Aspen Policy Academy

💡 Our April is packed with free webinars to help you find your footing in the policy space, whether you're just getting started or looking to put a specific skill to work. Here's what's coming up: 📌 Policy 101 🗓️ April 8, 9-10am PT New to policy? Start here. Learn how to think about policy expansively, access a practical framework for driving change on the issues you care about, and walk away with a clear overview of the 6 steps of policy impact. 📌 Scam Fighters Workshop 🗓️ April 16, 9–10am PT Now’s the time to turn awareness into action! Learn tailored policy skills to advocate for stronger scam fighting and cybersecurity infrastructure in your own community. 📌 How to Tell Governments What You Think 🗓️ April 22, 11am–12pm PT Governments work for the people, but most of us were never taught how to effectively make our voices heard. This session covers how to communicate with policymakers across all branches of government, from Congress to executive agencies to the courts. All sessions are free, 1 hour, and open to anyone ready to get involved. No prior policy experience needed. 🔗 Register: https://lnkd.in/gE59zKEC   #AspenPolicyAcademy #PolicyEducation #CivicEngagement #ProfessionalDevelopment #Upskilling

➡️  From a Policy Academy project to a signed law! We are thrilled to see our alumni having real-world impact. 💧  2024 Science and Technology Policy Fellows Jonathan Gilmour, Rebecca Kilberg, and Mary-Clare Bosco recommended that the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner set water efficiency targets for the tech sector. 📜  These policy recommendations ultimately helped inform H.B. 76 Data Center Water Transparency, which was officially signed into law by the Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox. 🔗  Check out Jonathan, Rebecca, and Mary-Clare’s project “Reducing Data Centers’ Water Consumption in the Great Salt Lake Basin” here: https://lnkd.in/gU3YRtXS

🤓  Happy National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy Day! 🌐 This day of action is dedicated to exploring the fundamental questions of "What is AI?" and "How do we prepare learners for an AI-enabled world?" 🚀  Here at the Academy, we’re proud of our alumni tackling pressing AI literacy questions and helping build shared knowledge around the future of AI. Celebrate National AI Literacy Day by checking out some of their upcoming conference talks: 📌 Kimetha Dunn on mitigating biases in AI systems at the BITE-CON conference in Miami, FL on April 9 and 10. Learn more here: https://luma.com/4xs19fak  📌 Daniel Bardenstein at AI Cybersecurity Summit virtually or in Arlington, VA on April 20 and 21. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gzCeDtEP  📌 Tim Pappa at the Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice Interdisciplinary Conference on Cybercrime in East Lansing, MI on May 22. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gSTmt-zN 🔗  Read more about the Academy’s work supporting AI governance in our annual report here: https://lnkd.in/gGVfYsGb 🔗  And learn more about National AI Literacy Day programming here: https://ailiteracyday.org/ 

🌟  We are thrilled to release our 2025 Annual Report! Check out what we’ve been up to in our 7th year of operation and our goals for 2026. Highlights below 👇 📈  A record-breaking 10,500 people registered for our programming. 🌱  We ran 46 training opportunities, including new courses like Rising Civic AI Leaders, the Environmental Policy Accelerator, and Building Nonprofit Advocacy Capacity. 📩  We launched our Civic Engagement programming pillar, equipping everyday people to push for change in their communities. 🤝  Our alumni drove real policy change, from contributing to a new Utah law on data center water use transparency to convincing New York City to adopt their AI guidance recommendations. 👥  More than two-thirds of alumni report working in or planning to work in policy. 🔗  View our annual report to learn about these accomplishments and more: https://lnkd.in/gGVfYsGb 📣  If you joined us in 2025, as a Fellow, webinar attendee, or anything in between, we’d love to hear what you took away. Drop your thoughts in the comments! #AspenPolicyAcademy #AnnualReport #CivicEngagement #PublicService #PolicyLeadership

📣 Our 2025 Annual Report is coming soon! 📈 2025 marked another year of immense growth for us: more programs, more participants, and more policy impact across tech, the environment, and civic engagement. From expanding our nonprofit advocacy training to launching new cybersecurity programming, we've been busy, and we can't wait to share the full picture. 💡 Expect alumni spotlights, stories of real-world policy change, and a look at where the Academy is headed next. 🔗 In the meantime, catch up on everything we accomplished through 2024 in our last Annual Report: https://lnkd.in/g7kcdbsT #AspenPolicyAcademy #AnnualReport #PolicyEducation #CivicEngagement #Impact #Changemakers #PublicService #PolicyLeadership

