AboutAspenChallenge Sept2016
Aspen Challenge: Chicago 2016
Chance the Rapper, Aspen Challenge: Chicago 2016
Aspen Challenge: Chicago 2016
The Aspen Challenge provides inspiration, tools, and a platform for young people to design solutions to some of the most critical problems humanity faces. HOW IT WORKS Launched by the Aspen Institute and the Bezos Family Foundation, Aspen Challenge participants are empowered to use their imagination, enthusiasm, competitive spirit, and sense of global citizenship to solve some of society’s toughest problems. Each year, we partner with an urban school district to bring the Aspen Challenge to a new city. Up to 20 schools are invited to participate, and each high school forms a team of 8 students and 2 educators who serve as coaches. Our participants take the following steps to complete the Aspen Challenge.
1
CREATE TEAMS AND PREPARE Each school builds a strong team that represents a range of skills. Team members embrace leadership roles and value unity, curiosity, and a desire to be changemakers.
2
GET INSPIRED Teams gather at the Opening Forum to hear from leading thinkers who tackle some of our world’s toughest problems. These leaders pose challenges to the teams, asking them to create innovative solutions.
3
SELECT A CHALLENGE Teams have one week to select the challenge of their choice, draft their vision, and set goals. Teams are guided to pick challenges based on passion, relevance, feasibility, and sustainability.
4
DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A SOLUTION Now is the time for teams to utilize the Playbook, which contains a set of tools to guide the process to design and test their solutions. Teams are mentored by their coaches and are provided feedback as they advance their work.
5
OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Teams put their work into action by engaging their communities through events, surveys, and media outreach.
6
PRESENT AND COMPETE Teams present their solutions to a panel of distinguished judges who select top teams based on creativity, feasibility, sustainability, and teamwork. They are then invited to present their work at a national Aspen Institute convening.
above photo credits: Daniel Bayer
“
The experience you’ve given my students and me comes from a place of compassion, and we feel that through your belief in us. Our kids have to prove themselves before people get to know them, but you championed them from the very beginning.
Linblom Math & Science Academy, Aspen Challenge: Chicago 2016. photo credit: Daniel Bayer
”
— Gina Caneva, Teacher/Librarian, Coach of Team MoneyLYFE from Lindblom Math & Science Academy, Chicago Public Schools, 2016
PARTNERS We partner with public high schools that have at least 25 percent of students eligible for free/reduced lunch. Schools are tasked with building a standout team that represents diversity in grade-level, gender, and skill set. Full participation of each team member in key events is required. Now in our fifth year, we look forward to partnering with The School District of Philadelphia. Other partners have included Los Angeles Unified School District, Denver Public Schools, District of Columbia Public Schools, District of Columbia Public Charter School Board, and Chicago Public Schools. As we continue to implement the Aspen Challenge in cities across the country, we look forward to establishing new district partners and fostering relationships with national corporations and foundations, community organizations, and sponsors to ensure a sustainable program. FOUNDING PARTNERS The Aspen Challenge was launched by the Aspen Institute and the Bezos Family Foundation. Founded in Aspen, CO, and based in Washington, DC, the Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Aspen Challenge is a program of the Youth & Engagement division at the Aspen Institute, which empowers generations of thoughtful, socially-conscious, and diverse young people engaged in solving the critical issues of the day. aspeninstitute.org The Bezos Family Foundation supports rigorous, inspired learning environments for young people, from birth through high school, to put their education into action. Through investments in research, public awareness and programs, the foundation works to elevate the field of education and improve life outcomes for all children. bezosfamilyfoundation.org
Representative John Lewis, Aspen Challenge: Chicago 2016. Photo Credit: Daniel Bayer
SEED School of Washington, DC at Aspen Ideas Festival 2015. Photo Credit: Daniel Bayer
Aspen Challenge teams from Washington, DC, Denver and Los Angeles on Aspen Mountain 2015. Photo Credit: Mountain Photography
CONNECT
aspenchallenge.org For any further information, please contact Katie Fitzgerald at [email protected] or (970)-544-7915.
