. While each is unique in substance and approach, Aspen Institute policy programs all share a common mission and methodology. Each serves as an impartial forum, bringing a diversity of perspectives together in informed dialogue, research and action. By developing new thinking, options, recommendations, and initiatives, the policy programs seek constructive solutions within the policymaking process.

Financial support for the policy programs comes primarily from philanthropic foundation grants and, in a few programs, from corporate grants.

Currently, the Aspen Institute policy programs are:

Advocacy and Exchange Program on Agent Orange/Dioxin promotes dialogue within the US policy community, and between the United States and Vietnam, on solutions to the continuing impact of the wartime use of herbicides in Vietnam.

The Annual Gathering of Education Entrepreneurs, in partnership with NewSchools Venture Fund, seeks to develop an agenda for change in US public education and to identify opportunities for collaboration and accelerated impact across traditional boundaries.

The Aspen Strategy Group (ASG) convenes prominent foreign policy and national security experts to consider the important challenges facing the United States in the world today.

Business and Society Program (BSP) is dedicated to developing leaders for a sustainable global society. Through dialogues and path-breaking research, it creates opportunities for executives and educators to explore new pathways to sustainability and values-based leadership. Its websites, www.CasePlace.org and www.BeyondGreyPinstripes.org, are the leading sources of innovative curriculum in top business schools around the world.

Change and Prosperity: The Program on the World Economy promotes dialogue among leaders in business, finance, government, academia and the media from industrial and developing nations in order to generate new approaches to major global economic challenges.

The Commission on No Child Left Behind is a bipartisan, independent commission that will examine the strengths and weaknesses of the No Child Left Behind Act and make concrete and realistic recommendations to Congress, the Administration, State and local stakeholders, parents, and the general public to ensure the law is an effective tool in spurring academic achievement and closing the achievement gap.

Communications and Society Program (C&S) promotes dialogue and innovative decision-making in the fields of communications and information policy. It convenes leaders to assess the impact of modern communications and information systems and develops new models for communications policy.

Community Strategies Group (CSG) designs and manages peer learning exchange and critical examination opportunities among community leaders, practitioners and policymakers engaged in improving regional and community economic development, civic capacity, family livelihoods, and the development of local philanthropic resources.

Congressional Program offers nonpartisan educational programs designed to foster leadership on public policy issues among members of the US Congress.

The Council of Women World Leaders and the Ministerial Initiative is a partnership with the Institute that promotes good governance and gender equality and aims to increase the number, effectiveness and visibility of women in top leadership roles.

Economic Opportunities Program (EOP) advances strategies that connect the poor and underemployed to the mainstream economy. EOP facilitates participatory learning using applied research to stimulate dialogue and action among funders, policymakers, and nonprofit and community leaders about various approaches to poverty alleviation, including self-employment and microenterprise, industry-based employment strategies, and access to capital and credit for low-wealth consumers and communities.

Education and Society Program identifies emerging policy issues and encourages new initiatives in education among diverse groups of policymakers, practitioners, analysts, and other leaders.

The Energy and Environment Program brings together leaders in business and government as well as educational, research, and environmental organizations to seek creative solutions to domestic and international policy issues involving energy and environmental sustainability.

The Global Initiative on Arts, Culture, and Society seeks to build a neutral platform for reflection, network building, policy formulation, leadership development, and resource mobilization in the fields of arts, culture, and socioeconomic development.

Global Interdependence Initiative (GII) commissions research and provides technical assistance to help global issues advocates, experts and communicators engage the American public in dialogue about the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly interdependent world.

The Health, Biomedical Science and Society Initiative (HBSS) examines societal issues related to health policy, medicine, nutrition and biotechnology through a combination of roundtable discussions, speaker series and public convenings.

The Homeland Security Initiative examines the issues relating to US homeland security, assessing progress made by the US Department of Homeland Security and developing recommendations for making America safer.

Initiative on Financial Security (IFS) brings together business executives, elected officials, policy experts, and leaders from the non-profit community to explore and develop proposals on how low and moderate income Americans can save, invest, and own assets over their lifetime.

Justice and Society Program (J&S) convenes leaders from several disciplines and professions to affect national and international policy regarding human rights, international law, transitional justice, and post-conflict multilateral peacekeeping operations.

The Middle East Strategy Group includes prominent American, Palestinian and Israeli business and political leaders committed to developing pragmatic economic and policy initiatives that advance prospects for peace in the Middle East.

Nonprofit Sector and Philanthropy Program (NSPP) supports research, dialogue, and leadership initiatives on critical issues affecting the nonprofit sector and philanthropy.

Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative (EGI) — a partnership of the Aspen Institute, Columbia University, and the Council of International Human Rights Policy — whose aim is to put human rights values and principles, such as equity and participation, at the heart of global governance and policy to ensure that the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable are addressed on the global stage. Working in Africa, Realizing Rights: EGI has programs in the areas of health, trade, and development and migration.

Roundtable on Community Change (RCC) is a forum in which leaders working to revitalize distressed urban and rural communities can address common problems and share strategies for promoting positive change.

The Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy Group, convened in partnership with the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, gathers influential leaders to explore the promise of providing entrepreneurship education at the 9th and 10th grade level in low-income communities across the US. 

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