💡 Here's what happens when senior tech executives spend 5 weeks learning how government actually works: "I feel like this program has given me a secret weapon for succeeding in government." "I have a better understanding of how to be successful in a technology policy role and how my existing skills would translate." "Before, I was a little skeptical, but now I plan to join the government at some point." "Overall, I feel more confident applying to government [jobs] going forward." These are reviews for our Tech Executive Leadership Initiative, a 5-week program we run with Tech Talent Project that equips senior technologists with the frameworks, skills, and confidence to step into government and public sector work. This kind of shift happens across all of our programs: Whether you're a tech leader exploring government work, a nonprofit ready to build its advocacy capacity, or a community member who wants a say in the policies affecting your neighborhood, we have a program for you. From free 1-hour webinars to week-long courses to competitive fellowships, our training meets people where they are and gives them what they need to make change happen. We have two opportunities coming up: 📌 Building Nonprofit Advocacy Capacity — a free, week-long virtual course for nonprofits and public interest organizations ready to build their policy and advocacy capabilities. Apply by April 13. 📌 Policy 101: a free, 1-hour webinar introducing you to the basics of the policy process. Join us April 8. 🔗 Explore all of our open programs and register here: https://lnkd.in/gS-MeWsF #AspenPolicyAcademy #TELI #PolicyEducation

📚 Whether you're brand new to policy or looking to sharpen a specific skill, our free, 1-hour webinars are an accessible starting point. Check out our upcoming sessions: 📌 Policy 101 🗓️ Apr. 8, 9–10am PT ❓ Join for an introduction to the policy process and how change really happens. 📌 Scam Fighters Workshop 🗓️ Apr. 16, 9–10am PT ❓ Learn how to advocate for stronger scam prevention in your local community. 📌 How to Tell Governments What You Think 🗓️ Apr. 22, 11–12pm PT ❓Learn the broad principles for communicating to policymakers and specific tips for sharing your opinions with Congress, executive branch officials, and the courts. 🔗 Explore our full slate of offerings and register today: https://lnkd.in/gE59zKEC #AspenPolicyAcademy #PolicyEducation #Policy101 

💬 “Even with my White House experience, I feel like the way I talk about policy and how it's made is more informed and more approachable now based on what I learned in the Train the Trainer program,” said Ross Gillfillan, tech consultant and former Senior Policy Advisor in the White House Office of Science and Technology. 💡 After serving in the first Trump White House, Ross joined the Academy’s Train the Trainer initiative — a program that trains experienced policy professionals to teach the Academy’s methods for policy impact. 👨💻 He has since become a regular guest instructor for the Academy’s webinar programming, translating his government experience into practical guidance for others. 📄 Read more about Ross’s journey in our latest Impact Case Study: https://lnkd.in/gh2aBu-M 🗓️ Register to join an upcoming webinar led by Trainers like Ross: https://lnkd.in/getZB9Yp #AspenPolicyAcademy #PolicyImpact #PolicyEducation #PolicyTraining #LeadershipDevelopment

⏳  The early review deadline for our Building Nonprofit Advocacy Capacity course is coming up soon! 💡  This free, virtual training is designed to support US-based organizations working in the public interest – including nonprofits, direct services providers, or university and research centers – who want to grow their policy advocacy capabilities. Join us to develop the skills you need to create and execute a policy advocacy plan tailored to your organization. 📅  May 11-15, 2026 | 9-11am PT / 12-2pm ET  ⏰  Apply by April 5 at 11:59pm PT for early application review. ⚠️  Final deadline is April 13 at 11:59pm PT. 🔗  Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/ghWEDvm7  ❓  Do you have nonprofit folks in your network who could benefit from this free opportunity? Tag them below! #NonprofitAdvocacy #ProfessionalDevelopment #NonprofitTraining #NonprofitResource #NonprofitSupport

💭  What can we do when generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) makes mistakes? 📣  2025 Science & Technology Policy Fellow Michelle Sipics tackles this question in her new policy project, “Informed Innovation: Establishing a Generative AI Incident Investigation Framework in Utah.” 📃  Michelle’s project draws inspiration from industries like aviation and medicine to propose best practices for Utah’s Office of AI Policy and its partners in case a harmful GenAI incident was to occur. Her recommendations aim to prevent repeated harm and strengthen shared knowledge around GenAI’s risks, ultimately promoting public trust in GenAI and the State of Utah. 🔗  Read Michelle’s full project here: https://lnkd.in/gn5iFuDp 👀  Want to explore more of our tech policy publications? View our full catalog here: https://lnkd.in/gh2YcrZV #AIPolicy #AIGovernance #AISafety #AITransparency #ArtificialIntelligence