Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.

Walter P. Paepcke, Aspen Institute Co-Founder
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Aspen Forum for Community Solutions (AFCS)

The Aspen Forum for Community Solutions (AFCS) promotes collaborative, community-based efforts that build the power and influence of those with the least access to opportunity, and supports communities to come together to expand mobility, eliminate systemic barriers, and create their own solutions to their most pressing challenges.

AFCS has been a beacon of hope and a leader in the effort to end youth disconnection for over a decade. We have journeyed alongside our partners from urban, rural, and tribal communities to expand pathways to reconnect young people to employment and education opportunities through systems transformation strategies.

AFCS was launched in 2012 in response to the social challenges affecting people in need. A cross-sector leadership group convened by the White House Council on Community Solutions examined this situation, and released several seminal reports that served to launch the Forum for Community Solutions at the Aspen Institute.  Read more about our history.

Visit the AFCS Program Website to Learn More

Our Work

Opportunity Youth

Opportunity youth are young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither enrolled in school nor participating in the labor market – about 6 million young people in the United States. 

Opportunity Youth Forum (OYF)

The Opportunity Youth Forum (OYF) is a network comprised of over forty local collaborations in urban, rural, and tribal communities across the United States that seeks to build and scale reconnection pathways that achieve better outcomes in education, employment and overall well-being for opportunity youth. 

Belonging, Meaning, Wellbeing & Purpose (BMWP)

We endeavor to transform systems and communities in ways that ensure that ALL youth can thrive. Belonging, Meaning, Wellbeing and Purpose (BMWP) is the emerging framework that is helping us to get there.

Fresh Tracks

Fresh Tracks, equips diverse youth with cross-cultural community building skills, leadership development training, civic engagement opportunities, and the tools to drive innovative youth-led and community-led action. Rooted in the healing power of the outdoors and culture, our movement uplifts and seeks to elevate youth voices.

Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN)

The Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN) is a global initiative catalyzing systems shifts for youth opportunity in communities around the world through the creation of sustainable training, employment and income-earning pathways.

Collaboration

Collaboration lies at the heart of much of our work at the Forum for Community Solutions. It’s not just a value we hold, but it’s a conscious practice we put into place across all our initiatives and projects.

Community Power Building

Our focus on community power building realizes our vision of promoting collaborative, community-based efforts that build the power and influence of those with the least access to opportunity.

Our Team

Bakhtawer Abbasi

Program Manager, Communications

Policy Programs

Jamiel L. Alexander

Program Manager, Opportunity Youth Forum

Policy Programs

Gabriela Carmo

Program Associate, Global Opportunity Youth Network

Policy Programs

Tracee Fisher

Executive Assistant

Policy Programs

Dr. Hannah Gourgey

Senior Fellow, Opportunity Youth Forum

Policy Programs

Arienne (Ari) Jones

Senior Program Manager, Justice and Equity, Opportunity Youth Forum

Policy Programs

Juan D. Martinez

Senior Program Manager, Fresh Tracks

Policy Programs

Jamie McAuliffe

Director, Global Opportunity Youth Network

Policy Programs

Monique Miles

Vice President (AI); Director (OYF); Managing Director (AFCS);

Policy Programs

Yelena Nemoy

Associate Director, Opportunity Youth Forum

Policy Programs

Stephen A. Patrick

Vice President & Executive Director

Policy Programs

Laura Rosen

Senior Manager, Global Opportunity Youth Network

Policy Programs

Cindy Santos

Senior Associate for Strategic Partnerships

Policy Programs

Mike Swigert

Senior Program Manager, Opportunity Youth Forum

Policy Programs

Andrea Wagner

Program Associate, Fresh Tracks

Policy Programs

Geneva Wiki

Director of Belonging, Meaning, Well-Being and Purpose, Opportunity Youth Forum

Policy Programs