1 Corinthians 3:6-9

Faith leaders like the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth and Rev. Lamar Weaver watered the seeds that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. planted. Women like Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, and Pauli Murray watered and tended the sprouts that grew into the roots of the civil rights movement. The divine gave the increase.

The Aspen Institute Religion & Society Program’s Racial Justice & Religion Collective made a pilgrimage to Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama on October 1-5, 2023. During this time, the attendees immersed themselves in history through museum visits, courageous conversations, and engaging with faithful elders who were in the civil rights movement.

Ekemini Uwan, Religion & Society Program senior adviser and Collective member, reflected on how the pilgrimage impacted her.

“Walking in the ancestors’ footsteps was harrowing, transformative, and powerful. The pilgrimage blessed me beyond measure,” Uwan said. 

The Collective began their journey at the Alabama River’s bank, where slave traders transported enslaved Africans, specifically bred to sustain U.S. domestic slave trade, to Montgomery’s port. 

Freedom Road Founder and President, Lisa Sharon Harper, and her team, Rev. Dr. Waltrina Middleton and Claudia Owens, led rituals at the riverbank that grounded the group and honored the spirits of the ancestors who surrounded us.

This curated experience focused on the impact of racial injustice on people of African descent in the United States. Harper said having the Collective walk through a cohesive story of the development of the political construct of Black people on U.S. soil was the pilgrimage’s aim. 

“Our hope was that [the Collective left] with a sense that they have been transformed,” she said, [and that] their spirits have been spoken to by God about the hierarchies of human belonging.”

Collective members walked to a beautiful fountain in downtown Montgomery. That fountain now sits in the space once occupied by Montgomery’s bustling slave market, where the human hierarchy of belonging was put on display in a humiliating, dehumanizing, and demoralizing way. 

Today, a historic marker noting the space once occupied by the slave market, stands discreetly across the street. One must actively look for any mention of the dehumanizing and demoralizing activity that once took place at the very spot.

A Rosa Parks statue, that stands across from the fountain, falsely portrays the historic giant and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. member as meek and mild. “Just 5-foot-3, Parks stood tall for her personal rights and the liberties of others that were denied by segregationist Jim Crow laws,” Collective member Larita Rice-Barnes noted, countering the false narrative.

Collective member Russell Jeung reflected on how learning about the atrocities and inhumane treatment of Black people in the United States impacted him. “The pilgrimage haunted me as I walked where the enslaved were led to their auctioning blocks, sat with survivors of KKK bombings, and grieved over the thousands of lynching sites throughout the American South,” Jeung said. “I am more committed than ever in disrupting the binary of White Supremacy and Black abjection as our racial narrative.”

That racial narrative was brought to life during the Collective’s visit to the Legacy Museum. Vivid images of the transatlantic slave trade, the U.S. domestic slave trade, the scourge of lynching, the evils of Jim Crow, and the realities of the new Jim Crow—mass incarceration—left Collective members grappling with grim atrocities within American history.

However, Collective members also experienced moments of hope at the Legacy Museum, walking through a gallery of accomplished ancestors and passing images of laughing children as they left the space dedicated to Black lives. 

That readied them to visit a moving monument to lynching victims and an informative visit with an Equal Justice Initiative staff member.

Harper, Middleton, and Owens created rituals that helped Collective members honor the memories of the ancestors and process our reactions surfaced during our pilgrimage in Montgomery.

Middleton gathered water from the Alabama River, where the bones of enslaved Africans who refused to die in bondage laid on its floor. After blessing the water, Collective members were invited to fill small jars with the water, embodying the living memory of those ancestors. Hearts with the names of beloved ancestors written by Collective members were affixed to each jar, allowing Collective members to remember on whose shoulders they stand.

These rituals prepared us to head to Birmingham.

The Collective members received a personal invitation to the home of Barbara Shores, daughter of renowned civil rights attorney Arthur Shores. During their visit, they listened intently to the moving and personal stories Mrs. Shores shared. 

She painted vivid images of how the fight for Black liberation affected her family and the nation. She said Mr. Shores, who passed the Alabama bar exam in 1937, wasn’t the state’s first Black attorney, but he was the first Black attorney to argue a case in court. He represented labor leader William Hall, who’d been beaten by the police and won.

“Everybody was shocked and surprised,” she said. “When they were outside, people were coming up to congratulate him…A man came up and my father extended his hand because everybody was shaking his hand. Well, the man took a swing at him.”

Winning that case, she said, earned Arthur Shores the reputation of being a Black attorney not afraid of going into court to fight for justice.

Shores also recalled her sister, Helen, playing “cowboy” as a little girl with future U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Helen was the cowgirl, and Marshall was the horse.

