On February 21, teams from 20 schools across the city will be inspired by leaders to innovate solutions for their communities
Contact: Jon Purves
Senior Media Relations Associate
202 736 2111 | Jon.Purves@aspeninstitute.org
WHAT: The Aspen Challenge — a program of the Aspen Institute founded in partnership with the Bezos Family Foundation — is teaming up with Jefferson County Public Schools to launch Aspen Challenge Louisville 2019. A daylong youth leadership development forum on Feburary 21 kicks off this year’s Aspen Challenge. Teams of students and teachers from 20 high schools throughout Louisville will hear from leaders pioneering change to current pressing issues.
These leaders will present challenges to the students around topics including access to health care, race and discrimination, mental health, youth citizen engagement, clean energy, and human trafficking. The teams then have eight weeks to work on innovative solutions to the challenges, and on April 17 they will reconvene to present their solutions to a panel of judges. Three winning teams will be chosen to attend the Aspen Ideas Festival in June in Aspen, CO, to present their work.
WHO: Challenge participants include 20 high school teams of eight students ranging from grades nine through twelve and two teachers (the coaches for the program), totaling 200 participants from Jefferson County Public Schools. Please visit http://www.aspenchallenge.org/louisville-2019 to see a list of the participating Louisville high schools.
FEATURED SPEAKERS:
Wajahat Ali, writer, attorney, and consultant focusing on politics, religion, and race
Harold Green, artist, poet, and playwright
Jenara Nerenberg, journalist and founder of The Neurodiversity Project, seeking to reframe mental differences
Martin Pollio, superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools
Alexandra Quinn, CEO of Health Leads, a nonprofit that seeks to advance health and well-being for all
Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center
Steph Spiers, co-founder and CEO of Solstice, dedicated to expanding community-shared solar energy in the United States
Martina Vandenberg, founder and president of the Human Trafficking Legal Center
And more! For the complete list of presenters visit aspenchallenge.org
WHEN: February 21, 2019 | 9am – 8pm & April 17, 2019 | 9am – 6pm
WHERE: Muhammad Ali Center, View Pointe Hall, 144 N 6th St, Louisville, KY 40202
RSVP: If you are a member of the media who wishes to attend please RSVP to Jon Purves at Jon.Purves@aspeninstitute.org by Tuesday, February 19.
The Aspen Challenge provides inspiration, tools, and a platform for young people to design solutions to some of the most critical problems humanity faces. For more information, please visit aspenchallenge.org or www.facebook.com/TheAspenChallenge.
The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.
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