Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ideas Winter 2020-21
Ideas Winter 2020-21
Ideas Winter 2020-21
RESPONSE
MCNULTY FOUNDATION
& GLOBAL FELLOWS
RISE TO THE PANDEMIC
BUSINESS
FOR GOOD
THE C-SUITE GOES
BACK TO SCHOOL
SCREEN TIME
THE STEVENS INITIATIVE
MEETS THE MOMENT
PLUS!
ANNA DEAVERE SMITH
OSKAR EUSTIS
LIPI ROY
UCHÉ BLACKSTOCK
AND MORE
CONTENTS
DEPARTMENTS
7 | W H AT I S T H E I N S T I T U T E ?
12 | A R O U N D T H E I N S T I T U T E
Meet the Institute’s new Hurst Community
Initiative; Aspen Words has your winter reading
2 7 | I M PA C T
The Institute’s Health Innovators Fellowship
JoRee LaFrance
takes on the challenges of a global pandemic;
Fellows from the Aspen Tech Policy Hub
12 learn the art of government.
30 3 2 | A S H E A R D AT
Uché Blackstock speaks with Lipi Roy about
diversity in medicine and the effect of the
pandemic on communities of color;
Anna Deavere Smith talks to Oskar Eustis
about race in the arts and what will happen
Shutterstock
Courtesy Alen Voskanian and Uché Blackstock
to live theater in the wake of Covid-19.
60 | FA C T S
Get to know the Institute’s programs.
64 | PA R T I N G S H O T
Distance is relative.
32 ON THE COVER
Gabe Ford
A medical professional
in Uganda with
CRITICAL
RESPONSE
MCNULTY FOUNDATION
OneWorld Health,
& GLOBAL FELLOWS
RISE TO THE PANDEMIC
BUSINESS
FOR GOOD a venture of Liberty
Fellow Matthew
THE C-SUITE GOES
BACK TO SCHOOL
SCREEN TIME
Alexander
Kissane Viola Design
PLUS!
ANNA DEAVERE SMITH
Photo courtesy
OSKAR EUSTIS
LIPI ROY
Dan Bayer
UCHÉ BLACKSTOCK
OneWorld Health
AND MORE
34
36 | POISED TO RESPOND
Aspen Global Leadership Network fellows always
make an impact on the world. Now, thanks to the
McNulty Foundation, fellows are striking at the heart
of the pandemic with aid, health care, food, and more.
Courtesy OneWorld Health
42 | ENLIGHTENED ENTERPRISE
If business leaders are going to have social impact,
then business schools are going to have to wrestle
36
with the critical issues of the day. Ashley Fetters
JoRee LaFrance
44 | AN UNFINISHED BEGINNING
In an effort to create a better nation, a new Institute
46 | VIRTUALLY POSSIBLE
Shutterstock
Courtesy Alen Voskanian and Uché Blackstock
56 | MONEY MATTERS
Covid-19 threatens to shutter businesses across
the US, leading to job loss, massive inequality,
and a dearth of entrepreneurialism. Mark G.
Popovich and Maureen Conway argue the
Shutterstock
Dan Bayer
—Corby Kummer
Roman Cho
PEOPLE
500,000 people incarceration
leave prison each more than
year without an quadrupled
education, housing, are incarcerated in the over the last
a job, health care, or United States, more four decades.
transportation. than any other nation.
Source: Douglas E. Wood. Ending This Place of Torment: A Framework for Transforming the Criminal Justice Continuum. Washington, DC: The Aspen Institute, 2019.
AMERICAN POLITICS:
AMERICA’S
PLACE IN A
CHANGING
Faced with a rising death toll from Covid-19, a buckling US economy, General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus—urged the United States
protests over racial inequity, and challenges from China and others, to reclaim its place on the world stage. However, in an exchange
the Aspen Strategy Group explored strategic responses to this with Aspen Strategy Group Executive Director Nicholas Burns,
difficult era. The program’s Summer Workshop, which normally Ambassador to the US from China Cui Tiankai summarized his
assembles its bipartisan group of US and international leaders in nation’s thinking: “Is the United States ready to live with another
Aspen, gathered to virtually discuss foreign policy priorities for 2021 country” as a global power “with a different history, different culture,
project. Inspired, Lin used her new skills to launch Project Exchange, a virtual study-
abroad program that gives middle- and high-school students cross-cultural learning redefine a Capitol Hill institution that has
experiences through text. The youth-led program uses design thinking, community served members of Congress for more
journalism, and UN Sustainable Development Goals to enhance instruction and than 600 breakfasts over 30 years. It
collaboration. Now, Lin is one of the first Stevens Initiative alumni to receive funding joined the rest of the world to go where
from its new Alumni Small Grants program. Lin says, “98 percent of our students feel
it never thought it could: digital. The
more confident about their leadership abilities in a global society.” Lin’s goal for Project
Exchange? To reach 10,000 students by 2030 who don’t traditionally have access to move didn’t come without challenges—
exchanges that include video. She wants all young people to see themselves as global notably, navigating the mute button—but
changemakers. stevensinitiative.org/alumni-small-grants | myprojectexchange.com the program has seen glimpses of the
Fleming
JUSTICE LEAGUE
“We are reckoning with historic truths not all of us were willing
to face up to,” said Darren Walker, the president of the Ford
Foundation, at an event hosted by the Institute’s Criminal
Justice Reform Initiative and the Institute’s McCloskey Speaker
Series. “But in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, we
no longer can deny racism.” It’s hard to overstate how much the
ground has shifted in the effort to transform the criminal justice
system. This year, mass protests erupted across the country
when there was a senseless killing of a Black person at the hands
of the police. It also fueled support to reimagine criminal justice,
taking social, economic, educational, and health disparities into
account. To that end, the Criminal Justice Reform Initiative,
which launched last spring, hosted a discussion with Walker as
well as actress, playwright, and Institute trustee Anna Deavere
Smith and Reverend Vivian Nixon, the executive director
of College & Community Fellowship and an Institute Ascend
Fellow. “It’s important to say clearly that justice and safety are
our objective,” Walker said. “Some have framed this conversation
in a false dichotomy: we either have safety or we have justice. I
categorically reject that. We can have safe communities, and we
can have Black and brown bodies treated with dignity.”
