Listen "Moving Beyond Gratitude: Opportunities to Improve Essential Work"
Episode Synopsis
Among the many unexpected lessons of 2020 was a recognition of the importance of essential workers. We saw how much we rely on the people who work in our food systems, who care for our children and our loved ones, who deliver packages, and who keep our public spaces clean. We learned to say thank you to so many of them, and in this season of thanks, we reflect on how we can do more than say thank you by improving the quality of essential jobs. As the year draws to a close, we discuss the important role of essential workers in our economy and society and a variety of approaches for improving essential work.
Our speakers include Angelina Drake (Chief Operating Officer at PHI, Aspen Institute Job Quality Fellow, and former home care worker); Terrill Haigler/Ya Fav Trash Man (Philadelphia Sanitation Worker); Linda Nguyen (Chief of Staff at the UFCW Local 770 and Aspen Institute Job Quality Fellow); Zeynep Ton (Professor at MIT Sloan School of Management and author of The Good Jobs Strategy); and moderator E.J. Dionne (Columnist at the Washington Post and EOP Advisory Council member).
The Economic Opportunities Program’s Opportunity in America discussion series has moved to an all-virtual format as we all do what we can to slow the spread of COVID-19. But the conversations about the changing landscape of economic opportunity in the US and implications for individuals, families, and communities across the country remain vitally important. We hope you will participate as we bring our discussions to you in virtual formats, and we look forward to your feedback.
We are grateful to the Ford Foundation, Prudential Financial, Walmart.org, the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, and the Surdna Foundation for their support of this series.
Our speakers include Angelina Drake (Chief Operating Officer at PHI, Aspen Institute Job Quality Fellow, and former home care worker); Terrill Haigler/Ya Fav Trash Man (Philadelphia Sanitation Worker); Linda Nguyen (Chief of Staff at the UFCW Local 770 and Aspen Institute Job Quality Fellow); Zeynep Ton (Professor at MIT Sloan School of Management and author of The Good Jobs Strategy); and moderator E.J. Dionne (Columnist at the Washington Post and EOP Advisory Council member).
The Economic Opportunities Program’s Opportunity in America discussion series has moved to an all-virtual format as we all do what we can to slow the spread of COVID-19. But the conversations about the changing landscape of economic opportunity in the US and implications for individuals, families, and communities across the country remain vitally important. We hope you will participate as we bring our discussions to you in virtual formats, and we look forward to your feedback.
We are grateful to the Ford Foundation, Prudential Financial, Walmart.org, the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, and the Surdna Foundation for their support of this series.
More episodes of the podcast The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program — Events and Interviews
Big Impact, Big Challenges: Lessons from Collaborating with Large Businesses to Improve Job Quality
10/10/2025
The Future of Equal Opportunity
09/09/2025
Fixing Work: Recent Lessons from the Field
29/07/2025
Joseph Blasi and Maureen Conway Give Closing Remarks at the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum
03/07/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.