Other stories weren’t so sweet. Shores chronicled her family narrowly escaping their bombed house. Routine bombings earned the neighborhood the moniker Dynamite Hill. 

Another bombing at the 16th Baptist Church made an indelible mark on the nation. The Rev. Arthur Price, Jr., its senior pastor, shared context about that terrible tragedy and its ongoing impact. A short film provided more context.

Following the film, Collective members ascended the same red padded stairway that Addie Mae Collins, Sarah Collins Rudolph, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, and Denise McNair ran down to see the sanctuary. 

Like Sarah, a church window featuring Jesus didn’t survive the blast unscathed. A new window, complete with a rainbow and paid for by Welsh schoolchildren, continues to radiate hope: 

The George F. Landegger Collection of Alabama Photographs in Carol M. Highsmith’s America, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division

A tour of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and a gathering with the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, which included screening a short film, completed the transformative experience for the Collective.

 Collective member Michael Mata shared a reflection about his experience.

“Although I have been to Montgomery before, our visit to the Legacy Museum underscored that reality/truth that the US of A (its economic vitality) was built on the backs of enslaved people,” Mata said. “I conceptually knew that, but the museum made that clear.  Also, it gave me ‘new’ vocabulary – ‘Kidnapped’ was added to my previous takeaway of  ‘enslaved’  rather than ‘slaves.’”

Mata stressed the inconvenient and sinful truth that enslaved Africans were considered less than human. Learning that both infants and children were lynched and all those barbaric acts were publicized deeply affected all the attendees.

 Learning more about the evils of the transatlantic slave trade, Jim Crow, lynching, and mass incarceration allowed the religiously pluralistic group to develop a shared common voice to speak out more clearly against oppression.

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Though inequality is a global problem, every community has its unique challenges. To address Bristol’s in specific, Aspen Institute UK and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth recently hosted the Bristol Inclusive Growth Roundtable. The event—the third in a series of private conversations—brought together participants from business communities, non-profit organizations, community advocacy groups, and government.

After the Roundtable, Aspen UK CEO Penny Richards answered a few questions about what’s on the minds of Bristol’s community leaders.

What makes Bristol stand out among UK cities, and what special challenges and opportunities does that represent? 

Bristol has a great reputation in the UK as a livable city and has made a name for itself in recent years as a hub for small businesses and inward investment. While this image has brought the city a lot of opportunities, participants at our roundtable discussion were concerned that members of some communities were being left behind and not seeing the benefit of this growth.

“Bristol is a tale of two cities,” one participant said, “People are resorting to living in tents and vans” rather than relying on traditional housing. They felt that while the local economy is growing—with a GDP of £18 billion [~$22 billion]—inequality is also worsening.

Overall, the participants who joined us believed the economy would continue to prosper, but they were determined to make sure this growth extended to all those living in the city.

What are the main challenges that the local businesses are facing?

The representatives from local businesses stressed the need to include all parts of the community in economic growth and ensure that young people in the city can benefit from the opportunities in their local area. Although Bristol has enjoyed strong economic performance, this growth is not inclusive; women, young people, and ethnic minorities often face financial exclusion from the local economy.

What forces are creating difficulties for small business owners in Bristol?

One issue raised at the roundtable was the competition to find affordable spaces for local businesses. It’s a popular environment for new firms and new people moving there.

The conversation expressed a sense that the positive story of Bristol can sometimes “work against them,” preventing some challenges from receiving the attention they require. The perception of Bristol as thriving, they felt, diverted resources away from the city towards other areas in the UK that are perceived as having a greater need. Many of the participants felt that greater investment was needed in public transport, as there are increased issues with the bus and rail networks.  

It was clear that the external image of Bristol was very positive, but many participants worried about the tougher realities faced by some people living in the city. Several individuals shared that perceived structural issues cause some people to feel as though they don’t belong in the city and aren’t able to access the opportunities within it.

What success stories did you hear at the roundtable?

Bristol has a strong social sector, which is working to improve the lives of all those living in the city. Many local businesses are also invested in the future of the city and looking to collaborate to help its communities. For example, a café chain based in the city recently set up a donation point to encourage its customers to support local projects.

Is there anything that seems unsolvable at the moment? What’s the most vexing problem participants are facing going forward?

As Bristol attracts workers away from London and other parts of the UK, the price of land and property is rising, affecting both housing and commercial property prices and making it difficult for people to afford to live or run a small business in the city. Linked to that is the issue of the inequality that exists within the city. While not unsolvable, participants agreed that Bristol needs to do more to promote inclusive growth that everyone in the local communities can benefit from.

One participant shared how “People and communities can do more to foster a sense of agency and accountability for everyone in that place.” They thought that more intentionality with investment and long-term planning could help people make Bristol better.