Clint Spaulding
Walker aspeninstitute.org/cjri
JOINT VENTURE:
Clint Spaulding
health care, and energy. Plus, the vast majority of investments use
traditional financing structures (debt or equity), despite the global
industry’s increased focus on alternative instruments (such as quasi-
equity). Currently, investors are concerned about the macroeconomic and
political implications of Covid-19—and hopeful that impact investments
will become a potent solution for recovery. andeglobal.org
URGENCY
Hildegard Vasquez, Kelsey Wirth, Albright, Gómez-Colón
OF NOW”
The Resnick Aspen Action Forum is a platform for Aspen Global inspired me; fellows and moderators pushed me and, ultimately,
Leadership Network fellows—a community of values-driven invested to make our company happen,” he said. As is tradition,
entrepreneurial leaders—to gather, explore societal challenges, fellows also made Action Pledges, public commitments to social
and act. In a year plagued by crises, the theme, “The Fierce impact. For example, Health Innovators Fellow Megan Jones Bell
Urgency of Now: Uncomfortable Leadership,” was especially pledged to “improve psychological resilience for one million people
relevant. More than 500 participants and 150 youth from 35 in the US.” Central America Leadership Initiative Fellow Jaime
countries joined online. At the opening plenary, Henry Crown Zablah Siri pledged to create 5,000 new jobs for El Salvadorans
Fellow and Institute trustee Jacqueline Novogratz told fellows previously involved in violence. The closing plenary included
that “deep listening” is key to activating the moral imagination. multiple generations of leaders, from former US Secretary of
“What binds this community is a deep desire to be of service,” State Madeleine Albright to youth activist Salvador Gómez-
Novogratz said. Henry Crown Fellow Dan Hoffman then brought Colón, who left fellows with his thoughts on leadership: “Every
the Institute’s seminar experience online with his platform: Circl.es. leader needs to ask: how are my actions today impacting someone
Inspired by his fellowship, Hoffman created the interface to bring else’s tomorrow? Because leadership is not about self or ego but
meaningful connection to a virtual format. “The Aspen curriculum about others.” agln.aspeninstitute.org/resnickaspenactionforum
FAIR SHARE
Structural inequity has created stark wealth divides along
racial and gender lines—divides that have only worsened during
the pandemic. White households have roughly 10 times the
wealth of Black households, and households headed by single
women have less than 40 percent of the wealth of those
headed by single men. This limits critical opportunities like
Courtesy Penguin Random House
home ownership, entrepreneurship, education, and retirement from Recology; Janet Boguslaw from the Institute for the
savings. Employee share ownership, which allows workers to Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers
hold shares or buy shares in their company, has an important University; Todd Leverette from the Democracy at Work
role to play in correcting these inequities and giving workers Institute; Kimberly Adams from Marketplace; and opening
a chance to meaningfully participate in the economy. The speaker Natalie Abatemarco from Citi Community Investing
Economic Opportunities Program held a virtual event—“Can and Development. The event was part of the program’s ongoing
Employee Share Ownership Improve Racial and Gender Wealth Opportunity in America series, which examines economic
Equity?”—that brought a dynamic lineup to the Institute, opportunity in the US and the implications it has for people
including Ayanna Banks, Susan Hoop, and Julie Bertani-Kiser and communities across the country. Watch at as.pn/equity.
COUNT US IN
Mandated by the US Constitution, the Census counts all people Brandon Lujan (Taos Pueblo) created a youth council in his
living in America every 10 years. The data collected determines community of Taos, New Mexico. At 19, Lujan serves as youth chair
funding for critical education and social-services programs. And for Taos Pueblo’s Census Committee. His efforts include advertising
for the past 150 years, Native people have been undercounted. in the native language Tiwa, distributing Census gift bags to tribal
This means minimal funding for improvements on reservation members, and mobilizing youth to post Census flyers around the
infrastructure, health care, and political representation in tribal community. Another participant, JoRee LaFrance (Apsáalooke)
communities. Though the Census Bureau has worked with tribes and empowers youth on the Crow Reservation. LaFrance created an
organizations, and Congress has intervened, much of the burden of initiative inviting youth to create murals that answer the question,
counting falls on the communities themselves. The Institute’s Center “What does the Census and counting mean to me?” Participating
for Native American Youth has worked alongside the National Urban youth were then required to have conversations about the Census
Indian Family Coalition and others to promote youth-led initiatives with their entire family. LaFrance has also partnered with award-
that help ensure tribal communities are accurately counted. CNAY winning artist Ben Pease to create a mural on display at the entrance
launched a Generation Indigenous campaign called “Democracy is to the reservation. Crow is one of the largest Indian reservations in
Indigenous” to train youth across the nation to support community- the country, and the implications of undercounting her community
driven action in a way that elevates Native American culture. All are stark. Despite the current administration’s decision to end
“Democracy is Indigenous” participants received micro-grant Census data collection early, Native youth continue to lead their
funding to support their initiatives. tribal communities and remind them that they count. cnay.org
Every day, Native people face systemic oppression. These experiences of injustice affect Native
youth’s voting behavior and political engagement. The Institute’s Center for Native American Youth
with partners IllumiNative, Native Organizers Alliance, and the University of Michigan surveyed
1,100 young Indigenous peoples to provide a precise representation of the problem. cnay.org
9 in 10 ONLY 1 in 3
Native youth feel others do not Native youth believe non-Natives are aware
care about their experiences. of the racism Natives experience.
IDEAS WINTER 2020/21 21
AROUND THE INSTITUTE
iStock
Lisa Kay Solomon leads the seminar leads the seminar “Vote by Design: Presidential Election.”
partner with Aspen Romania for digital
seminars on transatlantic relations and
health care, and will offer digital seminars
in Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Japan.
