Upcoming Events

New York, NY

Society of Fellows Special: Aspen Ideas Festival Encore at Goals House
Wednesday, September 25
8:00-9:30 a.m. ET. We are pleased to invite our esteemed high-level members to a special breakfast engagement hosted during UN Climate Week at the renowned Goals House, nestled within the iconic Tavern on the Green in Central Park. The program will feature John Kerry, former U.S secretary of state and special presidential envoy for climate, in conversation with Vijay Vaitheeswaran, global energy and innovation editor of The Economist, to share valuable insights and reflections on urgent climate issues.
This intimate event is designed for a limited invite-only audience; please contact Diamond Powell with interest or to register your attendance. 

The 40th Annual Awards Dinner
Thursday, November 7
7:00-9:00 p.m. ET. The Aspen Institute is delighted to welcome friends and supporters to the 40th Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, November 7 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. It is a joy to applaud the significant work of the Aspen Institute and celebrate the work of Henry Crown Leadership Award honoree Alice L. Walton, and Arts Leadership Award honoree Ava DuVernay. The evening will also feature a special appearance from Aspen Institute artist-in-residence Hank Willis Thomas and other soon-to-be-announced speakers.
Purchase tickets here

Society of Fellows Salon: Tour of Hank Willis Thomas’s Studio & Conversation with the Artist
Friday, November 8
3:00-5:00 p.m. ET.  Join us for a private studio tour with Aspen Institute 2025 Harman Eisner Artist in Residence Hank Willis Thomas. This unique opportunity will provide an intimate glimpse into the artist’s creative process and artistic environment. After the tour, For Freedoms co-founders, Hank Willis Thomas and Eric Gottesman, will share insights into the work, artistic vision, and themes that drive their projects.
Please contact Diamond Powell with interest or to register your attendance. 

Washington, D.C.

Aspen Cyber Summit
Wednesday, September 18
9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. ET. Join Aspen Digital, a program of the Aspen Institute, in Washington, DC, on September 18 for the 9th annual Aspen Cyber Summit. The 2024 Summit is coming to the REACH at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to put cybersecurity front and center for the government officials, business leaders, nonprofit advocates, future defenders, and everyday people who are crucial to creating a safer world, online and off.
Register here

Arts Program: Shelved Voices: How Book Censorship & Bans Impact Everyone, Everywhere
Sunday, September 22
1:30-5:00 p.m. ET. Join us on as the Aspen Institute Arts Program in partnership with Kwame Alexander, W. Kamau Bell and the DC Public Library and DC Public Library Foundation presents, “Shelved Voices: How Book Censorship & Bans Impact Everyone, Everywhere,” at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library Auditorium in Washington, D.C. This program kicks off Banned Books Week 2024 with three segments exploring the history of book banning, the current state of literary access in the US, and how we might catalyze inspiration for protecting and expanding access to the written word for all readers. Featuring conversations with policy experts, librarians, authors, students, and advocates on the frontlines, this program highlights what’s happening in regions where censorship is both prominent and subtle.
Register here

Susan and John Klein Book Series featuring Stuart Eizenstat on The Art of Diplomacy
Wednesday, October 9
5:00-7:00 p.m. ET. Join us for a conversation with Stuart Eizenstat, Senior Counsel, Covington & Burling LLP and author, “The Art of Diplomacy: How Negotiators Reached Historic Agreements that Changed the World;” in discussion with David Rubenstein, co-founder and co-chairman, The Carlyle Group. The discussion will explore the book’s focus on the valuable lessons for resolving contemporary conflicts, including the need for courageous negotiators who can challenge entrenched partisan views, the importance of building personal trust among leaders, and the role of creative solutions in overcoming complex impasses.
Register here

Aspen, CO

Society of Fellows Salon: Local Leaders & the Power of Philanthropy in Community Building
Thursday, September 12
In collaboration with Weave: The Social Fabric Project of the Aspen Institute, The Buddy Program, and Aspen Community Foundation.
5:00-7:00 p.m. MT. Join us for a conversation on building trust through fostering deep connections within our communities, where prioritizing relationships and strengthening bonds are key. This discussion will feature leading voices in this transformative work both locally and nationally, including Frederick J. Riley, Executive Director, Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute; Arica Gonzalez, Executive Director, The Urban Oasis; Lindsay Lofaro, Executive Director, The Buddy Program; and Erica Snow, President & CEO, Aspen Community Foundation. We will also honor local philanthropist and influential supporter Leonard “Boogie” Weinglass, alongside Emmy Award-winning journalist Greg Lewis whose forthcoming biography will highlight Boogie’s impactful legacy. This event underscores the importance of community engagement and the pivotal role that dedicated individuals play in weaving the social fabric that sustains us all.
Register here

Society of Fellows Salon: Portrait of a Powerful Graduate: Broadening Our Definition of Success
Thursday, October 10
5:00-7:00 p.m. MT. Join us for conversation focused on empowering students to thrive, featuring Jean-Claude Brizard, president and CEO, Digital Promise; Sally Ann Ranney, President and Co-Founder, Global Choices; Brooke Stafford-Brizard, Vice President, Vice President for Innovation and Impact, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching; and Michael Hayes, school principal, Carbondale Community School. Panelists will discuss the evolving definition of “success” for students and youth, examining the range of skills, competencies,  leadership qualities, and support systems they need to excel in today’s rapidly changing and uncertain world.
Register here