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A mental health crisis in the United States has impacted millions of people across the United States. The pandemic and social justice movements have put mental health on our collective agenda. 

However, as we understand the steps needed to destigmatize mental illness and promote well-being, we may overlook how mental health affects diverse groups in different ways. 

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health, African Americans are more likely to experience serious mental health challenges. But, they are less likely to seek or complete treatment. Many of the causes of this problem are systemic. 

Racism and prejudice can exacerbate mental illness. Meanwhile, there’s a lack of culturally competent mental health care professionals.  Training more qualified mental health providers is an essential response to the mental health crisis. 

However, the focus on individualized care from therapists may obscure the many alternative resources already in place. Churches currently provide support systems, counseling services, and social safety nets for many people. Groups affected most by persistent and debilitating mental health issues, such as African Americans and Latinos, are also those most involved in church communities. 

Faith leaders are often the first responders when individuals in these groups face mental health problems or challenging events. People may feel more comfortable talking with a faith leader than a mental health professional.

However, churches are not always a place of healing. While acknowledging the significant role that faith institutions can play in the mental health crisis, considering how faith communities have stigmatized it is important as well.

For example, mental illness is viewed by some as a personal or spiritual weakness. Studies have shown the prevalence of these beliefs, with findings that 63% of African Americans viewed depression as a sign of personal weakness. 

 Faith leaders can unwittingly spread harmful narratives about mental illness by delivering sermons on the need to pray harder in times of crisis, rely solely on God, or see struggles as a symptom of not being connected enough with a higher power. 

These theologies can inordinately harm subgroups within faith communities. Hurtful messages can take a toll on the psyche of marginalized groups like the LGBTQIA+ community. Another impacted group is black males, who may be affected by church cultures that have strict ideas about masculinity and stigmatize male expression of emotion. 

Many faith communities want to be better stewards of mental health but don’t know where to begin. Collaboration between faith leaders and mental health workers is crucial. Frequently, mental health workers believe engaging with faith leaders is just too complicated

However, some successful partnerships have begun to pop up. The Trauma-Responsive Congregations Project provides faith leaders cutting-edge research on moral injury and teaches them how to incorporate it into their sermons, scripture studies, and other congregational resources. 

Meanwhile, the American Psychiatric Association has created the Mental Health and Faith Community Partnership program, which facilitates conversations between clergy and psychiatrists to reduce stigma and promote understanding. 

In addition, individual faith leaders have stepped up to the task. Reverend Kyev Tatum of New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, uses his platform to address gun violence in his community and its effect on mental health. 

The Aspen Institute’s Religion and Society Program will co-host “Stemming the Tide: Faith and Mental Health in Marginalized Communities” in May 2024. 

Religion can have a significant influence on people’s lives. The current mental health care system is inaccessible to many, given issues of stigmatization, a lack of culturally competent care, and financial barriers. 

However, churches have mechanisms to provide counseling and social influence. By harnessing faith communities’ potential to deliver trauma-informed care and destigmatizing mental health messages, we can confront our nation’s mental health crisis more adequately.

The post “Just Pray Harder”: Can Churches be a Resource in the Mental Health Crisis? appeared first on The Aspen Institute.

I’m writing today to acknowledge the grief, anguish, outrage, and conflict that so many of us are feeling as we try to make sense of the past week’s events in Israel and Gaza and grasp the tragic human toll of terrorism and war.

This is an especially agonizing time for our colleagues and Fellows who identify as Israeli or Palestinian, whose loved ones or colleagues live in the region, or who have experienced antisemitic or anti-Muslim prejudice, threats, or attacks. In the United States, we have seen a documented increase in antisemitism, stoking fear and anguish in Jewish communities. Let us all remember to empathize with and try to help those among us who are vulnerable, targeted, and grieving.

Given the suffering and uncertainty in the world today, it’s natural to feel hopeless. Try to resist such a temptation. Organizations and communities like ours that work to bring people together can make a real difference and should always try. The Aspen Institute exists to help people build understanding and make practical progress, rooted in an appreciation for our shared humanity. These are values we can put forward in difficult times.

As it relates to the current crisis, I want to make four specific points:

We condemn Hamas’s terrorist attacks against the people of Israel. It shocks the conscience to learn of the torture, wounding, killing, and kidnapping of defenseless civilians, including the elderly, young children, and young concert-goers. There is no justification, morally or under international law, for such acts of terrorism and inhumanity. We must hope for a diplomatic breakthrough that leads to the safe return of the 150 or more people who have been abducted and threatened with execution. 