WORKSHOP REGISTRATION The program’s off-the-record, intimate
OPENS JANUARY 4 conversations arise when participants take
the time to grapple with significant texts
Register Today! | andersonranch.org
and topics. Covid-19 has interrupted life,
but the reach of digital programming can
keep us connected.
aspeninstitute.org/socrates-digital
KEEP THE
CONVERSATION
GOING!
This winter, the Socrates Program has
new events planned with its partners at
Amazon Web Services about the future of
Anderson Ranch Arts Center
tech in a post-Covid-19 world. Check out
5263 Owl Creek Road
Snowmass Village, CO 81615 the Calendar on page 63 to learn more.
970/923-3181 | info@andersonranch.org
iStock
COLLEGE TRY
Cuyahoga Community College’s nursing program in Ohio improves
degree completion for students of color with mentoring, tuition
assistance, and other strategies.
This year, the Institute’s College Excellence Program Green River College’s information technology program in Washington
gave eight community college technical programs a state increases American Indian enrollment and brings IT courses to
tribal colleges.
$50,000 Excellence and Equity in Community College
STEM Award, funded by the Siemens Foundation. Lake Area Technical College’s welding technology program in South
Dakota recruits refugees from Myanmar and gives them English lessons
These programs are creating strong career tracks for and technical instruction.
diverse students by preparing them for high-demand
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s process operations
jobs in advanced manufacturing, energy, health care, technology program expands women’s access to the well-paid but male-
and IT. Experts predict STEM jobs will grow at almost dominated petrochemical industry.
double the rate of other US occupations, but these San Jacinto College’s nursing program in Texas cuts exam and
careers have racial, gender, and ethnic disparities. equipment costs, and adds test-prep courses to attract and retain
underserved students.
“It’s not enough for community colleges to offer great
pathways to high-demand, high-wage jobs,” says Josh San Jacinto College’s process technology program increases enrollment
of low-income, Hispanic, and female students.
Wyner, the College Excellence Program’s executive
Seminole State College of Florida’s networking technologies program
director. “They must ensure all students have equitable
sees their graduates recruited for jobs that once went only to those with
access to opportunities. These eight programs show bachelor’s degrees.
how it’s done.” Each program targets underserved Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology’s electrical technology
populations and sets students up for success. program works with Pennsylvania nonprofits to increase diverse
enrollment and provide notable financial support and paid internships.
highered.aspeninstitute.org
SPORTING CHANCES
The Institute’s Project Play Summit, part of the Sports & Society
Program and the nation’s premier gathering of sports leaders for
healthy communities, went digital in October with the largest
audience in its six-year history. The summit focused on creating a
sustainable, post-pandemic sports model for all kids, regardless of
race, gender, income, or ability. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver
encouraged young athletes to connect with their feelings: “There’s
nothing wrong with speaking up as a kid and saying, ‘I’m struggling
in these areas,’ or ‘I’m anxious.’” Crystal Dunn, a member of the
US women’s soccer team, said racial representation in sports is
critical. As the only Black girl on her youth soccer team, she said,
“it was quite lonely at times.” Allyson Felix, a six-time Olympic
track and field gold medalist, offered advice: “Young athletes might
feel like they need to have a platform or a following. But we all
have a following in our own lives, and it looks like our families and
friends.” Michael Lewis, the author of The Blind Side and Moneyball,
said pay-for-play travel sports are broken: “You can only look at
it like a market for addictive drugs—an endless supply of anxious
parents willing to cough up whatever it takes to give their kids an
edge.” The travel soccer system “could be so much better,” agreed
US women’s soccer star Alex Morgan. “Kids are forced into one
sport at too young an age.” Other speakers included NFL Hall of
Famer Terrell Owens, retired NBA star Vince Carter, Olympic
gold-medal gymnast Laurie Hernandez, ESPN President
Jimmy Pitaro, 17-time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden,
gold-medal speed skater Apolo Ohno, WNBA player Chiney
P L AY I N A PA N D E M I C
64% 29%
Parents who said their
child is not interested
in sports during the
pandemic.
Parents who fear their child
$903
will get sick by resuming
What the average family
sports when Covid-19
spent per child annually
restrictions are lifted.
across all sports before
the pandemic.
Source: Aspen Institute/Utah State University youth sports parent survey, September 2020
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents Rodham Homeland Elegies Whale Day
by Isabel Wilkerson by Curtis Sittenfeld by Ayad Akhtar by Billy Collins
This book, by the best-selling Sittenfeld, a New York Times best- Pulitzer Prize–winner Akhtar A former US poet laureate, Collins
author of The Warmth of Other selling author, explores the fantasy combines fiction, memoir, and is known to navigate humor and
Suns, explores how an unspoken of what could have been had Hillary history to tell the provocative story serious reflection on the same
caste system shaped the US. Using Rodham not married Bill Clinton. of a Muslim Pakistani family in the page. In his newest collection, he
real people’s stories, Wilkerson, a The novel pokes holes in real events US and their search for identity again leaps from the quirky to
Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist, until the reader is enmeshed in a and belonging as they confront the familiar, taking the everyman
presents a new framework to view new (literary) reality. the possibilities and limitations of experience and revealing the
identity and injustice at home. American life. wonders it embodies.
