This year, the Aspen Institute marks a milestone—our 75th anniversary. Founded in 1949 by Chicago industrialist Walter Paepcke and his wife Elizabeth, the Institute was built on the belief that addressing the world’s most pressing challenges requires dialogue, collaboration, and leadership. While much has changed in the world since then, the fundamental challenges we face—issues of equity, trust, and global interconnection—remain as relevant today as they were seven decades ago.
WATCH: “75 Years of Impact"
As we reflect on our history, we are reminded of the incredible leaders, thinkers, and changemakers who have shaped our work and mission. Looking forward, we continue to embrace the responsibility to foster meaningful change, rooted in the values of human dignity, moral leadership, and service.
We are proud of the progress we’ve made. And with your support, we’re excited to continue building a more inclusive, just, and resilient future for the next 75 years.
WATCH: “A Place Where the Human Spirit Could Flourish”: The Aspen Institute at 75. At the Aspen Ideas Festival, Dan Porterfield, president and CEO of the Aspen Institute; Walter Isaacson, history professor at Tulane University and Distinguished Fellow at the Aspen Institute; and Jenn White, host of NPR’s 1A, reflected on seven decades of leadership, service and impact.
In Focus: Igniting Leadership
As Co-Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group, Bonita Robertson-Hardy builds relationships, uses her voice to influence policy and advocates for equity and opportunity in public and private organizations. Her leadership centers on advancing equitable rural prosperity by elevating the diverse voices of rural practitioners and researchers.
In the latest episode of In Session, she shares leadership lessons learned from a career working with—and within—communities, and emphasizes the importance of finding your “why” as a leader.
Upcoming Events
Societal Trust After the Spike: Population, Progress, and the Case for People
July 9, 2025
Washington D.C. & Virtual
Please join the Aspen Economic Strategy Group (AESG) for a conversation on After the Spike: Population, Progress, and the Case for People with authors Michael Geruso and Dean Spears. In their book, they present a data-driven argument that the looming decline in the world’s population poses a threat to technological and social progress—and explore how we might build a society that avoids such a future.The authors will begin by outlining the evidence behind their case, followed by a conversation with AESG Director Melissa S. Kearney about their findings and implications.
The Aspen Security Forum (ASF) is the premier national security and foreign policy conference in the United States. Presented by the Aspen Strategy Group, ASF has served as a nonpartisan venue for domestic and global leaders to discuss the most pressing national security and foreign policy issues since 2010. This year’s Forum will feature a range of decision-makers and thought leaders from Washington, D.C., and around the world. Register to receive the livestream link and daily updates throughout the event.
Leadership Resnick Aspen Action Forum July 22-25, 2025
Aspen, CO
Each summer, the Resnick Aspen Action Forum offers an opportunity to come together with high-integrity, action-oriented leaders to reflect, refresh and recommit to addressing some of society’s greatest challenges. This year, watch the livestreams to follow along with thought-provoking and inspiring conversations.
At a time of rising mental health challenges, physical inactivity and social disconnection among young people, sports remain one of the most effective tools for promoting physical and emotional well-being. Project Play’s Parent Checklists
include key questions to ask your child, yourself and local programs when considering how to build an athlete for life.
Rising Generations Rising Generations Summit
On June 7, the Center for Rising Generations hosted its inaugural Rising Generations Summit, a youth-led leadership gathering in Washington, D.C. The summit brought together 125 youth delegates, ages 14 to 18, and affirmed that young people are not the leaders of tomorrow—they are the leaders of today.
Leadership The Canvas of Leadership
The Aspen Institute’s Leadership Seminars department is proud to announce the 2025 Cover Art Contest,The Canvas of Leadership. Individuals, age 18 and older residing in the U.S., are invited to creatively explore key themes of our leadership seminars; with the winning artwork receiving $5,000 and the chance be featured on the 2026 Aspen Executive Seminar reader!
Economic Opportunity 40 Years of Aspen CSG: Advancing Rural and Indigenous Prosperity
This year, the Community Strategies Group is celebrating 40 years of working alongside community development practitioners to build equitable economies and expand opportunity.
Economic Opportunity Upskilling Playbook for Employers
UpSkill America's America’s Upskilling Playbook for Employers is a strategic guide for organizations to build, scale and integrate skills-based workforce development initiatives that enhance business performance and support career growth. This second edition follows the Playbook’s original 2017 release, which became one of the Institute’s most popular publications.
Leadership CNN shared an Aspen Ideas conversation in which Fareed Zakaria sat down with former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates to discuss what the Supreme Court’s ruling in a birthright citizenship case means for the future of executive power in America.
Culture The Aspen Times reported on a generous $10 million gift to the Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies, from Lynda and Stewart Resnick, marking a significant milestone in the center's growth.
Health
Axios reported on conversations about AI and tech fueled "revolutions" in healthcare at Aspen Ideas:Health.