We hope for the safety and wellbeing of the innocent Palestinian families living in Gaza, where living conditions are dire, and in the West Bank, where many are vulnerable. The death toll in Gaza continues to grow, now surpassing 2,000 people, and the loss of fuel, electricity, water, food, medical care, and shelter—already a humanitarian disaster—may soon worsen. Half of Gaza’s two million residents are children. World leaders have appealed to the Israeli government to avoid civilian casualties as they pursue Hamas. Whether through ongoing humanitarian assistance or investments in education and economic development, we must all work for a future for Palestinians aspiring to raise their children with peace, freedom, and opportunity.

Even in the face of such human devastation, civil society organizations like the Aspen Institute must sustain our practical efforts to enable progress for people across the Middle East. In partnership with many others, the Aspen Institute contributes to the good soil needed for the green shoots of peace to spring. Today we promote small business development, facilitate cultural exchange among college students, and host multi-year fellowships to build bridges among leaders in the Middle East and elsewhere, including from the Palestinian territories and Israel. Here at home, we will continue to sponsor summits on global development and security, convene members of Congress for fact-finding and dialogue on global issues, and host programs, seminars, and fellowships that build understanding across supposedly intractable divides of difference. Even in the darkest of times, such work kindles the fires of hope and progress.

And finally, I believe that one of the great insights of the Aspen Institute’s founding, and a core resource we have for dealing with hatred, terrorism, and violence, is the idea that we must honor, protect, and respect human dignity. In 1950, in the aftermath of the Holocaust and world war, our first board of trustees called dignity the “animating value” of the newly created Institute, most recently reaffirmed in the Preamble to our Statement of Principles.

We must come together to understand our differences, to bear witness to each other’s pain, and to share life stories and wisdom. The commitment to honor each other’s dignity—to better appreciate each other’s humanity—is one of the greatest callings we have as human beings.

I am grateful for the contributions and commitment of all in the Aspen Institute community to dialogue, understanding, peace, and prosperity—whether in the Middle East or in other deeply challenging contexts. We must always champion such work. Its need has never been greater.

Dan Porterfield
President and CEO
Aspen Institute

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Around the Institute, we make the most of that autumn urge, scheduling events large and small throughout the last quarter of the year. Following is a sample of our biggest upcoming opportunities, but remember that our dozens of programs host easy-to-attend virtual events on a near-daily basis. Check our events page to see what’s coming up.

Accelerating Digital Equity Global Summit

October 17 – 19 | Virtual

The world is increasingly relying on digital means to deliver education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. With 3.7 billion people—almost half the world—still offline, it’s time to start breaking down the barriers to full participation. This three-day event, hosted by Aspen Digital, will convene global leaders across philanthropy, technology, government, international development, and social impact to collaborate on ways to close the digital divide in the interest of social and economic justice globally. 

Easterseals Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Convene

October 18 & 19 |  Washington, DC

The Institute’s Project on Belonging has partnered with Easterseals to host an executive learning experience focused on advancing inclusion, diversity, equity, and access for people with disabilities in the workplace. The two-day convening will bring together corporate leaders to share strategies and workshop approaches to creating a culture of belonging. 

Bloomberg CityLab

October 18 – 20 | Washington, DC

The Institute’s longtime collaboration with Bloomberg Philanthropies celebrates its 10th year of finding local solutions to global problems. Hundreds of mayors from cities around the world are joined by urban experts, business leaders, city innovators, artists, and activists as they share city-scale solutions in sessions about climate, infrastructure, technology, migration, mental health, and more. 

Aspen Cyber Summit

November 15 |  New York, NY and Virtual

It’s hard to fit the future into a one-day event, but no one does it better than the Aspen Cyber Summit. Each year, leaders from business, government, academia, and civil society gather to discuss urgent cyber issues and drive nonpartisan action to help secure our digital future. The Summit features in-person keynotes, panels, and roundtable lunch discussions, and will be livestreamed around the globe. 

Aspen Security Forum DC

December 7 | Washington, DC

The news-making Aspen Security Forum takes place four days each summer in Aspen, Colorado. Each winter, a one-day event in DC brings together the same caliber of domestic and global leaders, where they join participants to discuss the key national security and foreign policy issues of the day. The compact format—and the location in the nation’s capital—attracts leaders from US and foreign governments, the military, academia, business, and media, both on stage and in the audience.

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This brief addresses a set of critical questions that will arise as the industry puts this powerful growth strategy to work, focusing on how CDFI funders and investors should reconsider how they interpret key financial metrics related to portfolio quality, capital deployment, and earned income for CDFIs that are selling loans. For example, to more accurately assess the lending activity of CDFIs that are selling loans, we recommend that funders request and evaluate total assets under management rather than simply looking at outstanding loans held on the balance sheet or total deployment ratio.