Aspen | Avon | Carbondale | Crested Butte | Denver Tech Center | Glenwood Springs | Rie
Courtesy Allyson Felix
Big-City Legal Services, Small-Town Practice Attorneys in Litigation & Transactional Law
Gareld & Hecht, P.C. is a proud sponsor of the Sandra Day O’Connor Conversation Series
Now also in Carbondale at 225 Main Street, Suite 306
www.gareldhecht.com | 970.925.1936 ph | atty@gareldhecht.com
TECH
T
rative—especially in government. My hub journey armed
he Institute launched the Aspen Tech Policy Hub in me with the skills I needed to understand how policy is ef-
2019 to bridge the gulf between the US government fectively ideated, created, and adopted, and it ignited a pas-
and the technology industry. Technology innovation sion for public service in me.
and policy development largely occur independent- At the hub, Google’s Nidhi Hebbar, another fellow and
ly of one another, despite the critical role technology plays in education technology expert, and I poured our minds and
shaping society. The hub is changing that by empowering tech- souls into the EdTech Equity Project, which provides edtech
nologists to learn more about policy. The fellowship program companies with tangible, technical practices for more equi-
trains technologists in the policy process during a 10-week in- table product design and development. It also guides schools
residence program in the Bay Area. The first four weeks feature to prioritize racial equity during the edtech evaluation and
an intensive policy bootcamp: fellows study government struc- procurement process. We want to create strong partner-
tures, learn how to advocate for innovative solutions, and hear ships across schools, communities, and the edtech industry
from technology and policy experts on critical issues of the day. to champion the needs of students of color. After complet-
Fellows then spend the next six weeks of the program iterating, ing the hub fellowship, I joined the Public Rights Project—a
developing, and advocating for an innovative solution to a pol- national nonprofit that builds state, local, and tribal govern-
icy problem they are passionate about. Since the 2019 launch, ments’ capacity to equitably enforce residents’ rights—and
the hub has hosted two cohorts of 15 fellows each. Fellows have am now leading their communications team.
gone on to make considerable impact in the technology policy I’m thankful to the hub for creating space for me to do work
world, creating new nonprofits, changing careers, and affecting that is so important—and for its continued support as I light the
corporate culture. Below, three fellows share their experiences. torches of action that ensure the fight for justice always shines
aspentechpolicyhub.org bright. edtechequity.org | publicrightsproject.org
RAPID RESPONSE
The Institute’s Health Innovators fellows have been at the forefront
of the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic—from exploring
precision medicine to securing PPE. By Victoria Scheffel
W Alen Voskanian
ith a global pandemic and a resulting world-
wide economic contraction, we need smart,
values-driven, adaptive leadership more than Medical Director of Cedars-Sinai Medical Group
ever. This is particularly true in the health care industry, As a medical director, I lead about 200 physicians and 50 nurse
which has had to create its own playbook during this high- practitioners and physician assistants. When Covid-19 first
stakes crisis. unfolded, I realized immediately that safety was paramount.
Members of the Aspen Institute’s Health Innovators I needed to put my stake in the ground and say these are the
Fellowship have heeded this call for leadership. The Insti- absolute musts and these are the absolute nos.
tute launched the fellowship in 2015 to create a cadre of We as providers have to have the correct personal
leaders committed to addressing the unique challenges of protective equipment to do our work, and I had to be the
health care in the United States—both individually and col- voice saying, “I’m never going to ask you to do something if
lectively. Guided by their values and working as both indi- you don’t have the proper PPE.”
viduals and a collective, Health Innovators fellows have used I constantly channeled the discussions I had as a Health
the lessons and the support of the fellowship to address the Innovators fellow to help guide my thinking and identify
urgent needs of today. Three fellows write here about how the values I needed to make clear clinical decisions. Who
they changed their work once Covid-19 arrived in the coun- gets an N95 mask? Who gets a surgical mask? How do we
try and in their professional lives. make sure everybody on the team—including nursing and
administrative staff—has access to the right PPE?
Communicating clearly from the onset of the pandemic
that our clinicians and staff would never work in an unsafe
“We quickly created environment fostered critical trust. It also increased everyone’s
GetUsPPE. Although motivation and, ultimately, improved the health and safety
of our staff and patients. Using my fellowship experience
we saw it as a stop-gap and thinking about justice and equity as my foundation, I’ve
been able to respond to challenges and support providers as
at the time, it still we all face this together.
thrives, and has delivered
almost three million pieces
of equipment, developed
the country’s only PPE
Scarcity Index, and created
a ‘fairness framework’ for
equitably directing and
distributing the PPE
Courtesy Alen Voskanian
we receive.”
—Megan Ranney Voskanian
BILL OF HEALTH
As part of the digital Aspen Ideas: Health webinar series,
Dr. Uché Blackstock spoke to Dr. Lipi Roy about a more diverse health
care workforce, disparities in health outcomes, and why hospitals
shouldn’t rely on diversity officers.
T
he Aspen Ideas: Health program hosted a series LIPI ROY: How has this current coronavirus outbreak
of free, public, digital events this year on topics highlighted or reinforced the need to address health
including Covid-19 testing and tracing, advances disparities and inequities? And why is diversifying the health
in Medicare and Medicaid, and the art-brain care workforce a key element to advancing health equity in
the United States?
connection. One event, hosted in September, focused on two of
the biggest stories of the year: Covid-19 and racial equity. Dr. UCHÉ BLACKSTOCK: One of the reasons why I founded
Uché Blackstock, the founder and CEO of Advancing Health Advancing Health Equity was because there were significant
Equity, has seen firsthand how the pandemic has highlighted preexisting racial health inequities, even prior to the
inequities throughout the health system and is actively working pandemic. Often in my talks and trainings, I talk about how
to change that. Blackstock spoke to Dr. Lipi Roy, a clinical we’ve heard about the Black maternal mortality crisis. That
has gotten a lot of press over the last few years. But there’s
assistant professor at NYU Langone Health and a medical
also an infant mortality crisis, with Black babies being more
contributor to MSNBC and NBC News, about everything than twice as likely as white babies to die within their first
from the effect of Covid-19 on minority populations to leaving year of life. That’s a wider disparity now than it was 15 years
academia for a career in social justice. before the end of slavery.
