10+ years of Community-Driven Impact 10+ Years of Youth Leadership 10+ Years of Systems Change 10+ Years of Youth Voice 10+ Years of the
Forum for Community Solutions

Learn More About Our Decade of Impact

Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions

Founded in 2012, the Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions emerged from the work of the White House Council on Community Solutions, a cross-sector effort that recognized the power of communities to self-determine vibrant and sustainable solutions to the social and economic challenges, they face.

For over a decade Forum has been a beacon of hope and change – by partnering with communities, young people, practitioners, policymakers, and philanthropic leaders, we advance collaborative community-based efforts that expand mobility, eliminate systemic barriers, and create pathways to opportunities for all young people to thrive.

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Grounded in the belief that those closest to challenges are closest to the solutions — our work focuses on several interconnected programs, initiatives, and partnerships, that expand opportunity and local community-led change through place-based partnerships, statewide & national networks, thought-leadership, and organizing.


Opportunity Youth Forum

The Opportunity Youth Forum (OYF), our flagship initiative, connects over 40 local collaboratives dedicated to the success of young adults aged 16-24 who are not engaged in work or education. Our decade-long journey has been marked by partnerships with urban, rural, and tribal communities, all with the common goal of expanding pathways to youth reconnection, and transforming systems to enhance educational and employment outcomes for all young people to thrive.

40+communities

COMPRISE OYF’S NATIONAL NETWORK

900organizations

are engaged via OYF’s 40+ local collaboratives across the U.S.

3million

Young adults aged 16-24 in OYF communities are poorly supported by misaligned education and workforce systems

$17million

is the annual economic cost of 900,000 disconnected young people

900,000

of these young adults are completely disconnected from both education and work

$440million

in economic benefits was saved in 2024 alone, due to reconnection efforts by OYF partners

OYF communities reduced youth disconnection by 140,000 in the past three years alone, and are on track to reduce disconnection by 50% by 2033

Youth of color are disproportionately impacted by disconnection across the US and around the globe

Featured Opportunity Youth Forum Initiatives

Latest Publications

Taking Young Workers Seriously: Building Good Jobs from the Start
Webinar

Taking Young Workers Seriously: Building Good Jobs from the Start

Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of Youth at Work Series

The Open Pathways Project 2025 Washington State Convening Report

Key Takeaways From The Open Pathways Project (OPP) Washington State Convening 2025

2025 TELB Cohort Stories
Stories

2025 TELB Cohort Stories

The TELB is made up of young people who have direct involvement in systems and who have also faced disconnection from school or work.

Gathering in Montgomery | Spring’26
Convening

Gathering in Montgomery | Spring’26

| Montgomery, Alabama

View Event

Partner Insights Show Way to Scale Youth Outcomes
Blog

Partner Insights Show Way to Scale Youth Outcomes

OYF’s Scaling Youth Outcomes Cohort (SYOC) initiative provides targeted funding for rapid growth in OY prevention and intervention services

Understanding Reach and Impact
Blog

Understanding Reach and Impact

The OYF network is scaling its reach and deepening its impact. Learn about the 2024 outcomes.

Yaneliz Cabrera
Blog

Homegrown Prosperity –

Aspen Ideas: Economy convening brought together leaders, scholars & innovators to explore how cities and networks can shape economic futures

Open Pathways Project WA State Convening
Blog

Open Pathways Project WA State Convening

Open Pathways Project WA State Convening: Strengthen Access to the Outdoors for Community Wellbeing

Thought-Leadership I Youth Opportunity I Systems-Change I

Stay connected with the latest insights, announcements, and resources, including new publications, events, community stories, podcasts, and tools designed to advance opportunity and systems change for young people and communities across the nation.