Learn More

The Business Ownership Initiative works to build understanding and strengthen the role of business ownership as an economic opportunity strategy. BOI is an initiative of the Economic Opportunities Program.

The Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy. Follow us on social media and join our mailing list to stay up-to-date on publications, blog posts, events, and other announcements.

The post We Have New Tools To Capitalize CDFI Growth — Let’s Use Them appeared first on The Aspen Institute.

Don Graves, Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Commerce set the stage by saying, “We are entering a new economy.” This is partly because we are seeing once-in-a-generation government investments in infrastructure, semiconductors, and green technologies – together with post-pandemic near-shoring and business trends in artificial intelligence (AI) – are changing our economy forever, and fast. It is clear that Latino entrepreneurs are in a position to help make this change a reality.

I was fortunate to attend this year’s summit, and came away feeling excited about the fact that what’s good for Latino business is good for the entire country. Here are five key takeaways from small business owners.

1. Latinos are poised to be the next drivers of the new economy 

Latinos are shaping the economy of tomorrow. Since 1980, the U.S. Latino population has more than quadrupled, and now totals over 62 million, which is 19% of the country. With a median age that has risen to 30, Latinos are driving labor force growth and produce $3.2 trillion towards the nation’s GDP. If counted apart, this chunk would be equivalent to the fifth largest national GDP in the world. Every year, 2.4 million Latinos are graduating from four-year colleges, and by 2030, one in every five workers will be Hispanic.

2. Latinos still face unique challenges to economic prosperity

The typical Latina worker makes only $0.54 to every dollar their white counterparts make and Latino-owned businesses are 60% less likely to get a bank loan from major banks. While 19% of all Latino-owned startups are in the tech industry, which is higher than 14% of white-owned startups, only 2% of venture capital funds go to Latino-owned startups. Many of these business owners also have very little or no generational wealth. In 2019, about one third of the Latino population in the U.S. was made up of people who were not born in America. For many families, this means that the current producers are generating capital for the first time, with no generational wealth to provide security. So when a family member creates a business and is successful, they may be providing for older family members as well as their own children.

3. Business ownership is a pathway to prosperity for Latino households

Studies have shown that Latinos are nine times more likely to build wealth if they own their own business. In particular, Latina-owned businesses are the fastest growing, by number. At the summit, Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, spoke about how she helps small businesses across the U.S. thrive by increasing access to capital, contracts, and connections. Administrator Guzman grew up working alongside her father at veterinary clinics in Southern California, where she saw first-hand the dedication and craft it takes to operate a small business, as well as a deep appreciation for their importance in communities. Encouraging entrepreneurship among Latinos is critical, and public agencies like the SBA foster economic growth and innovation through supporting and advocating for people at all stages of their professional journeys. This was a refreshing example of successful public-private partnerships.

4. To be part of the next economy, Latinos need to be prepared; their careers should be “future-proof”

As industry changes and the future of work evolves, it’s important that Latinos cultivate skills that will open doors to high-wage jobs. Frankie Miranda, President of the Hispanic Federation, advised young professionals to take their passions and merge them with technology. Miranda stresses that the AI revolution will impact Black and Brown folks most, and gaining skills in tech is the way to make sure Latinos aren’t left behind. This preparation not only presents the opportunity to address historical disparities in access to high-wage jobs but also the chance to get more diverse voices to the tables where generative technology is being developed. Without these voices, Miranda noted, we run the risk of creating AI with inherent bias. Diego Deleersnyder, Associate Director of Aspen Latinos and Society said, “If the Latino workforce doesn’t have the tools they need in order to succeed in the digital economy, this is going to negatively impact the competitiveness of the U.S. economy, as a whole.”

5. Latinos are not a monolith – and that is a strength

Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Salvadorans, Dominicans, Cubans, Guatemalans, Colombians, Hondurans, Spaniards, and Ecuadorians are the 10 largest origin groups of Latino Americans. Within each of these communities, countless cultural and religious identities further expand the massive breadth of Latino diversity. Recognizing and valuing the cultural and linguistic diversity within the Latino community is key. Research shows that having diverse teams drives higher financial returns. Reboot Representation is an organization with a goal to double the number of Black, Latina, and Native American women receiving computer science degrees in the U.S. and help them secure good jobs in the tech industry. The ultimate goal is to get more Latinas in the board room. Reboot Representation reports that companies with above average diversity out-performed competitors by 19% in terms of innovation revenues.

An era of profound change and innovation is already here, and it is key that Latino communities be well-prepared to thrive in next-generation sectors to continue growing wealth and cultivating robust, resilient communities. This year’s summit looked at how to accelerate this inclusive growth.

This article was originally published in Forbes.

