Economic Opportunities Program

The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy.

We recognize that race, gender, and place intersect with and intensify the challenge of economic inequality and we address these dynamics by advancing an inclusive vision of economic justice. For over 25 years, EOP has focused on expanding individuals’ opportunities to connect to quality work, start businesses, and build economic stability that provides the freedom to pursue opportunity.

We collaborate with national and local leaders across the United States – nonprofit leaders, policymakers, labor leaders, business leaders, educators, academics, and more – and we actively seek input and ideas from individuals and communities affected by proposed approaches to address economic opportunity challenges. Through our leadership and fellowship programs; applied research and evaluation; data and analysis; and dialogue with diverse stakeholders, we work at both local and national levels to build understanding and galvanize action to address the challenge of economic opportunity in America.

Events

Blog Posts

Blog Posts

The Future of Labor: Rethinking the Playbook

According to Brunswick Group’s latest research, the traditional playbook for engaging working-class workers—especially younger ones—is rapidly becoming obsolete.

Blog Posts

Resource Roundup: Artificial Intelligence — Issue 11, June 2025

Learn about the workers most likely to encounter AI on the job, its ethical implications, and the considerations necessary for ensuring that job quality is prioritized.

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Blog Posts Of Interest

Greater Triangle Workforce Leadership Academy — 2025 Fellows

We’re pleased to introduce the fellows of the 2025 Triangle Workforce Leadership Academy.

Blog Posts Podcasts

Publications

Publications

Building Trust: Creating Jobs People Want to Keep

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Publications

Guide to Hiring: Do’s and Don’ts To Consider

Publications

Upskilling Playbook: Maturity Levels

Measuring the impact of upskilling is crucial for demonstrating its value and driving continuous improvement.

Publications

New Hire Checklist: Supporting your Employees from the Start

How good are the jobs in your small business? Use this tool to check what you’re doing well and where you can improve.

Videos

Videos

Advising Small Businesses on Job Quality: Lessons from CDFIs

This webinar, which EOP hosted on June 26, 2025, features highlights from the guide, as well as insights from CDFI leaders about their approaches to building job quality advising into their work. It features opening remarks from the Aspen Institute’s Maureen Conway and Bryn Morgan, followed by a panel discussion with Amanda Blondeau (Northern Initiatives), Cynthia Murphy (Coastal Enterprises, Inc.), and Delphine Ntegeye (African Development Center).

Announcing Our New Upskilling Playbook

UpSkill America’s new Upskilling Playbook is a strategic guide for organizations to build, scale, and integrate skills-based workforce development initiatives that drive business performance and career growth.

Videos

Video — Building, Sustaining, and Scaling Job Quality within CDFIs

How Good Jobs Support Small Businesses Success. For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to EOP’s YouTube channel. Or subscribe to our podcast to listen on the go.

Videos

Video — Driving Innovation in Small Business Lending: Examples of How Small Business and CDFIs are Working Together to Advance Job Quality

Driving Innovation in Small Business Lending Examples of How Small Business and CDFIs are Working Together to Advance Job Quality. For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to EOP’s YouTube channel. Or subscribe to our podcast to listen on the go.

Blog Posts Videos

(Recording) Working and Homeless in America — A Book Talk with Brian Goldstone

This virtual book talk — hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on April 30, 2025 — features Goldstone in conversation with moderator Maureen Conway, a vice president at the Aspen Institute and executive director of the Institute’s Economic Opportunities Program.

Blog Posts Videos

Securing The Future of America’s Critical Industries

In this discussion from the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, panelists discuss the critical role these industries play and how employee ownership can potentially help strengthen and retain these important sectors and the jobs they provide.

Blog Posts Videos

Aspen Institute President Dan Porterfield Speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum

In this clip, Aspen Institute President and CEO Dan Porterfield speaks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum.

Our team


Maureen Conway

Vice President; Executive Director

Matt Helmer

Director of Job Quality and Worker Well-Being

Joyce Klein

Senior Director

Haley Glover

Senior Director

Colleen Cunningham

Director of Grants Management and Publications

Merrit Stüven

Associate Director

Chelsea Miller

Associate Director

Tony Mastria

Associate Director of Communications

Natalie Foster

Senior Fellow

Louis Caditz-Peck

Senior Fellow

Dee Wallace

Senior Fellow

Leila Brown

Senior Project Manager

Bryn Morgan

Senior Research Associate

Amanda Fins

Senior Research Associate

Frances Almodovar

Communications Associate

Nora Heffernan

Digital Communications Associate

Maxwell Johnson

Research Associate

Maya Smith

Research Associate

Chris Huyck Trout

Senior Advisor and Consultant, UpSkill America

Sinin Young

Grants Management Associate

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