We are pleased to bring you the latest edition of the Economic Opportunities Program’s newsletter! Learn how the Economic Opportunities Program (EOP) and its initiatives are driving change and helping low- and moderate-income Americans connect to and thrive in a changing economy.
Advancing job quality
Why does job quality matter? In a new video, members of the inaugural cohort of the Economic Opportunities Program’s Job Quality Fellowship explain why job quality matters to workers, the economy, and our democracy.
Three Job Quality Fellows talked about their experiences at the 2018 Aspen Summit on Inequality and Opportunity. Watch the panel discussion and learn more about Job Quality Fellows’ work via new multimedia profiles of Fellows.
EOP partnered with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City on a webinar series exploring strategies for improving job quality and outcomes for workers and businesses. Maureen Conway also presented research about workforce trends and quality job strategies at several convenings, including a joint Harvard Labor and Worklife Program and Frances Perkins Center symposium, the Community Development Venture Capital Alliance’s annual conference, and the MIT Sloan School’s Good Companies, Good Jobs Sector Strategy Conference.
Exploring ideas for inclusion
How can we expand credit access to small-dollar business loans for underserved groups? In “The Price of Access: How Scale-Focused Microlenders are Pricing for Growth,” FIELD Director Joyce Klein and Alan Okagaki explore how US microfinance institutions price loans as part of strategies to expand services and meet the needs of more underserved entrepreneurs.
Good Companies/Good Jobs Initiative Director Mark G. Popovich spoke at the Association for Baltimore Area Grantmakers about how contracting institutions can incorporate job quality and equity guidelines into their procurement practices and play a role in creating better and more inclusive economic opportunities for workers.
Maureen Conway was a keynote speaker at the San Diego Workforce Partnership’s Opportunity Summit, where she shared current research about how the changing structure and quality of work should be driving new strategies to help young adults make economic progress. She also participated in a panel discussion at the National League of Cities’ Congressional City Conference about how leaders can build strong workforce development pipelines in cities across America to ensure the future of work is more equitable and inclusive.
Promoting promising strategies and tools
Employers, investors, and educational institutions all have important roles to play in improving economic outcomes for frontline workers. In “Measuring Good Companies — Are You Ready?” Mark G. Popovich introduces a new software tool that uses simple but rigorous methods to help businesses understand the quality of their people practices. He spoke about this exciting new tool and the role of businesses in creating economic and career opportunities for frontline workers at an Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Fellowship for Educational Attainment convening.
Maureen Conway and Central Piedmont Community College’s president, Kandi Deitemeyer discussed opportunities for business leaders and educational institutions to improve economic mobility for low- and moderate-income Americans at CPCC’s conference, “IMPACT: Transforming the Talent Pipeline as We Build Economic Mobility.”
UpSkill America Director Jaime Fall participated in a panel discussion at the 2018 Chief Learning Officer Symposium about emerging ideas for employee retention and recruitment, building the case for organizations to redefine how they meet the developmental needs of their frontline workforce.
Upcoming for the Economic Opportunities Program
On May 10, the Economic Opportunities Program, along with the Financial Security Program, will host a Working in America series event titled, “Having a Stake: The Potential of Employee Share Ownership for Workers and Businesses.” Learn more about the event and register here.
From the Aspen Institute blog
Join the conversation
Follow EOP on social media to join the conversation!
“Disparities in employment cannot be explained by a lack of desire or ability to work. [They] reflect systemic failures, which require systemic solutions.” @RyanPHaygood @NJ_ISJ https://t.co/W6mlseF29r
— Workforce Strategies (@AspenWorkforce) March 29, 2018
“The black community owned 0.5 percent of America’s wealth at the end of slavery, and today that number has barely increased.” #racialwealthgap @anisrao @state_of_things @SandyDarity @MehrsaBaradaran https://t.co/l2asepJgtt
— FIELD at Aspen (@AspenMicro) April 4, 2018
? I want my
upskilling, upskilling, upskilling.
I want my
upskilling, upskilling, upskilling. ?The company behind @Chilis & @Maggianos is joining a first-of-its-kind apprenticeship program for restaurant employees. #upskilling https://t.co/0M3FJPAjI1
— UpSkill America (@upskillamerica) April 26, 2018
The Future of Work? It is shaped by the decisions and choices we (through employers, firms, customers, and public policy) make NOW! Here’s a 411 with an idea that could improve prospects for gig and non gig workers alike. https://t.co/X7VpAk71g2
— Mark Popovich (@mpopov1229) March 21, 2018
About EOP
The Economic Opportunities Program (EOP) advances promising strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income Americans connect to and thrive in a changing economy. Over its 25 years of work, EOP has focused on expanding individuals’ opportunities to connect to quality work, to start businesses, and to build assets and economic stability. For more information, visit aspeninstitute.org/eop.
EOP has several initiatives, including the Workforce Strategies Initiative, FIELD, UpSkill America, and Good Companies/Good Jobs. Learn more about these initiatives by visiting their respective websites: aspeninstitute.org/wsi, aspeninstitute.org/field, aspeninsitute.org/gcgj, and aspeninstitute.org/upskill.
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. For more information, visit aspeninstitute.org.
Thank you to our many partners and funders for supporting our efforts.
Keep in touch
Click here to subscribe to the EOP newsletter or sign up below.
For new updates every day, follow EOP on social media.
linkedin.com/showcase/economic-opportunities-program
Read our last newsletter
Share now
Tweet Spring is here and EOP has sprung into action. Learn how the @AspenInstitute Economic Opportunities Program (@AspenWorkforce, @AspenMicro, @UpSkillAmerica) is helping people connect to and thrive in a changing economy.
Tweet EOP is advancing job quality. Hear the #AspenJobQuality Fellows share why job quality matters, tell their stories at the #AspenOpportunity Summit, and describe how their work is elevating the cause.
Tweet EOP is exploring ideas for inclusion, like ensuring small business lenders can meet the needs of underserved entrepreneurs.
Tweet EOP is promoting promising strategies and tools, including new software that can help businesses understand the quality of their people practices.