Covid-19 symptoms. He had Covid pneumonia. I wanted and understand that if you have an equitable working
to send him to the emergency department, and he said environment, that’s going to trickle down to the care you
to me, “Doc, honestly, I’m scared to go there because provide. These values need to be instilled in strategic
I don’t think I’ll be treated well.” Essentially, he meant plans and to be part of every leadership person’s role,
that as a Black man, he did not think he would get the not just the chief diversity officer. The chief diversity
care he deserved. And we have seen in the data from the officer should not be the only person thinking about
pandemic that there are disparities in care depending on diversity, equity, inclusion, or antiracism. It should be
which hospital you go to; there may be some accentuation within everyone’s roles and responsibilities. Otherwise,
of provider bias. So these were valid and just concerns what happens is people say: “Oh, that person’s dealing
that this patient had. I was glad he was able to express with it. It’s not my problem.” It really should be all of
them to me, and we were able to have a conversation our problems.
about it. We also need to review practices and policies within
institutions to see how they create bias and racism
LR: We know that Black and Hispanic individuals now and sexism. Because we know these policies, whether
make up about 30 percent of the US population, yet they intentional or unintentional, do that. So there needs to be
are only 15 percent of first-year medical students. So more intentionality at every step of the way within these
what gaps in the physician pipeline are preventing more organizations.
minority students from pursuing careers in medicine?
LR: What advice would you give to a young Black woman
UB: Again, the pandemic is revealing these inequities, looking to pursue a career in medicine today?
and we know that a diverse workforce is one of the
solutions, though not the only solution, to addressing UB: The journey I thought I would take as a physician has
these inequities. People need to understand that the same been very different than the journey I’m currently on. I
problem—racism—that has led to these racial inequities thought I would stay in academic medicine for the rest of
among patients is also the problem that’s leading to the lack my career. But I’m actually creating this new path. I was
of Black physicians. The social determinants of health, just promoted last year to associate professor, and people
such as employment, education, and transportation, are thought I was crazy when I said, “I’m leaving to start
all important to developing communities. If you don’t an organization that focuses on addressing racial health
have opportunities for wealth, how can your family ever inequities.” People looked at me like, “What are you
afford to send you to college? If you live in communities thinking?” My message not just to young Black women
that have experienced disinvestment and you have never thinking about medicine but really anyone who really
met someone who is a physician, you have no role model. wants to do advocacy and even social justice work is: Your
If you’re going to chronically underfunded schools that future may look different than what you thought, but you
offer, unfortunately, a poor-quality education, you may not really have to take that leap of faith. If you believe in
even be prepared for a medical education. This pipeline your mission and you walk that path, then everything will
has to start from kindergarten. We need mentoring. We ultimately work out.
need resources going into schools in underrepresented
communities starting from the very beginning, with All transcripts have been edited for length and clarity.
Dan Bayer
RADICAL
SCENE CHANGE
Anna Deavere Smith and Oskar Eustis explore the future of
live theater in a turbulent time.
L
ive theater is intimately connected to the ANNA DEAVERE SMITH: How is The Public Theater
audience watching it. But with the arrival of a responding to this moment in world history? As you know,
African American artists and artists of color from different
global pandemic and social distancing, theater
disciplines are speaking up.
and many other artistic endeavors have been
shuttered. For the moment, live theater is a super-spreader OSKAR EUSTIS: We are being faced with our own
event. At the same time, there is upheaval occuring community, who is asking to hold us accountable for the words
around the country as Americans reckon with racism, and and the values we use. I am spending a lot of time listening
to my own staff, who have a lot to say, and also to the artistic
more and more artistic leaders are being asked to confront
communities that are also speaking up. The job of the Public
white supremacy. This was the backdrop for a recent Theater right now is to recognize that we are entangled in
“Aspen Leadership Series: Conversations with Great white supremacy, we are entangled in the racist assumptions
Leaders: In Memory of Preston Robert Tisch” discussion that have built this country, and we—white leadership—do
between Anna Deavere Smith, an actress, playwright, not see those things as clearly as we must. We need to listen,
learn how to see each other better, and figure out collectively
professor, and Institute trustee, and Oskar Eustis, the
how we’re going to change to be more just, more equitable,
artistic director of the Public Theater and our Harman/ more inclusive, and more democratic, which are values that
Eisner artist in residence. we deeply believe and have so far insufficiently upheld.
at ourselves in the mirror and say: “Can we live up to these of homophobic people who walked into that theater—and
values better? Can we do this mission more completely than had the experience of identifying for seven hours with these
we’ve been doing it?” And the answer to that is yes. The brilliant, complex, proudly gay characters, and they walked
public is demanding that we live up to what it stands for. out having had incredible empathy with people they had
previously “othered.” That actually changes people’s hearts.
ADS: Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, But there was no legislation that happened because of Angels
which is so eloquent, includes one very simple sentence (not in America. I do think it was part of changing how this country
many of the sentences are simple), which is: “Privileged looked at gay people—and only a part of it. But a part that
groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily.” It takes I’m proud of.
resistance; it takes rebellion. What privileges are leaders of
American artistic institutions going to have to give up? What ADS: What can we, as theater makers, do to uplift other
are some of the things you’re hearing loudest? stories? Do we need to leave that to artists of color? I’m very
concerned about the extent to which my students feel that
OE: There are decision-making processes that feel organic what we can say is connected to our birth race.
and natural to me that other people feel are completely
secretive and opaque. To many, how decisions are made, how OE: It’s a very tricky question because there aren’t any
the levers of power are moved, feels impossible to see—like simple answers to any real artistic questions. There’re a
some kind of illuminati working. It feels private and secret. couple of different values that are warring here. One is
I never would have thought that; that was not how I look the fact that you have to make sure you are giving space
at it. But I’m hearing that criticism, and I’m taking it really to people to tell their own story. Every great movement in
seriously. There is a call for radical transparency. That’s the theater history has come about because we’ve expanded
kind of thing that I’m hearing: unexamined assumptions the enfranchisement of the stage. We’ve given the stage
about who has power, who has control, who gets privilege over to more people who get to be the subjects of their
to access. own history, not the objects of their own history. So,
I come from a Marxist tradition, and the genuine criticism empowering voices of color is absolutely necessary. Yet at
leveled against that tradition is that it privileged class struggle the same time, we as Americans are all bound up together
over racial struggle. It saw racial oppression as secondary to in a system that is built on racism and oppression, and that
class oppression. It saw racism as a class phenomenon, not a implicates all of us. We are responsible for our own actions,
root cause. I’ve known for a long time that that analysis was we are responsible for our own lives, we’re responsible for
flawed. But in the last weeks, I’ve been educated about how the art we make. If we want the art we make to change the
racism and capitalism have been utterly entwined from the world, we have to find ground on which we can stand to
very beginning of this country. Of course, we always knew talk about changing the world—and that’s always going to
that freedom and slavery stood side by side as seemingly be vexed ground.
contradictory elements: the good America and the bad
America. But when you realize they were interdependent All transcripts have been edited for length and clarity.
