Upcoming Events from the Economic Opportunities Program — April 2026

The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy.

We hope you’ll join us at one of our upcoming events, which you can learn about below. Everyone who registers will receive a link to the recording, so please sign up even if you can’t participate live.

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TODAY — Reimagining Workforce and Economic Development in the South

Wednesday, April 1, from 2 to 3:15 p.m. Eastern time, on Zoom

For decades, economic and workforce development systems have measured success primarily through job creation and placement — the number of positions filled, businesses recruited, and workers placed. Yet for many workers, especially those in low-wage industries and economically distressed communities, job creation and placement has not translated into economic security or mobility. More economic and workforce development leaders have begun to reckon with this gap, recognizing that traditional approaches are falling short — not for lack of effort, but because the systems were never fully designed with making jobs better as a goal.

In response, a growing number of practitioners are experimenting with strategies that go beyond placement and retention to ask a more fundamental question: what makes a job worth having? Job quality strategies — which address wages, benefits, scheduling, worker voice, and pathways to advancement — are increasingly finding their way into the toolkits of a range of organizations. 

Join us to hear how the Institute’s Job Quality Fellows are embedding job quality into their work across a range of contexts and strategies — from employee ownership models that give workers a direct financial stake in their company’s success, to apprenticeship programs that create structured pathways to higher-wage careers, to worker advisory committees that bring employee voice into business decision-making.

Our speakers include Job Quality Fellows Kim Eckert (Western Governors University), Colby Hall (Craft Philanthropy), Daniel Marshall (Alabama Center for Employee Ownership / Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc.), Laurie Mays (Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Foundation), and moderator Matt Helmer (The Aspen Institute). This event is part of our Fixing Work in the South series, which brings together Job Quality Fellows who are on the frontlines of expanding access to good jobs in communities across the American South. Click here to register.

April 16 — Leading Change for Skills: Champions Across the Workforce Ecosystem

Thursday, April 16, from 1 to 2 p.m. EDT, on Zoom

Finding great employees for any organization can be challenging, and keeping them on board presents its own challenges. In response, many creative leaders are adopting strategies that expand talent pipelines to reach a wider variety of candidates based on skills and competencies. Others are exploring ways to build organizations that support internal growth and leadership with a clearer focus on skills and competencies, as well. How can leaders across the workforce ecosystem lead organizational change and partnerships to open opportunities in sectors as diverse as affordable housing and advanced manufacturing? 

Join the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on April 16, 2026, for a conversation with leaders who are driving changes in industry practices and organizational culture. Their work has not only created more opportunities to get workers to the door, but also supported employees once they’re through the door — for both frontline and leadership roles. Speakers include Leah Palmer, executive director of the Maricopa County Community College District’s Arizona Advanced Manufacturing Institute, and Tiffany Mangum, executive director of Fresno Housing’s Beyond Housing Foundation, who will share their lessons in leading these changes. Click here to register.

April 21 — Coming of Age at Work: Good Jobs for Teens

Tuesday, April 21, from 2 to 3:15 p.m. EDT, on Zoom

A young person’s first job is a rite of passage in the US — an opportunity to build skills, save for college, support the family business, or support themselves and their loved ones.

And after decades of decline, more teens are working today than at any point since 2008. Yet the labor market often fails them. Many face low wages, unpredictable or burdensome schedules that interfere with school, unsafe or discriminatory conditions, and limited opportunities for growth, belonging, and purpose. 

At the same time, innovative approaches like apprenticeship, training on safety and worker rights, and purposeful support and mentorship show what’s possible when we get it right: jobs that build confidence, provide fair compensation, and open doors to future careers. As we prepare the next generation of workers and community members, the question is clear: what would it take to make every teen’s first job a good job and ensure the labor market delivers for young workers? 

Join the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Forum for Community Solutions on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. ET, on Zoom, for Coming of Age at Work: Good Jobs for Teens. We’ll explore how to create meaningful work opportunities for teens while protecting them from dangerous and exploitative conditions. This event is the second in our two-part series, Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of Youth at Work. Click here to register.

RSVP

June 2-3 — Employee Ownership Ideas Forum

Tuesday and Wednesday, June 2-3, 2026, in Washington DC and online

The Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, hosted in partnership with the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing, brings together leading policymakers, practitioners, experts, and the media for a robust discussion on how we can grow employee ownership for the shared benefit of American workers and businesses.

Registration will open this month. Visit our website to sign up for information and updates.

External Events and Speaking Engagements

EOP staff are frequently called upon to lend their expertise to a variety of critical conversations and settings. To invite one of our experts to speak at an event, send us an email at [email protected].

• May 3-5, Chicago — Win-Win Workplace Summit 2026. UpSkill America Senior Director Haley Glover will speak on a panel with research partners at Strada Education Foundation about our recent report, “Maximizing the Value of Internships: Advice From Employers.” 
• May 3-5, Santa Fe — 2026 Close It Summit, hosted by Innovate+Educate, the New Mexico Workforce Conference, and the American Institutes for Research. UpSkill America Research Director Annelies Goger will speak at several sessions about the impact of apprenticeships.

In Case You Missed It

We are pleased to share recordings and resources from these recent conversations.

• March 18 — Maximizing the Value of Internships for Employers, hosted by Strada Education Foundation and UpSkill America.
• March 5 — Worker- and Community-Led Strategies for a Fairer Economy.
• March 5 — The New Era of Small Business Finance: Access, AI, and Accountability, hosted by the Aspen Institute’s Business Ownership Initiative and the Responsible Business Lending Coalition.
  • The Changing Role of Small Business Ownership
  • Innovations Driving Small Business Lending Forward: It’s Not All About AI
  • Main Street Challenges and Policy Solutions