Economic Opportunities Program Monthly Digest — February 2026
The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program (EOP) advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy.
We are pleased to present a selection of our work from the past month.
If a colleague shared this newsletter with you, consider subscribing to our mailing list or connecting on social media. To learn more about our work, visit aspeninstitute.org/eop.
Publications
- Shared Success Mid-Term Evaluation Report by Shared Success, Financial Access Initiative, and EA Consultants
- How Understanding and Acting on Workers’ Perspectives Drives Small Business Success: Lessons From Shared Success CDFIs by Maya Smith
- What Matters Most: Employer Priorities for Early-Career Talent by Haley Glover (UpSkill America) and Angie Napper Walker (WGU)
Click here to view more publications.
Commentary
- Seeing the Grass, Solving for the Weeds by Chelsea Miller, UpSkill America
- Employer Support Contributes to Credential Completion by Haley Glover, UpSkill America
Click here to view more commentary.
Videos
- Building New Narratives on Work and Opportunity in the US South, featuring Job Quality Fellows Shuh-Marraka Johnson (Deep South Strategies, LLC), Dom Kelly (New Disabled South), Rachel Merfalen (Tennessee State Center of Employee Ownership/Good Future), Alexis Tsoukalas (Florida Policy Institute), and moderator Matt Helmer (The Aspen Institute).
Click here to view more videos. Click here to subscribe.
Podcasts
- Work Forces: Building Employer Upskilling Strategies, a conversation with UpSkill America Senior Director Haley Glover.
- Building New Narratives on Work and Opportunity in the US South, featuring Job Quality Fellows Shuh-Marraka Johnson (Deep South Strategies, LLC), Dom Kelly (New Disabled South), Rachel Merfalen (Tennessee State Center of Employee Ownership/Good Future), Alexis Tsoukalas (Florida Policy Institute), and moderator Matt Helmer (The Aspen Institute).
Click here to view more podcasts. Click here to subscribe.
Newsletters
- Job Quality Newsletter – Rethinking Work and Opportunity by Maureen Conway
- Upcoming Events — February 2026 by Economic Opportunities Program staff
- Monthly Digest — January 2026 by Economic Opportunities Program staff
Click here to view more newsletters. Click here to subscribe.
Upcoming Events
- March 5 — Worker- and Community-Led Strategies for a Fairer Economy (free, online).
- March 5 — The New Era of Small Business Finance: Access, AI, and Accountability (free, livestream only).
- June 2-3, 2026 — Employee Ownership Ideas Forum (Washington DC and online). Registration will open soon. Click here to save the date.
Click here to view more events.
About the Monthly Digest
The Economic Opportunities Program’s Monthly Digest newsletter is a recap of public activities from the past month, including new publications, commentary, videos, podcasts, news clips, and more. Click here to subscribe.
About the Economic Opportunities Program
The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy.
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