POISED TO
Courtesy AGLN fellows
36
O RESPOND
The Covid-19 pandemic threw communities the world over into tumult—but Aspen
Global Leadership Network fellows, with the help of the McNulty Foundation,
were ready with food programs, mental health services, microgrants, and more for
communities in need. By Johnny McNulty and Samantha Cherry
IDEAS WINTER 2020/21 37
where employment was massively disrupted by quarantine.
Operating in Uganda’s already fragile health care system,
W
Although the immediate dangers presented by the
hen crisis strikes, values-based, purpose-driven pandemic were front of mind, fellows also took quick action
leadership can make the difference between a to begin reimagining a post-Covid-19 world that addresses the
struggle and a disaster. As the pandemic spread deeply entrenched systemic and structural issues that were an
across the globe, Aspen Global Leadership accelerant to this crisis. In New Orleans—a city still scarred by
Network fellows stepped up to act and meet the needs of their the unequal help given to citizens after Hurricane Katrina—
communities. Fellows have deeply examined the fundamental the Campaign For Equity, led by Civil Society fellow Shawn
values and beliefs that compel them to act. Tests like these are Barney, helped draft many recently unemployed people as
what their journeys prepared them for. contact tracers and other relief workers. The Campaign for
With a long history of supporting fellows and high-impact Equity is also ensuring that the funds and programs being put
ventures, the John P. and Anne Welsh McNulty Foundation in place help the city solve preexisting inequities rather than
partnered with the AGLN to offer rapid-response support to keep them in place or worsen them.
fellows through the Global Response Fund. The McNulty On the following pages, please find contributions from a
Foundation has pledged up to $1 million in funding. To date, few of these talented fellows.
the fund has supported 70 fellows’ organizations with $750,000
directly helping vulnerable communities in the United States A nurse at a OneWorld Health
medical facility in Uganda
and over 20 other countries.
The key to success was the leaders’ connection to the
communities they served. Their quick responses were
made possible by years of groundwork forming long-term
relationships and deep understanding.
In New York City, the first US epicenter for Covid-19, the
East Harlem COAD, supported by Health Innovators fellow
Ann-Gel Palermo, linked local business owners, volunteers,
and community leaders to quickly communicate needs in the
neighborhood—a capability that scaled rapidly and ensured
businesses could survive and citizens remain safe in a densely
populated low-income borough.
In the West Bank, the organization Shiam, led by Middle
East Leadership Initiative fellow Lana Abu-Hijleh, tapped
youth democracy groups to distribute groceries, personal
protective equipment, and information on how to stay safe to
communities bordering Israel—where many people work and
putting more pressure on us to respond. with 112 more being supported by the end of 2020.
By boosting our collaborative efforts both
nationally and internationally and connecting with
the Lebanese diaspora, we went from serving eight
geographical districts to covering all 26. As a result,
we carried one of the largest national food-relief
campaigns, successfully distributing some 50,000
food boxes to 200,000 people in three months.
Then, on August 4, the explosion in Beirut’s port
challenged an already dire situation. This event of
historic proportions forced us to widen our scope.
Now we’re supporting 120 nongovernmental
organizations and growing. Students participate in a Creative
Reaction Lab design program
ASSOCIATION OF GHANA’S ELDERS | ESI ANSAH saw misinformation on the pandemic caused further fear and
Africa Leadership Initiative, West Africa Fellow
panic among the community. We engaged with some people
Building an ecosystem of services to ensure that Ghana’s elders age directly to allay their worry, but that was not enough.
with dignity, and continuing to have an active and productive stake in The solution we came to was quite simple. We organized
their communities an online Zoom meeting for elders to meet and chat. Our
Association of Ghana’s Elders, or “AGE,” started the year off elders were thrilled that they finally got to take part in a virtual
with a lot of energy and were busy scheduling visits with various meeting. Now, these virtual meetings occur once a month and
retiree groups on a monthly basis—until March came along are ensuring the community does not feel alone and that the
and Covid-19 grounded our work, essentially cutting us off from elders’ mental health stays positive. In addition, we are excited
the senior citizens we sought to serve. The restricted movement to launch our Buddy Program to connect seniors with “juniors”
meant that our elders were stuck at home, alone, living in fear, who will check on them, keep them company, and share what’s
unsure of how things would go. On our WhatsApp platform, I going on in the world around them.
I
t has been 50 years since economist Milton Friedman In normal, non-pandemic times, the Undergraduate
famously intoned that the business of business is business. Consortium’s yearly gatherings are high-energy, two-day
But if business schools focus only on technical and affairs. In addition to seminars and discussion groups,
practical skills, says Claire Preisser, an advisor to the Aspen attendees participate in activities like scavenger hunts
Institute’s Business and Society Program, they “miss the huge and silent walks around the host city. Before Covid-19 hit,
opportunity to educate students about things like power, or Business and Society had planned programming of just that
history, or the tensions between capitalism and democracy”— kind for 2020, at a meeting that was to take place in June
tensions that only intensified in 2020. The connection between at the campuses of Franklin & Marshall College, Bucknell
business choices and societal health have long been at the center University, and the University of Pennsylvania. But as most
of Business and Society’s work and perhaps nowhere more things did, the Undergraduate Consortium went virtual.
