Aspen Forum For Community Solutions (AFCS)

?? Looking to deepen the impact of your place-based collaborative work? ?? Upcoming Virtual Event: 2025 Collective Impact Action Summit, featuring keynote conversations with our very own Monique Miles, VP-The Aspen Institute & Managing Director-Aspen Forum For Community Solutions (AFCS) alongside Melody Barnes, AFCS Chair & Former Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. This April 29-May 1, join #changemakers from around the world at the virtual?2025 Collective Impact Forum Action Summit. Featuring 40+ sessions with tools, case studies, and stories of change from across the field, the Action Summit explores multiple facets of collaboration, including strengthening relationships, engaging communities, and building collective leadership. This year’s Summit will feature also multiple keynote conversations on how to build towards a future where everyone can thrive, while also responding to our current environment. Explore how to hold tensions and bridge across divides, as well as how to build a better shared future by laying the groundwork now. Join the Summit:? https://lnkd.in/emcw_SCN

#FridayFeature ?? Latest Launch: The BMWP in Action Series This week, we are thrilled to launch the Aspen Forum For Community Solutions (AFCS) BMWP in?Action?series?which amplifies practical, real world stories of how leaders across the country are working to advance?Belonging, Meaning, Wellbeing and Purpose (BMWP)?as a strategy to improve racial equity and student success. ?? Today's Featured Case Study: Love-Centered Transformation – Austin Community College Explore how the?Austin Community College is undertaking an ambitious process to rebuild its foundation for improvement around a new “north star”, 70% student completion by 2030, serving over 35,000 undergraduate students annually. Under the leadership of their new Chancellor, Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, the college is living its new organizational values of 'Courage, Compassion, Joy and Yes' by building a college-wide theory of change and creating plans that will help them reach their new goal. The college’s efforts are anchored in?Belonging, Meaning, Wellbeing and Purpose (BMWP) and model those constructs in the day-to-day work of building the theory of change and strategic plan as a campus community.? ACC’s #love-centered transformation is not just about improving student outcomes, but also about empowering faculty, staff, and students to feel valued, heard, and seen. This approach is a call to action for all colleges to prioritize love, belonging, and purpose in their efforts to improve student success. Learn More: https://lnkd.in/efWmSKQf #opportunityyouth #workforcedevelopment #advancingpathways #youthdevelopment #belonging #BMWP

?? Latest Launch: The BMWP in Action Series This week, we are thrilled to launch the Aspen Forum For Community Solutions (AFCS) BMWP in?Action?series?which amplifies practical, real world stories of how leaders across the country are working to advance?Belonging, Meaning, Wellbeing and Purpose (BMWP)?as a strategy to improve racial equity and student success. ?? Today's Featured Case Study: Halting Oppressive Pathways through Education (HOPE) – Bunker Hill Community College Explore how the Halting Oppressive Pathways through Education (HOPE) program at Boston’s Bunker Hill Community College embodies the best of belonging practices. HOPE provides students with intimate, individualized advising, mentorship and other support needed to succeed in college. HOPE is expertly managed by a team of committed staff — many of whom also identify as men of color — who ensure that the program is both delivering outcomes for students and reverberating into the broader BHCC culture and organizational structures. Learn More: https://lnkd.in/ePZ4mGFF #opportunityyouth #workforcedevelopment #advancingpathways #youthdevelopment #belonging

?? Latest Launch: The BMWP in Action Series This week, we are thrilled to launch The Aspen Institute Aspen Forum For Community Solutions (AFCS) BMWP in?Action?series?which amplifies practical, real world stories of how leaders across the country are working to advance?Belonging, Meaning, Wellbeing and Purpose (BMWP)?as a strategy to improve racial equity and student success. The series includes a set of case studies exploring how leaders in a diverse set of postsecondary institutions are using BMWP approaches to increase rates of persistence and completion. In addition to the case studies, the series will also lift up “artifacts” (e.g., survey tool, curricular framework) that are emerging from the work of each institution. Artifacts are offered as concrete starting points for postsecondary leaders that are interested in experimenting with BMWP approaches in their own institution. We hope that these case studies and tools serve as useful resources for a diverse group of stakeholders. BMWP postsecondary case studies and artifacts have been designed specifically for postsecondary administrators (e.g., presidents, VPs), advising staff, policy makers and funders. For this week's feature, we are honored to share case studies from the Austin Community College and Bunker Hill Community College - Division of Workforce & Economic Development HOPE Initiative Staff. Read the Case Studies and Learn More: https://lnkd.in/emr5Suac

