Improving job quality takes many forms and tactics — as does the funding that supports it. Some businesses need access to capital or technical assistance to build better jobs. Workers and advocates need resources to organize, push for higher standards, and shape the policies that govern work. And the field itself needs investment to grow the knowledge, networks, and infrastructure that make progress possible.

This event — hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on May 7, 2026 — explores how philanthropic and financial capital can play a meaningful role in supporting efforts to improve job quality. Job Quality Fellows from across the South will share examples from their own communities, including where they see opportunities and challenges in investing in job quality and what they’re learning. The conversation surfaces lessons about how funders and investors can show up as partners in the long-term work of building a South where good jobs are the norm, not the exception.

Our speakers include Thelma Adams Johnson (Albany Community Together), Sherra Bennett (Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation), Jennifer Epps (The LIFT Fund), Sarah Reed (Metafund Corporation), and moderator Maureen Conway (Aspen Institute).

For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to our YouTube channel. Or subscribe to our podcast to listen on the go.

For more information about this event, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our website.

For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Or subscribe to our podcast to listen on the go.

This event is part of our Job Quality in Practice series. It is also the fourth in our four-part miniseries, Fixing Work in the South, which brings together Job Quality Fellows who are on the frontlines of expanding access to good jobs in communities across the American South.

A young person’s first job is a rite of passage in the US — an opportunity to build skills, save for college, support the family business, or support themselves and their loved ones. And after decades of decline, more teens are working today than at any point since 2008. Yet the labor market often fails them. Many face low wages, unpredictable or burdensome schedules that interfere with school, unsafe or discriminatory conditions, and limited opportunities for growth, belonging, and purpose.

At the same time, innovative approaches like apprenticeship, training on safety and worker rights, and purposeful support and mentorship show what’s possible when we get it right: jobs that build confidence, provide fair compensation, and open doors to future careers. As we prepare the next generation of workers and community members, the question is clear: what would it take to make every teen’s first job a good job and ensure the labor market delivers for young workers?

This event — hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Forum for Community Solutions on April 21, 2026 — explores how to create meaningful work opportunities for teens while protecting them from dangerous and exploitative conditions.

Our conversation includes opening remarks from Matt Helmer (Aspen Institute) and Gabby Smith (Plate it Forward), followed by a panel discussion with Jessica Martinez (National Council for Occupational Safety and Health), Mandee Polonsky (Northwestern Memorial HealthCare), John Valverde (YouthBuild Global), Taylor White (New America), and moderator Mike Swigert (Aspen Institute).

For more information about this event, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our website.

For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Or subscribe to our podcast to listen on the go.

To learn more about the Forum for Community Solutions, visit: aspencommunitysolutions.org

This event is part of our Opportunity in America series. It is also the second in our two-part miniseries, “Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of Youth at Work.”

For part one, “Backsliding on Child Protections: The Return of Child Labor in the US,” click here.

Finding great employees for any organization can be challenging, and keeping them on board presents its own challenges. In response, many creative leaders are adopting strategies that expand talent pipelines to reach a wider variety of candidates based on skills and competencies. Others are exploring ways to build organizations that support internal growth and leadership with a clearer focus on skills and competencies, as well. How can leaders across the workforce ecosystem lead organizational change and partnerships to open opportunities in sectors as diverse as affordable housing and advanced manufacturing?

This event — hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on April 16, 2026 — features a conversation with leaders from our Workforce Leadership Academies who are driving changes in industry practices and organizational culture. Their work has not only created more opportunities to get workers to the door, but also supported employees once they’re through the door — for both frontline and leadership roles.

Our speakers include Leah Palmer, executive director of the Maricopa County Community College District’s Arizona Advanced Manufacturing Institute, Tiffany Mangum, executive director of Fresno Housing’s Beyond Housing Foundation, who will share their lessons in leading these changes, and Dee Wallace, senior fellow with the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program.

For more information about this event, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our website.

For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Or subscribe to our podcast to listen on the go.