The past 10 years have given us plenty of reasons to feel cynical.

Political gridlock. Polarization. Deepening inequality

But I’ve also seen something else: the power of leaders rooted in community who think across systems and act across generations to help families flourish.

In 2015, I was honored to be named an Ascend Fellow at the Aspen Institute . I joined a network of thinkers and doers committed to making this country work better for all families.

We came from different places, professions and perspectives. Ascend brought us together around one shared truth: If we want a stronger future, we must listen to and invest in families.

At the time, I was already working in philanthropy.

The work was meaningful, but it sometimes felt like navigating an eight-lane highway without clea

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