clearly than in its Undergraduate Consortium. “We believe we have the chance to rebuild our economy
Initiated in 2012, the Undergraduate Consortium and social fabric, and to reimagine how we measure
supports educators who draw on the humanities to bring success as a nation and as businesses,” Judy Samuelson,
timeless questions and urgent contemporary issues into the executive director of Business and Society, said in her
the business classroom. Over the years, Preisser says, opening remarks. Institute CEO Dan Porterfield called the
consortium participants have grappled with everything value of the humanities both intrinsic and instrumental in
from how to teach about the European refugee crisis to fostering a lifelong proclivity to learn new things, and he
how to equip students to have productive conversations stressed the importance of blending the humanities and
about identity and difference. The pandemic and the business education to foster true leadership.
reckoning on racial justice this year, she says, “only
underscore the need to do more.” Continued on page 49
42
43
AN
UNFINISHED
BEGINNING
F
or many Americans, it’s clear that the old way of The series’ unique approach was evident from its first
solving big problems with individual actors does episode, which aired at the end of October. Focusing on
not work—and that the topics at the forefront of issues of the economy and justice, the episode explored
social dialogue around the economy, democracy, questions like, “Can we design a better economy?” and
technology, and culture will require innovative approaches. “Will capitalism survive?” And while it included experts
A new organization, Unfinished, provides that new and prominent individuals like filmmaker Abigail Disney,
approach. Unfinished focuses on connecting people and Ford Foundation President Darren Walker, and former
institutions to solve challenging social issues at scale. The presidential candidate Julián Castro, it also lifted up the
organization is premised on the idea that asking questions voices of workers and everyday Americans who are often
Gabe Ford. Ai Weiwei x For Freedoms, “?”, Knoxville, TN, 2020. In Collaboration with Unfinished. From For Freedoms 2020 Awakening
and beginning inclusive conversations is critical to left out and left behind. The series continued with episodes
making progress—and that by tapping into wide-ranging focused on Democracy and Voice, Technology and
communities, creative media, and new technology, it can Humanity, and Culture and Change.
provoke ideas, elevate unheard voices, and create greater Unfinished is the brainchild of Frank McCourt, a civic
impact. Across multiple projects—from Unfinished Network, entrepreneur focused on enterprises that align action and
which curates and amplifies stories and conversations and purpose as a way to create sustainable value and social
creates pathways for civic engagement; to Unfinished Labs, impact. The Institute is a founding member, along with
which builds technology to solve social impact problems; to Ashoka, the Shed, For Freedoms, Georgetown University,
Unfinished Questions, which launched to encourage dialogue PolicyLink, the Ford Foundation, Imperative 21, the Max
and promote trust—Unfinished is taking on urgent problems Steinbeck Charitable Trust, McCourt and Mil M2. By
and creating spaces for new voices, fresh partnerships, and forging connections among diverse members and expansive
novel discoveries. networks, Unfinished hopes to present completely new
Recently, the organization launched Unfinished Live—a ideas and initiatives in interesting and compelling ways.
four-episode digital event series that uses questions as a “Precisely because we live in a divided country where much
starting point to tackle challenging issues and then to ask, progress is needed,” says Institute CEO Dan Porterfield,
“What’s possible now?” The series was made possible in part “the language and spirit of this project are premised on
by the Aspen Institute, which has served as a co-producer the notion that we are called to join the unfinished effort to
through its Public Programs unit and provided vital support build a ‘more perfect union.’”
for the enterprise. Hosted by Baratunde Thurston, a The organization’s name carries echoes of historic
comedian, writer, and cultural critic who helped launch The efforts to bridge divides and find new paths forward. On
Daily Show with Trevor Noah, the series uses art, innovative a brisk autumn day in 1863, amid America’s Civil War,
formats, and unexpected conversations with experts and President Abraham Lincoln spoke at the Gettysburg
everyday people to drive generative questions and capture
new ideas in refreshing ways. Continued on page 49
Courtesy Soliya
46
VIRTUALLY POSSIBLE
When the world suddenly had to rely on screens to
connect, the Stevens Initiative was ready.
“During our time together, our team members faced the explosion in Beirut and a
hurricane on the East Coast,” one participant says. “Yet we were able to coordinate
and create a cohesive idea.”
Above: Participants from Stevens Initiative grantee the William Davidson Institute Presentations, small group meetings, and one-on-one
at the University of Michigan; Below: A participant from Stevens Initiative grantee
the Karam Foundation sessions created space for hundreds of professionals to quickly
get involved in virtual exchange at a time of extraordinary
momentum. The program also used the sessions to model
Grant proposals adapted in-person education and exchange communicating online, overcoming technology glitches,
programs to virtual ones, helped organizations adapt virtual and demonstrating effective facilitation. Attendees say these
exchanges to crisis conditions, and supported preparation for sessions were very helpful as they rushed to start virtual
future exchanges. The program made 18 grants through a exchange and as many shifted their strategies in the face of
rolling review process in which they received 131 applications months of reduced in-person education and travel.
in under two months. The programs connected youth in the As the pandemic disrupted learning for students around
United States and Middle East and North Africa region for a the globe, the Stevens Initiative team also hosted town hall
range of activities, including collaborative art projects, peace- meetings with virtual exchange practitioners to coordinate
building training, and summer camps. All focused on giving a response and offer solutions. These meetings resulted in
youth an international experience. real-time intelligence to share with all attendees, including
The pandemic-response grants helped 1,077 young associations representing K–12 and postsecondary education.
people gain critical skills, friendships, and invaluable global The town halls also sparked collaboration between the
experiences, and they trained 200 adults to implement program and several associations, resulting in a resource
programs in the future for thousands more. guide for virtual exchange leaders and senior international
Stevens Initiative funding allowed the education officers at postsecondary institutions.
group Engineering World Heath to replace a canceled in- By acting quickly to meet the urgent need to launch online
person summer-abroad program with a five-week Virtual programs, the Stevens Initiative planted the seeds for virtual
Innovation Exchange. Together, students in the US and exchange to continue flourishing long after restrictions
Lebanon created 23 design projects to address the health imposed by the pandemic end.
care challenges posed by Covid-19. One team designed a
low-cost, battery-powered oxygen concentrator to assist
impoverished and rural areas during a global spike in
demand. Despite being a first-time virtual program, the
exchange was a positive experience for participants. “Getting
the chance to coordinate with international colleagues and
learn innovative ideas from them,” one participant says,
“and share experiences and knowledge has certainly aided
in my growth as a biomedical engineering student.”