Aspen Latino Business Summit Welcome Dinner. September 6, 2023

Aspen Latino Business Summit. Nely Galan and Debbie Berebichez. September 7, 2023.

Aspen Latino Business Summit. Ambassador Gaddi Vasquez. September 7, 2023.

The post Five Takeaways For Main Street From The Aspen Latino Business Summit appeared first on The Aspen Institute.

The Aspen Institute’s Center for Native American Youth is putting Indigenous voices front and center in the conversation around climate change. Vice Chair Charity Ropati, Advisory Board Director Sally Jewell, and Executive Director Nikki Santos sat down together to share their personal experiences and insights, highlighting the importance of empowering Indigenous communities — especially Native youth — in the fight against climate change. Here’s what they had to say:

Indigenous voices are important in the climate conversation

Native communities have a unique and valuable perspective on nature and its conservation, grounded in generations of wisdom and stewardship. Indigenous peoples see themselves as an integral part of the natural world, viewing land, water, and air as relatives rather than resources to exploit. 

As a result, Native communities across the globe have a historically-proven track record of acting as a safeguard to our Earth, maintaining a clear and effective vision for sustainability. A wider adoption of this perspective could catalyze transformation in western solutions for climate change. 

“Indigenous people are less than 5% of the population; however, we protect and preserve over 80% of our world’s biodiversity. It’s because our ways of being in relation with the land, water, and all of our animal relatives — it’s not extractive. We treat this land and the air like our relatives.” – Nikki Santos

The role of Native youth

The younger generation of Indigenous youth are at the forefront of movements advocating for clean water, environmental justice, and political action. Their unique perspectives and dedication to preserving traditional ideologies make their voices indispensable in shaping the future. 

The conversation included inspiring examples of young people making a difference in their communities. For example, Jewell shared a story of Indigenous youth using their voices to protest against the placement of the Dakota Access Pipeline. These youths showed remarkable dedication to nature by journeying from North Dakota to Washington, D.C., to present their own petitions and bring awareness on a global level. Their ancestral knowledge and zeal for safeguarding their future is a potent combination, and one that leaders would be wise to listen to and draw from. 

The importance of ecological education

Ecological education connects us to the world by teaching us about our environment. In Indigenous culture, ecological education is essential and foundational to identity. Putting efforts towards normalizing ecological education throughout western society could promote systematic global transformation, as a basis for all to feel the same connection and responsibility. 

“I couldn’t think of not seeing the world through a traditional/Indigenous lens. It’s embedded in our DNA. Everything that connects us as Natives is through nature.” – Nikki Santos

Barriers faced by Native youth in the fight against climate change

Santos pointed out that despite their potential power to affect change, Native youth face many barriers when it comes to advocacy. Challenges like limited resources, geographic isolation, economic disparities, and mental health disparities are common obstacles. The Center for Native Youth seeks to uplift Native youth and equip them to effect change through an empowerment model that’s rooted in Indigenous culture. Recognition, inspiration and leadership among youth, as well as research, advocacy, and policy change, are key components of all program initiatives. The Center for Native Youth’s Growing into Wowachinyepi and Calm Before the Storm leadership programs are examples of initiatives that encompass these elements.

“When we start normalizing young Natives leading with culture and using that as a protective factor, we will start being able to break those barriers.” – Nikki Santos

How governmental institutions can help support Native youth

Jewell noted a growing awareness among major institutions when it comes to engaging with Native youth. More than ever, institutions are recognizing the value of Indigenous voices and are seeking their inclusion. 

“The time is now; for those who have money and resources, I encourage them to support this work and engage with their local tribal communities.” – Sally Jewell

The Center for Native Youth loves, honors, and respects Indigenous youth, accepting them as they are and uplifting their growth into valued members of society. Governmental and advocacy institutions working toward inclusion should accept that Indigenous values might not look the same as what the predominantly-white society thinks values are supposed to look like. 

“When you invest in Native youth dreams, that is rooted in climate justice.” – Charity Ropati

“We can’t get where we are trying to go without my generation supporting the youth into getting us where we need to go.” – Sally Jewell

Watch the full conversation below. 

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Two sources of data are at the core of this issue, a 2021 survey by the Pew Research Center and the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), an ongoing yearly survey by the Census Bureau to provide vital information about the nation and its people. The Pew survey is a sample of the US population that takes into account gender, age, race, and others in the same way as the 10-year US Census. Pew’s methodology ensures that its respondents are representative of the country’s population as counted by the Census. Both the ACS and the Pew survey report data on the digital divide. Specifically, they report on broadband connectivity and device usage by household, both widely accepted measures of digital access. Additionally, both the Pew survey and the ACS tables report on internet connectivity based on income level as well as educational attainment.