Annual Aspen Institute Holiday Party: How Sports Shape and Reflect Democratic Values
Friday, December 27
In collaboration with the Aspen Institute’s Sports and Society Program
4:00-6:00 p.m. MT. Celebrate the season with an evening of holiday cheer and meaningful conversation. Join Jena Griswold, Colorado Secretary of State, and Tom Farrey, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program, as they explore the powerful role athletes, teams, and sports culture play in uniting communities and fostering democratic values. This festive gathering is designed for all ages, offering a unique opportunity for multi-generational engagement. Families are warmly welcome to join in the celebration! Additional speakers will be announced soon.
Register here

San Francisco, CA

Society of Fellows Salon: Demystifying Artificial Intelligence
Monday, October 21
6:00-8:00 p.m. PST. Featuring Arjun Gupta, Aspen Institute trustee and chair of AI committee, CEO of Calient.AI and TeleSoft Partners, who will provide a dynamic overview of artificial intelligence fundamentals and explore the challenges of this transformative technology. Generously hosted by Diane Morris and Janet and Tom McKinley. Location forthcoming.
Register here

Society of Fellows Special: Charting the Future of the Museum
Thursday, October 24
*Open exclusively for President’s Society members and above.
5:30-7:30 p.m. PST. Join Chris Bedford, Director of SFMOMA, and Veronica Roberts, Director of the Cantor Arts Center, for a dynamic conversation on how contemporary art institutions are reshaping cultural narratives and broadening their reach to diverse audiences. Generously hosted at the home of Mary and Harold Zlot, this exclusive event offers a rare opportunity to hear from two leaders guiding museums through the evolving landscape of the art world.
This intimate event is designed for a limited invite-only audience; please contact Valentina Popeil with interest or to register your attendance. 

Society of Fellows Special: Tour of SFMOMA “Get in the Game: Sports, Art, Culture”
Friday, October 25
*Open exclusively to President’s Society members and above.
9:30-11:00 a.m. PST. Experience a unique intersection of art and sports with a private, curator-led tour of SFMOMA’s exciting new exhibition, “Get in the Game: Sports, Art, Culture.” Enjoy coffee and conversation before exploring powerful connections between artistic and athletic expression. Jennifer Dunlop Fletcher, the esteemed Helen Hilton Raiser Curator and Head of Architecture + Design at SFMOMA, will provide special remarks, offering exclusive insights into the exhibition’s vision and impact.
This intimate event is designed for a limited invite-only audience; please contact Valentina Popeil with interest or to register your attendance. 

Los Angeles, CA

Society of Fellows Special: Reflections on the Ongoing Effort to Save Democracy
Sunday, October 13
*Open exclusively to President’s Society members and above.
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. PST. Join us for an insightful discussion on the ongoing effort to safeguard democracy, featuring Crystal Hayling, a leading voice in social justice philanthropy, and Melanie Lundquist, renowned activist and philanthropist. Bonded by their shared vision in The Commons—a groundbreaking initiative by The Chronicle of Philanthropy—Hayling and Lundquist will share their perspectives on the current state of democracy and the challenges ahead as we approach the 2024 presidential election. Moderated by Stacy Palmer, CEO of The Chronicle of Philanthropy, this intimate brunch will be graciously hosted by Melanie and Richard Lundquist at their Palos Verdes home.
This intimate event is designed for a limited invite-only audience; please contact Valentina Popeil with interest or to register your attendance. 

Society of Fellows Salon: Mindset Matters: The Power of College to Activate Lifelong Growth
Wednesday, October 23
5:30-7:00 p.m. PST  Join us in the President’s Suite at the famed USC Coliseum for an evening discussion featuring Dan Porterfield, President and CEO, The Aspen Institute; Brian Rivera, assistant research professor, University of Nebraska Lincoln; and Melanie Lundquist, activist philanthropist. Panelists will delve into the key themes of Porterfield’s new book, Mindset Matters, exploring the role of higher education in today’s rapidly changing world and the transformative power of a growth mindset in fostering academic excellence and personal development. Dr. Carol Folt, President, University of Southern California will join  for opening remarks and Q&A.
Register here

Newport Beach, CA

Society of Fellows Special: Mindset Matters: The Power of College to Activate Lifelong Growth
Tuesday, October 22
*Open exclusively to President’s Society members and above.
5:30-8:30 p.m. PST Join us for a special evening discussion featuring Dan Porterfield, President and CEO, The Aspen Institute; Brian Rivera, assistant research professor, University of Nebraska Lincoln; and G. Gabrielle Starr, president, Pomona College in conversation with Genna Moe, Senior Director, Society of Fellows, The Aspen Institute. Panelists will delve into the key themes of Porterfield’s new book, Mindset Matters, exploring the role of higher education in today’s rapidly changing world and the transformative power of a growth mindset in fostering academic excellence and personal development. We invite you to continue the conversation over dinner following the panel, generously underwritten by Lugano Privé.
This intimate event is designed for a limited invite-only audience; please contact Valentina Popeil with interest or to register your attendance.

Virtual

Society of Fellows New Member Orientation: Fall 2024
Monday, September 23
7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. ET. This will be an opportunity for you to meet members of our team, meet other members who have recently joined, and become better acquainted with the Society of Fellows. This conversation will take place on Zoom, so that all attendees can participate face-to-face.
Register here

Society of Fellows New Member Orientation: Winter 2025
Thursday, January 9
7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. ET. This will be an opportunity for you to meet members of our team, meet other members who have recently joined, and become better acquainted with the Society of Fellows. This conversation will take place on Zoom, so that all attendees can participate face-to-face.
Register here

Society of Fellows New Member Orientation: Spring 2025
Tuesday, April 29
3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. ET. This will be an opportunity for you to meet members of our team, meet other members who have recently joined, and become better acquainted with the Society of Fellows. This conversation will take place on Zoom, so that all attendees can participate face-to-face.
Register here