As we prepare to welcome the Digital Equity Accelerator’s first-ever cohort, we are thrilled to introduce a phenomenal group of leaders who will serve as our inaugural Advisory Council. Comprising leaders at the forefront of advancing equity in education, healthcare, and economic opportunity across the digital space, this diverse network serves as a brain trust to ensure that the Accelerator centers on and serves the communities most impacted by the digital divide.

MAY 3, 2022 - The prize competition, announced in November, sought to fund unique and innovative projects that make meaningful progress towards ending information disorder, in direct connection to one or more of the Aspen Institute’s Commission on Information Disorder’s 15 recommendations for government, industry, and civil society.

Social media platforms, virtual assistants, and other digital technologies affect human connection, emotion, agency, and identity. To address this evolving landscape, Aspen Digital hosted a series of workshops that brought together experts from various disciplines and domains with representatives from across the tech industry to critically examine responsible research and innovation in the context of well-being. The resulting report highlights the challenges and opportunities for various stakeholders, especially the tech sector, in pursuing responsible research and innovation centered on achieving a better understanding of the influence technology has on our well-being.

APRIL 12, 2022 - A conversation at the Digital Inclusion Summit led by Aspen Digital with diverse Gen-Z leaders on the threats and opportunities provided by emerging technologies and platforms, particularly as it affects marginalized communities. We were joined by representatives of JUV Consulting.

Shahed Amanullah has spent his career developing innovative approaches for shifting power and equity, often to marginalized communities. Given that background, I was thrilled to have the chance to get his perspective on the work ahead for our program's new Digital Equity Accelerator.

Amidst widespread fears of cyber ramifications for the US and western networks due to Russia's war in Ukraine, Aspen Digital brought together some of the country's top experts on cyber threats to help small and medium-size businesses understand how to handle online risks to their networks and operations. There are several concrete actions organizations can take today to prepare for a possible cyber incident.

MARCH 15, 2022 - As schools make greater use of educational technology tools, students are exposed to widespread data collection without adequate protection. As remote learning becomes increasingly common, access to reliable home internet connection is a necessity. As cities move towards more sustainable energy models, citizens will be left with higher electric bills. How can ensure that vulnerable communities are prepared for these modern challenges? 

As the U.S. Congress moves closer to enacting a federal cyber incident reporting requirement (and as the administration fractures over how best to craft it), it is important to remember that there is another path — the federal government's partnership with the fifty states.

Temporary and contingent workers who work in tech have been largely locked out of the industry's prosperity.