Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.

Walter P. Paepcke, Aspen Institute Co-Founder
Search

The Future of the American Worker

Note: This is a past event, additional resources may be available below.

Thu Apr 10, 2025

Date

Thu Apr 10, 2025
11:30am – 12:30pm

Location


The Aspen Institute, P1

Contact

Hosts

  1. Economic Opportunities Program
Description

American workers have faced numerous setbacks in the 21st century, including the Great Recession, the COVID-19 pandemic, continued wage stagnation, and an escalated cost of living. While workers made some gains following the pandemic, thanks to a tight labor market and because of a spike in organizing, many still feel their needs are unmet, a major theme of the recent election. Too many workers still live in precarity — a situation that could be exacerbated by the rise of artificial intelligence and new technological developments. In the face of these challenges, a bipartisan consensus has formed around the need for a new form of economics that recognizes and meets the needs of working people and families. Join this panel as they discuss the role of employee ownership in helping create a brighter future and better jobs for the American worker.

Speakers
  • Xavier De Souza Briggs, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institute 
  • Chris Griswold, Policy Director, American Compass 
  • Michael Quarrey, Vice President Corporate Development, Web Industries
  • Adria Powell, President and CEO, Cooperative Home Care Associates 
  • Moderator: Emma Goldberg, Reporter, The New York Times

 Home

Thank you to our colleagues at the Ford Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Prudential Financial for their generous support of the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. Rutgers University also appreciates the support of the Sorenson Impact Foundation for its support of this convening and other events in 2025.

Description

American workers have faced numerous setbacks in the 21st century, including the Great Recession, the COVID-19 pandemic, continued wage stagnation, and an escalated cost of living. While workers made some gains following the pandemic, thanks to a tight labor market and because of a spike in organizing, many still feel their needs are unmet, a major theme of the recent election. Too many workers still live in precarity — a situation that could be exacerbated by the rise of artificial intelligence and new technological developments. In the face of these challenges, a bipartisan consensus has formed around the need for a new form of economics that recognizes and meets the needs of working people and families. Join this panel as they discuss the role of employee ownership in helping create a brighter future and better jobs for the American worker.

Speakers
  • Xavier De Souza Briggs, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institute 
  • Chris Griswold, Policy Director, American Compass 
  • Michael Quarrey, Vice President Corporate Development, Web Industries
  • Adria Powell, President and CEO, Cooperative Home Care Associates 
  • Moderator: Emma Goldberg, Reporter, The New York Times

 Home

Thank you to our colleagues at the Ford Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Prudential Financial for their generous support of the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. Rutgers University also appreciates the support of the Sorenson Impact Foundation for its support of this convening and other events in 2025.

Feeling the Heat: Workplace Safety in a Warming World

For the benefit of workers, businesses, and our society, we need to build workplace heat safety into our culture, policies, and practices if we are to adapt to our warming planet. Join the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on Wednesday, July 30, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time, on Zoom to learn about how the warming climate is affecting workers, and what policymakers, businesses, and labor are doing to keep workers safe. This event is part of EOP’s Opportunity in America conversation series.

The Future of Equal Opportunity

“The Future of Equal Opportunity,” will explore the current landscape, emerging challenges, and the strategies needed to protect and strengthen opportunity in the American workplace.

Live Podcast Taping! Humanist Accelerationism

Fixing Work: Recent Lessons from the Field

The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program will soon release a report, Fixing Work: Lessons from Job Quality Practitioners, based on in-depth interviews with more than 20 leaders across the country about the work they are doing to create good jobs that provide economic security, the opportunity to advance and grow, and a safe, dignified, and equitable workplace. 

2025 Aspen Cyber Summit

Join us in celebrating 10 years of dialogue at the 2025 Aspen Cyber Summit in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, November 18.

How Good Jobs Support Small Business Success: Lessons from the Shared Success Demonstration – Transcript (Panel 1)

How Good Jobs Support Small Business Success: Lessons from the Shared Success Demonstration – Transcript (Panel 2)

How Good Jobs Support Small Business Success: Lessons from the Shared Success Demonstration – Resources

Advising Small Businesses on Job Quality: Lessons from CDFIs

Hear from CDFIs about their approaches to building job quality advising into their work, and share your questions and comments. We are eager to hear what you think!

Job Quality Fellowship Webinar – Transcript

In addition to providing an overview of the nomination and application process, we’re pleased to welcome two Job Quality Fellows to this conversation — Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, founding executive director of Organized Power in Numbers, and Bo Delp, executive director of the Texas Climate Jobs Project — who will share their experience as members of the Fellowship.