Latino serving organizations have noted that although both sources present data on the same issue, the results are not the same. ACS data reports that 92.8% of the US white population is connected to broadband internet while the rate for Latinos is 91.9%, meaning a gap of less than one percentage point between the two groups. The Pew survey reports that 80% of whites are connected to broadband internet while only 65% of Latinos are, meaning a gap of 15%.

This disparity in reporting is due to differences on how the Pew survey and the ACS tables define broadband connectivity. While Pew’s survey asked about home broadband connectivity in the context of a high-speed internet connection for a home-based device only (desktop or laptop device and fixed broadband connection), ACS data bundles that characteristic with internet connections available through cellphone data plans. Yet, mobile data plans do not always meet the standards for broadband internet connection and may present issues such as data caps and lower stability of the connection. The result is an apparent overestimation of reliable home broadband connectivity when looking at ACS data. 

Both ACS data, as available on data.census.gov, and Pew data disaggregate device ownership data by type of device. ACS data tables, however, do not disaggregate those who use only a smartphone to connect to the internet by race and ethnicity. Because the Pew Research Center survey does, it offers a clue into the perceived disparities in digital gap reporting.

The two sets of data agree on the gap in laptop or desktop ownership between Latinos and whites. While the ACS states that the number of whites and Latinos who own a home computing device is 81.1% and 68.9% respectively, Pew data estimates those numbers at 80% and 67%. This indicates a gap of roughly 12% to 13% in home computing access between Latinos and whites.

There is no significant gap in smartphone ownership between the two groups, according to both sources. However, there are significant differences in the extent to which each group relies on smartphones as the main method to connect to the internet. Pew data estimates that of those who own a smartphone, 12% of whites and 25% of Latinos use it as their sole method of connecting to the internet, meaning a gap of 13%. This is similar to the gap in laptop or desktop computer ownership between whites and Latinos identified in the previous paragraph. 

Latinos are more likely to rely on a smartphone for internet connectivity, and the lack of a laptop or desktop computer at home might be one of the factors behind this issue. While mobile connections might be the only alternative in remote areas without access to infrastructure, fixed broadband connection when available is the best tool to improve digital access as it tends to be faster, more reliable, and convenient, allowing for multiple devices to connect simultaneously. Those households that rely only on cellphone data connections may be at a disadvantage to perform activities such as telework or to fully access virtual education opportunities.

Finally, piecing together Pew data and comparing it with 2021 ACS data shows that the two sources agree on the overall digital access divide. Pew estimates that roughly 80% of whites have access to broadband through a home computing device, and 12% only through a smartphone, adding up to 92% with access to broadband internet. In turn, 65% of Latinos have access to broadband through a home device, while 25% have access through a smartphone, adding up to 90% having access to broadband. The gap between the two groups, according to Pew, stands at 2%. 2021 ACS data tables, which already combine both types of access, estimate high speed internet access to be 93.3% to 92.4% for whites and Latinos, respectively, meaning a gap of 0.9%. The difference in gaps of 1.1% falls within Pew’s margin of error, meaning that there is virtually no difference between the two estimates. 

Additional research is needed to better understand the digital divide between Latinos and whites. According to these interpretations, Latinos lag behind considerably in access to broadband through a home-based computer. Estimates of total broadband access that include access through cellular networks hide the fact that desktop devices and fixed broadband internet are superior in accessing needs like healthcare and education. Research ought to focus on the reasons for this disparity and highlight policies that increase the share of Latinos with access to home-based broadband access and computers. 

Federal policy is already pivoting towards this approach through programs such as the Affordable Connectivity Program by the Federal Communications Commission. In addition to offering a discount of up to $30 per month for lower income households to pay their high-speed internet bills, the benefit also provides a one-time discount of up to $100 towards the purchase of a digital device. By addressing both the internet and home device gap simultaneously, this benefit can address the roots of the digital gap that affects a significant share of the US Latino community.

This blog post is part of Aspen Latinos’ efforts to support Digital Inclusion Week, a nationwide activation between October 2 and 6 to bring awareness to activities that help ensure all individuals and communities, including the most disadvantaged, have access to and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Consider using the hashtag #DIW2023 to amplify the message of building connected communities and making accessible internet a right, not a privilege. 

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So what does it take to actually advance equitable prosperity and economic development in a way that embraces and strengthens the unique assets of rural regions? How are some rural places and Native nations doing economic development differently?

These questions grew from Aspen CSG’s work on both WealthWorks and the Thrive Rural Framework. To explore some answers, Bonita Robertson-Hardy, Aspen CSG’s Co-Executive Director, recently facilitated a virtual discussion of 50+ rural leaders with all levels of experience. The ideas and most of the resources shared in this blog arose from this wide-ranging conversation that included a networking bulletin board. Aspen CSG does not necessarily endorse these resources, but we look forward to exploring them with you.

