What's new at the Economic Opportunities Program
We are pleased to bring you the first edition of the Economic Opportunities Program's newsletter! Learn how the Economic Opportunities Program is driving change and helping low- and moderate-income Americans succeed in today's economy.
Key points on the 1099 economy from the latest Working in America event
In September, the Economic Opportunities Program held its latest Working in America event, "The 1099 Economy: Exploring a New Social Contract for Employers, Employees, and Society." Key points from the event are featured in clips now available on the EOP website. More.

EOP partners with RAND to offer the 2015 Behavioral Finance Forum
On October 21, 2015, the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program co-hosted with RAND and the Institute for the Future the 2015 Behavioral Finance Forum, which this year is also looking at the implications of the changing nature of work and the on-demand economy for consumer financial decision making. EOP Executive Director Maureen Conway and FIELD Director Joyce Klein participated in panels. More.

FIELD holds webinars on Small Business Borrowers' Bill of Rights
In August 2015, FIELD worked with a coalition to launch the Small Business Borrowers' Bill of Rights, aiming to protect small businesses from predatory lending. Since then, FIELD Director Joyce Klein has led two webinars to explain the project, its mission, and its importance. More.

First Communities that Work Partnership learning exchange held
AspenWSI led the first learning exchange for participants in the Communities that Work Partnership at the Institute's Wye Campus in September. The project, supported in part by the US Department of Commerce, aims to accelerate and document more effective workforce initiatives across the country. More.

Skills for America's Future Director speaks at Community College Workforce Consortium
Skills for America's Future Director John Colborn spoke at the Community College Workforce Consortium hosted by Clark State in September. His speech, entitled "Upskilling the American Workforce," preceded a forum featuring numerous workforce development leaders from throughout the Midwest. More.

New book features chapters by EOP leaders
Transforming U.S. Workforce Development Policies for the 21st Century features the writing of both EOP Executive Director Maureen Conway and Associate Director Vickie Choitz. The book, produced in partnership by the Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta and Kansas City and the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University, explores how new policies and practices can meet the changing needs of workers, businesses, and their communities. More.

Latest US Microenterprise Census data released
In September, FIELD concluded another year of collecting data for its US Microenterprise Census. Already, FIELD has made available new industry-wide statistics and comparative data on the US microenterprise development field. Visit the interactive site microTracker.org for more information. More.

AspenWSI will "train the trainer"
AspenWSI collected applications for an upcoming program: Sector Skills Academy Train-The-Trainer. The program will train participants to deliver specialized versions of the Sector Skills Academy, expanding the usage of sectoral workforce strategies to better serve workers' and businesses' needs. Stay tuned for a public announcement of the selected participants in early 2016. More.

FIELD studies microbusiness jobs
FIELD released an updated edition of its report, "Microbusinesses, Gainful Jobs." The report assesses the quality of jobs provided by microbusinesses, taking a closer look at wages, benefits, career advancement opportunities, and flexibility. It also includes new sections on microbusiness jobs for millennials and for those who struggle most to find good jobs. More.

Long-time collaborator of AspenWSI named MacArthur "genius"
Congratulations to Juan Salgado, who was among the recently announced recipients of the prestigious MacAarthur "genius grants"! Juan is president and CEO of Instituto de Progreso Latino in Chicago and has collaborated with AspenWSI on several initiatives and reports, including Courses to Employment and Sector Strategies for Low-Income WorkersMore.

Three Initiatives

The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program has three main initiatives. Learn more!

 

 

 

In the News
By Senator Mark Warner, Aspen Journal of Ideas. 

By Tamar Jacoby, quoting John Colborn, Wall Street Journal.

By David McCabe and Mario Trujillo, describing the latest Working in America event at the Aspen Institute, The Hill.

By Maureen Conway,
Aspen Idea Blog.


By Joyce Klein and Gwendy Donaker Brown, 
Aspen Journal of Ideas.
 
Join the Conversation!
Follow the Economic Opportunities Program initiatives on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation!


Our words shape our assumptions about who deserves decent wages & job quality. #raisethefloor
nyti.ms/1M43FBR

EOP builds ladders and raises the floor
In recent weeks, EOP leaders have been traveling the country to dialogue with leaders across sectors about the need to both raise the floor and build ladders for low- and moderate-income workers. Recent events include:
  • In September 2015, Maureen Conway and Vickie Choitz presented for the Workforce Development Leaders Forum hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in branch offices in Kansas City, MO, Oklahoma City, OK, and Denver, CO. They shared strategies and examples of improving job quality and economic mobility.
  • On October 1, 2015, Maureen Conway spoke at the Ford Foundation Grantee Convening: The Intersection of Worker Justice and Financial Justice in Chicago, IL. Her presentation was titled "Raise the Floor, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and the 1099 Economy," and was featured as part of the panel on "Current Issues on the Workforce Justice Agenda."
  • On October 2, 2015, Maureen Conway presented on how to raise the floor for low- and moderate-income workers and issues related to the 1099 economy at the Win-Win Strategies Roundtable in Chicago, IL.
  • On October 13, 2015, Vickie Choitz conducted a discussion workshop with the Oregon Career Pathways Alliance on "Building Ladders and Raising the Floor" in the community college context.
  • On October 23, 2015, Vickie Choitz presented on "Build Ladders and Raise the Floor" at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Policy Institute on Economic Success for Working Families and Children.
EOP staff presents at National Council for Workforce Education conference
At the National Council for Workforce Education 2015 Annual Conference, Workforce Education For All! in October, EOP staff members played active roles in critical conversations. 
  • John Colborn moderated a business leaders panel discussion on workforce education. 
  • Vickie Choitz co-presented on ways community colleges can advance improvement of job quality as well as build career pathways, along with Alison Dickson from the School of Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois
  • Marcela Montes, senior research associate for AspenWSI, co-presented on lessons learned around AspenWSI's evaluation of a Round 2 TAACCCT grant, along with Heath Prince of the Ray Marshall Center for the Study of Human Resources and Lisa Wheeler of Bossier Parish Community College in Louisiana. 

More on the conference and these sessions.

Upcoming events
Join the Economic Opportunities Program at one of our upcoming events, either in person or online!
  • On November 19, the Aspen Institute will hold The Aspen Summit on Inequality and Opportunity in Washington, DC. EOP has partnered with colleages across the Institute to convene this one-day gathering dedicated to nonpartisan dialogue about the widening opportunity gap in the United States. More.
 

  

The Economic Opportunities Program (EOP) is a policy program at the Aspen Institute whose primary mission is to advance promising strategies and policies to help low- and moderate-income Americans succeed in today's dynamic economy. Led from the Institute's headquarters in Washington, DC, EOP is composed of three related initiatives: the Microenterprise Fund for Innovation, Effectiveness, Learning, and Dissemination (FIELD), Skills for America's Future, and the Workforce Strategies Initiative (AspenWSI). Learn more at as.pn/eop
 

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, CO; 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.

 

Thank you to our many partners and funders for supporting our efforts.


 

Questions or comments? Email us at [email protected] or call us at (202) 736-2933.