The program also helped institutions prepare for future
Courtesy Karam Foundation
Higher-learning institutions and their communities can battlefield. He praised the soldiers who had hallowed
come together to counteract both the economic devastation of the ground with their sacrifice; he called for a “new
Covid-19 and long-standing inequality, and business education birth of freedom”; and he implored the citizens of the
can also do its part to thwart the destructive forces of structural warring nation to commit themselves to an ongoing civic
and institutional racism. Michael Sorrell, the president of Paul experiment. “It is for us,” he said, “to be dedicated here
Quinn College, described the school’s efforts to provide access to the unfinished work which they who fought here have
to business education and job training in under-resourced areas. thus far so nobly advanced.”
“Of course, we support lifelong learning—we like nothing better,” Unfinished isn’t putting itself forward as an organization
he said. “But we have to acknowledge the economic realities of that has all the answers. “We’re in a time of great challenge
our students. So maybe we should talk about lifelong earning, and and concern and trepidation, but also opportunity for
providing pathways on and off, and in and out of academia, to growth and positive change,” McCourt says. “We need to be
continue to make progress.” Paul Quinn, a Historically Black thoughtful, patient, humble, and open-minded. That leads
College, created certificate programs that allow students to qualify
for more jobs and create more options for themselves. Adults who
enroll can receive job training without committing to longer-
term degree programs that might sideline them from working.
Graduates can thus leave school in fewer than four years with
“There’s no fee to pay, no
multiple entry points into a workforce that may be both actively
discriminating against them and decimated by a pandemic.
intimidating door to walk
The 2020 Undergraduate Consortium created innovative through, no exclusive club
focused on inviting VIPs.
new collaborations between schools across the globe. The fact
that the gathering was both online and free offered “the chance
road to somewhere.”
institutions: some 75 from 14 different countries. Most years, she
says, attendees are largely from North America. Mary Brennan,
the director of undergraduate programs at Scotland’s University
of Edinburgh, noted that the quality of the quickly assembled
Covid-19 course at Wharton inspired her to consider ways to one conclusion: we need to listen and learn.”
virtual instruction could present new possibilities to collaborate Recently, Unfinished joined with the artist-led
with institutions outside the United Kingdom and Europe. organization For Freedoms on a campaign to put creative
The disruptions of Covid-19 can present an opportunity voices at the center of national and international
to reimagine the consortium as something with even greater conversations, generating big questions and displaying
impact than an intensive few days. Already, Preisser says, virtual them in public places on billboards in all 50 states. “Our
programming is making for unique intersections with the day- billboard campaign is the great equalizer for accessing
to-day life and work of participants. Brennan may have been art,” says Claudia Peña, the executive director of For
“heartbroken” when she learned she wouldn’t get to pay her Freedoms. “There’s no fee to pay, no intimidating door to
first visit to Wharton this year. But the virtual programming walk through, no exclusive club focused on inviting VIPs.
allowed her to sign into the webinars from her phone and listen You just need to be on a road to somewhere.”
to discussions as she walked through Edinburgh’s Holyrood The organization’s partners are excited about what the
Park, home of the extinct volcano known as Arthur’s Seat. approach can achieve. “I have been drawn to it in a way
Edinburgh, Brennan pointed out, was “a real center of that is almost magnetic,” says Angela Glover Blackwell,
philosophical and moral and enlightened thinking during the a nationally recognized activist and writer, whose
17th and 18th century.” This summer’s consortium, she said, will organization, PolicyLink, advances racial and economic
help her feel equipped to prepare the next class of Edinburgh equity, and who is part of the Unfinished Council. “The
graduates to join a world that’s rebuilding and recovering. idea of being able to link together multiple networks
connecting organizations and individuals who are ready
to do something transformative—that’s what’s called for
Ashley Fetters is a general assignment reporter for The Washington Post. at a moment that’s so pregnant with change.”
51 54 56
AMERICA’S NEXT CHAPTER MAKE JUSTICE LOCAL MONEY MATTERS
Can the Institute create a more Instead of arguing about Covid-19 threatens to shutter
inclusive world? Jane Wales explores whether to defund or expand the businesses across the nation, leading
how Institute programs are joining police, Douglas E. Wood suggests to job loss, massive inequality, and a
forces to do just that. Introducing the a third way: justice reinvestment. dearth of entrepreneurialism. Mark
Pillars of Society. It’s also the cornerstone of the G. Popovich and Maureen Conway
Institute’s new Criminal Justice contend the markets can fix this—
Reform Initiative. with the right incentives.
A
fter a searing summer of protests, the communities where peaceful protests have, at times, been marred
continuing impact of Covid-19, and a time by disruptions. Still others are calling for what is known as “justice
of deep, serious discussion and reflection, reinvestment.” This concept is anchored in community-driven
communities across the country are approaches like the ones taken by Oakland’s Neighborhood
reimagining what safety and justice mean Opportunity and Accountability Board, which provides healing-
to them. Many have called for defunding centered alternatives for young people who get involved in the justice
the police. Others have called for an expansion of policing in system, and “Neighborhood Stat,” a program in the New York City
A
By Mark G. Popovich and Maureen Conway
fter nine months of viral contagion income distribution, as well as among women, mothers ages 20
and economic wreckage, inequality is to 34, and people of color—especially African Americans and
ballooning while economic mobility is in Latinx communities.
free fall. The prosperous are financially Some suggest that modest economic policy changes may be
unaffected amid the most unequal sufficient to yield a more inclusive prosperity. Others insist that
“recovery” in US history. Both illness and radical prescriptions are required. The results of the November
fiscal damage are concentrated among the lower half of the election point to prescriptions aimed squarely at inclusive prosperity.