Chance the Rapper, Aspen Challenge: Chicago 2016
Aspen Challenge: Chicago 2016
The Aspen Challenge provides inspiration, tools, and a platform for young people to design solutions to some of the most critical problems humanity faces. HOW IT WORKS Launched by the Aspen Institute and the Bezos Family Foundation, Aspen Challenge participants are empowered to use their imagination, enthusiasm, competitive spirit, and sense of global citizenship to solve some of society’s toughest problems. Each year, we partner with an urban school district to bring the Aspen Challenge to a new city. Up to 20 schools are invited to participate, and each high school forms a team of 8 students and 2 educators who serve as coaches. Our participants take the following steps to complete the Aspen Challenge.
1
CREATE TEAMS AND PREPARE Each school builds a strong team that represents a range of skills. Team members embrace leadership roles and value unity, curiosity, and a desire to be changemakers.
2
GET INSPIRED Teams gather at the Opening Forum to hear from leading thinkers who tackle some of our world’s toughest problems. These leaders pose challenges to the teams, asking them to create innovative solutions.
3
SELECT A CHALLENGE Teams have one week to select the challenge of their choice, draft their vision, and set goals. Teams are guided to pick challenges based on passion, relevance, feasibility, and sustainability.
4
DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A SOLUTION Now is the time for teams to utilize the Playbook, which contains a set of tools to guide the process to design and test their solutions. Teams are mentored by their coaches and are provided feedback as they advance their work.
5
OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Teams put their work into action by engaging their communities through events, surveys, and media outreach.
6
PRESENT AND COMPETE Teams present their solutions to a panel of distinguished judges who select top teams based on creativity, feasibility, sustainability, and teamwork. They are then invited to present their work at a national Aspen Institute convening.
above photo credits: Daniel Bayer
“
The experience you’ve given my students and me comes from a place of compassion, and we feel that through your belief in us. Our kids have to prove themselves before people get to know them, but you championed them from the very beginning.
Linblom Math & Science Academy, Aspen Challenge: Chicago 2016. photo credit: Daniel Bayer
”
— Gina Caneva, Teacher/Librarian, Coach of Team MoneyLYFE from Lindblom Math & Science Academy, Chicago Public Schools, 2016
PARTNERS We partner with public high schools that have at least 25 percent of students eligible for free/reduced lunch. Schools are tasked with building a standout team that represents diversity in grade-level, gender, and skill set. Full participation of each team member in key events is required. Now in our fifth year, we look forward to partnering with The School District of Philadelphia. Other partners have included Los Angeles Unified School District, Denver Public Schools, District of Columbia Public Schools, District of Columbia Public Charter School Board, and Chicago Public Schools. As we continue to implement the Aspen Challenge in cities across the country, we look forward to establishing new district partners and fostering relationships with national corporations and foundations, community organizations, and sponsors to ensure a sustainable program. FOUNDING PARTNERS The Aspen Challenge was launched by the Aspen Institute and the Bezos Family Foundation. Founded in Aspen, CO, and based in Washington, DC, the Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Aspen Challenge is a program of the Youth & Engagement division at the Aspen Institute, which empowers generations of thoughtful, socially-conscious, and diverse young people engaged in solving the critical issues of the day. aspeninstitute.org The Bezos Family Foundation supports rigorous, inspired learning environments for young people, from birth through high school, to put their education into action. Through investments in research, public awareness and programs, the foundation works to elevate the field of education and improve life outcomes for all children. bezosfamilyfoundation.org
Representative John Lewis, Aspen Challenge: Chicago 2016. Photo Credit: Daniel Bayer
SEED School of Washington, DC at Aspen Ideas Festival 2015. Photo Credit: Daniel Bayer
Aspen Challenge teams from Washington, DC, Denver and Los Angeles on Aspen Mountain 2015. Photo Credit: Mountain Photography
CONNECT
aspenchallenge.org For any further information, please contact Katie Fitzgerald at [email protected] or (970)-544-7915.