Upcoming Virtual Conference: 2025 Collective Impact Action Summit The?Collective Impact Forum (CIF)?invites you to join us from April 29 - May 1 for our biggest learning event of the year, bringing together backbone leaders, practitioners, funders, partners, and more to explore how we can shape our collective future. Over three days and 40+ sessions, we’ll gather to dream boldly, expand our vision, and re-imagine what is possible for collaborative work. Early-bird savings end March 28.?Register now to secure your spot at a discounted rate. You will leave inspired by the imagination and innovation of practitioners all over the world united towards collective action. We hope that you will join us! Register here: https://lnkd.in/g4iK2shR

As we dive into the New Year, we are thrilled to launch the Aspen Forum For Community Solutions (AFCS) ‘Convening Conversations Series’. This new communications series will feature stories that spark new ideas and explore transformative approaches to creating Belonging, Meaning, Wellbeing, Purpose (BMWP), and a better society for all, especially our youth and young adults across the nation. Check Out Our Latest Stories: https://lnkd.in/ef_VXN5B #OpportunityYouth #Belonging #BMWP #Storytelling #NewLaunch

?? In Case You Missed It - Reflecting Back on 2024 + 2025 Spotlight Newsletter As we reflect back on 2024, let's take a look at transformative moments that sparked, inspired, and compelled dialogue and meaningful impact within our communities, networks and beyond. We're excited to share conversations, resources, thought-leadership and solutions that offer fresh perspectives to take into the new year and invite you to watch, listen, share and freedom dream. PS Check out the 2025 Spotlight Feature for latest launches and events!

Dear AFCS National Network and Community, As we step into the new year, we find ourselves in a time of profound change and uncertainty. In these unprecedented times, we are embracing this moment by standing in solidarity with our communities, young people and our mission to build a collaborative future where justice, dignity, opportunities, and prosperity are within reach for everyone. At the heart of our efforts is a deep belief in the power of community-led change. We know that when communities and young people have the agency to drive change, they can create a more just and equitable society. We unwaveringly uphold our values and commitments to the communities and populations we serve. Our present, past and future work remains embedded in our core values of: community & constituent-centered collaboration, equity, justice, diversity, belonging, respect, love, accountable impact, learning together, and creative action. Our team recently had the opportunity to visit The Legacy Sites. We came away deeply touched by the honest and profound representation of US history. After a conversation with Bryan Stevenson we were further inspired to deepen our work in truth-based narrative change. We believe we can go further together than apart. Only through genuine, trust-based collaboration can significant community and systems challenges be addressed and resolved. We will continue to work together—and with you—to uphold these values and commitments, and to pursue long-lasting, sustained change on some of society’s most difficult challenges. We are humbled by the strength and courage of the communities we support. Most importantly, we believe in a deeper love of humanity – which includes a greater compassion, empathy, and understanding for all people that is bigger than any one of us. Collective care and wellbeing are our shared responsibility, and we are unflinchingly dedicated to supporting one another. We are moved by your dedication, and support for each other, even when life’s challenges can test our collective strength. As we navigate the complexities of our current moment, we are committed to sharing resources, information, and tools as assets from and for our network to thrive. Let’s continue building this movement and future together. Thank you for your commitment to this work and the communities we serve together. Yours in community, The Aspen Forum for Community Solutions Team

?? Friday Feature: Latest Blog, Fresh Tracks Delegation at the 2024 White House Tribal Youth Forum "Advocacy isn’t always about being in the spotlight; sometimes, it’s about creating pathways for others to shine. Even in a time of growing challenges and a shifting political landscape, this year’s forum highlighted the importance of Native youth voices. Grounded in cultural strength and lived experience, these voices are more essential than ever.” Read reflections from Andrea Wagner, The Aspen Institute Aspen Forum For Community Solutions (AFCS) Fresh Tracks Action who supported a delegation of 11 incredible Indigenous youth leaders to Washington, D.C., from November 13–16 for the #WhiteHouse #TribalYouthForum. Held on November 15, the forum convened #Indigenousyouth and federal leaders to engage in critical discussions on policies and challenges affecting Native communities, including mental health, climate change, and food sovereignty. Read more in the blog linked below: https://lnkd.in/eAPvndcP

?? New Report: The Opportunity Youth Forum: Collaborating to Transform Local Systems and Amplify Youth Impact The Aspen Institute Opportunity Youth Forum national network is deeply committed to?learning and impact. Each year, the?Opportunity Youth Forum‘s external evaluators,?Equal Measure,?conduct?an extensive assessment?of the progress of #OYF, looking at the characteristics of collaboratives, and collaborative capacity; they also annually assess, progress made on systems-level changes in OYF communities which include: policy and funding changes, cross-system pathways, among other areas. This year we combine this data for the first time with data about changes in the numbers of opportunity youth in OYF communities, providing a comprehensive analysis of the local systems change approaches that have driven transformation and impact across OYF communities over the past five years. Read the Full Report: https://lnkd.in/gDfbTh-t #opportunityyouth #systemschange #communitysolutions #youthimpact #annualreport #learning #impact