OUR EXPERTISE
COMMUNITY STRATEGIES GROUP
Since 1985, the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group (Aspen CSG) has been committed to equitable rural prosperity. We work towards a future where communities and Native nations across the rural United States are healthy places where each and every person belongs, lives with dignity, and thrives.
OUR Work
Thrive Rural
Rural Equity, Opportunity, Health, and Prosperity
Imagine a future where communities and Native nations across the rural United States are healthy places where each and every person belongs, lives with dignity, and thrives.

Regional and Rural Development
Advancing the principles and practices of regional wealth-building as the means to better economic development policy and practice in the United States.

Community Development Philanthropy
Building the number and capacity of community and region-focused foundations that are taking leadership on – and making a significant difference in – improving the economy and livelihoods in their places.

Whole Family Prosperity
Building the capacity of practitioners and policymakers to help families on the economic margins earn more, keep more of what they earn, and grow what they keep into assets for themselves and their communities.

What’s New at Aspen CSG?

Mapping a New Terrain: Call to Action
As new rural outdoor recreation economies take root, we can meet this moment by improving how we do outdoor recreation development to better support rural families, businesses, and workers, create more sustainable and equitable economic systems, and improve local health and wellbeing.

Building Trust and Visibility Through Community-Based Participatory Research at Rural Minority-Serving Institutions
This research brief explores how rural MSIs and approaches to community-based participatory research can be used to better understand MSIs’ nature and practices.

Growing Rural Equitable Outdoor Recreation Economies
Jun. 9th, 2023, 1PM
How is your community using outdoor recreation to grow sustainable, healthy livelihoods for families and new economic futures for your region?

2023 County Health Rankings
County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (CHR&R) brings actionable data, evidence, guidance and stories to support community-led efforts to grow community…
Recent and Upcoming Events

Growing Rural Equitable Outdoor Recreation Economies
Jun. 9th, 2023, 1PM
How is your community using outdoor recreation to grow sustainable, healthy livelihoods for families and new economic futures for your region?

Seizing the Moment: Rural Development Hubs and the Historic Opportunity for Federal Resources
Apr. 12th, 2023, 1PM
Learn how to use federal funding opportunities to build bridges and develop new capacities and the importance of working regionally to maximize community assets. You’ll walk away with techniques to prepare your organization for securing and administering federal funds.

Advancing the Next Generation of Rural and Indigenous Leaders
Feb. 10th, 2023, 1PM
How is your community thinking and acting on the issue of next generation leadership?

Ensuring Rural Communities Welcome Everyone
Dec. 9th, 2022, 1PM
How can we work to ensure that each and every person is welcomed to the community, feels connected, and is able to exercise and influence power in community decision-making?
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