What is wealth creation?

Wealth-creation methods like WealthWorks focus on generating and retaining multiple capitals within the community, reinvesting that wealth for future productivity, and improving the quality of life for community residents, rather than viewing only growth and jobs as the primary measures of success. We call this asset-based, wealth-building, and more encompassing approach “Doing Development Differently.”

The redesigned WealthWorks website shows how it has been applied in many different economic sectors, from food to manufacturing to energy. Moreover, investments in local people, institutions, resources, partnerships, and systems are just as significant as investments in infrastructure and firms. If you want to learn more about WealthWorks, check out this blog from the Aspen CSG team.

Getting started on wealth creation

During the recent event, two practitioners of the WealthWorks method shared their perspectives and offered lessons on how to get started. Aaron Dawson shared how the work of the Industrial Commons in North Carolina is helping to rebuild a diverse working class based on locally rooted wealth. Decades ago, their area of North Carolina was a powerhouse of textile manufacturing, but the offshoring trend of the 1990s sent those businesses overseas. In the wake of this massive economic change, the founders of the Industrial Commons began growing a cooperative textile business centered on local ownership, local control, and locally rooted wealth – rather than giving a bunch of subsidies for companies to come in from the outside. Since 2015, Industrial Commons has grown seven new cooperatively owned businesses that provide services and products and high-paying jobs for local residents, all based on a community investment versus extraction model.

When asked how other rural communities could get started on something similar, Aaron suggested that Industrial Commons started really small, with one sewing machine and a lot of volunteer labor. But they built momentum by creating one project they could build off of for new enterprises. His advice was also to have an entrepreneur on the team who enjoys solving problems and can design a profitable business that fulfills a market need. Want to learn more about Industrial Commons and how they work? Take a look at their Success Story on the WealthWorks website.

Develop a regional strategy

Martha Claire Bullen from Communities Unlimited shared how the region of East Texas is overcoming a tendency for community competition by developing value chains around manufacturing, trucking, and workforce housing. Over two years, a regional, community-driven effort identified the market opportunity to open a training school to educate truck drivers to fill the hauling needs of local manufacturers and has even built new workforce housing for drivers and students. By identifying a market need, this region in East Texas was able to invest in a locally owned solution that has grown industry and employment across a large geography – one that also has helped the region’s varied communities recognize that cooperation can lead to greater economic results.

Martha Claire emphasized that developing a regional effort takes time and careful attention to the diverse needs of different communities. She suggested that intentional conversations among regional leaders can help everyone be frank about the best areas for regionalization – and what community assets should remain squarely local. Having a trusted partner to facilitate a conversation among people representing different parts of the region can help grow wealth-creation efforts that meet all stakeholder needs.

Recognize power and dismantle discrimination

In many small communities, historical inequities, racism, and entrenched power dynamics prevent progress on asset-based economic development. Local elected officials often have control and influence over planning and investment decisions, and one event participant shared how, in their community, the mayor was unwilling to support efforts from the Black community to jumpstart small business development. During the Open Field conversation, that participant connected with a local technical assistance provider working in a nearby town who offered help to develop market-based support for Black-owned farms. Growing wealth locally, rooted in community assets, can be an important part of dismantling systemic discrimination as it provides marginalized communities new opportunities to build power and additional resources to support workers and families.

Shared Resources on Wealth Creation 

Participants shared these ideas and resources during the event; we have curated them below in hopes they will be useful in your endeavors to organize an action infrastructure in your region.

• Some participants wanted to network and included their contact information on this virtual whiteboard.
• Coaching can be important for success in developing your region’s asset-based economic development strategy. Event participants shared that connecting with the WealthWorks hubs and trainers can be a great way to get started.
• Other national rural-serving organizations, including Rural LISC, were mentioned as great places to seek coaching and technical assistance for your development effort.
• The new WealthWorks website has 13 “success story” case studies that provide concrete examples of how communities developed value chains from the ground up, focused on value chains like energy efficiency, local foods, and tourism (just to name a few).
• Participants shared a success story from the Four County Community Foundation’s Return to Earn internship program that helped connect college students with local businesses and government agencies.

Devin Deaton, Action Learning Manager with the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group, curated this learning reflection. Open Field sessions inform and are informed by Aspen CSG’s Thrive Rural Framework, a tool that aims to help communities and Native nations across the rural United States become healthy places where each and every person belongs, lives with dignity, and thrives. To join the next Open Field session, register for our mailing list.

The post From Competition to Cooperation: Insights on Rural Wealth Creation appeared first on The Aspen Institute.