🔴 Myth: Local gov doesn’t affect cybersecurity 🟢 Truth: Their vendor + funding choices shape your WiFi 🔴 Myth: Public/friend’s WiFi is private 🟢 Truth: Owners see your activity; hackers see more 🔴 Myth: You must be a tech expert 🟢 Truth: Community voices drive policy

⏰ There are only 2 days left to apply for our free training course, Building Nonprofit Advocacy Capacity! Don’t miss this chance to scale your nonprofit’s impact, access expert insights, and grow your capacity.

🎉 Thank you to everyone who joined us at our Policy In Action event in NYC last night! It was inspiring to hear from our panelists and alumni about how we can all play a part in civic innovation. If you weren’t able to attend, you can still get involved.

📣 “We are in a really historic moment right now when it comes to applying the benefits of the technological revolution to creating tools that help…public servants achieve their goals of better service,” said former Tulsa, OK Mayor G.T. Bynum.

Congrats to Fellow Camille Carlton, policy director at the @humanetech.bsky.social, for her new co-authored piece: “AI Product Liability: The Light-Touch Law With Heavyweight Impact.” The piece asks: Who is responsible if AI products can emotionally manipulate users or mislead the public?

💡 Nonprofits can be power players in the policy space. Is your organization tapping into this potential? Join our free Building Nonprofit Advocacy Capacity training course to learn how to build an effective policy strategy and team.

Our friends at @rstreet.bsky.social recently published an analysis of how AI is making online scams more convincing and widespread. One of the key takeaways is that protecting consumers will take collaboration between policymakers, tech companies, and financial institutions.

📰 Last week, our Director @betsycooper.bsky.social was quoted in @npr.org's coverage of the #AmazonWebServices outage that disrupted major websites/services across the internet. Betsy noted that incidents like this display the danger of so many critical systems depending on a few major players.

🧠 “There are many ways to create meaningful policy impact for a nonprofit research organization,” said fellowship alum Kelsey Whiting of @thelandinstitute.bsky.social. We’re excited to now offer the virtual Building Nonprofit Advocacy Capacity course to help other nonprofit leaders.

🔎 We’re hiring an entry-level Program Assistant to provide operational, administrative, communications, and event support to our programs. We prefer candidates based in the Bay Area, but remote candidates are also eligible. Learn more and apply here 👉 www.aspeninstitute.org/about/our-ca... #Hiring

📣 We want educators helping shape the future of education policy. That’s why we are excited to announce our new partnership with Teach For America’s Rural School Leadership Academy fellowship! 👇 Learn more about the partnership here: aspenpolicyacademy.org/news/new-par... #TeachForAmerica

🎧 Our Founding Director @betsycooper.bsky.social appeared on the #NonprofitLeadershipPodcast to share how social impact leaders can navigate advocacy: “Many nonprofits focus on service delivery, but lasting impact often requires shaping the policies that define the system itself.”

Join us for Policy In Action NYC: a free event on Nov 13 featuring former mayors London Breed & G.T. Bynum, policy proposals from Academy Fellows, and networking.📍Betaworks | 🕕 6pm | 🎟 RSVP: forms.gle/RsK7gwXvWw87... #PolicyInAction #AspenPolicyAcademy

📢 Applications are open for our Building Nonprofit Advocacy Capacity course! A free, part-time, virtual program (Dec. 8–12) to help nonprofits build a policy advocacy plan from scratch. Apply by Nov. 16, 11:59pm PT. Details & application here: aspenpolicyacademy.org/program/buil...

🏘️ In a new @invisiblepeople.tv feature, fellows Hannah Somers and Ananthi AI Ramiah share how they worked with Sante Fe, NM to better understand local concerns and identify ways to build support for shelter initiatives.

🌟 We're thrilled to announce the 21 participants of our Fall 2025 Rising Civic AI Leaders program, hosted in conjunction with @aspendigital.bsky.social. These Leaders are gaining policy impact skills in our immersive 3-month course. Check out their bios here: aspenpolicyacademy.org/news/announc...

On dotmed.com, alum Daniel Bardenstein discusses cybersecurity in healthcare procurement. Questions he recommends hospitals ask: 🚨 What operating system is this device running? 📣 Does it have default passwords? 🙋 How will it be secured over 10-15 years?

🛡️ Everyone can help protect their communities from cyber threats. Join our #CyberCivicEngagement training, developed with support from craig newmark philanthanthropies. #Take9. 📅 First sessions are Oct 23 & Nov 20 | Free & Virtual 🔗 Register: aspenpolicyacademy.org/cyber-civic-...

🌿 A big thank you to everyone who applied to the hashtag#EnvironmentalPolicyAccelerator! This 6-week program is one of several opportunities we offer each year to help individuals and teams strengthen early-stage policy ideas and turn them into actionable solutions.

🗞️ @techpolicypress.bsky.social featured our Nonprofit and Public Interest Fellowship alum @theodoraskeadas.bsky.social on why cloud computing should be considered a public utility. 🔎 Read the full article here: techpolicy.press/why-the-clou...

Join Aspen Policy Academy’s free webinar, “How to Tell Governments What You Think,” on Sept 24 at 9am PT / 12pm ET. This one-hour session will teach you how to communicate effectively with Congress. Register here: aspeninstitute.zoom.us/webinar/regi... #CivicEngagement #Policy #AspenInstitute

🎙️ Podcast Feature! Our founding director @betsycooper.bsky.social joined Forcepoint's #TothePointCybersecurity podcast to discuss cybersecurity through a civic engagement & policy lens. The episode makes the case for why your voice matters in shaping a resilient digital future.

🗣️ Your voice can spark change! One participant in our #HowtoTellGovernmentsWhatYouThink webinar shared: 💬 “Because of this webinar, I feel empowered to talk to my government and advocate for change in my community… it was the perfect bridge for me.”

📚✏️ Back-to-school season is for everyone! Who says learning stops after graduation? We believe it’s never too late to build new skills and engage with policy in meaningful ways. 🔗 Learn about our free, virtual webinars and register here: aspenpolicyacademy.org/webinars/

👏 NPR recently featured Tim Pappa, our 2025 #PolicyPrimer cohort alum, in a piece about how a small Vermont town is defending its water systems against hackers. 💬 As Tim shared, projects like this bring people together to pair community operators with cybersecurity experts.

🌟 Alumni Impact Spotlight 🌟 We’re proud to celebrate alum Rebecca Kilberg for her recent policy contribution now moving through US Congress. 💡 Her proposal emphasizes incorporating #PowerUsageEffectiveness (PUE) and #waterconsumptiondata into federal data center planning.

Here’s what Jayvee Del Rosario, a participant in our #PolicyImpactforEmergingClimateLeaders program, had to say: 💬 “The program equipped me with the tools to navigate policy discussions, engage key stakeholders, and drive impactful change in the areas of sustainability and climate finance.”

✨ What sets our EPA program apart? It's built for action: - Converting early-stage environmental improvement ideas into policy solutions - Collaborative workshops with peers & seasoned policy experts - Creating strategic advocacy plans that connect your work to decision-makers

🚨 Last chance to register! 🚨 Our #EnvironmentalPolicyAccelerator informational webinar is tomorrow, September 11 at 9am PT/12pm ET. 🌱 Come learn what the program covers, get concrete application tips, and have your questions answered live by Academy staff.

Come learn more about our Environmental Policy Accelerator program! Join us for an informational webinar on September 11 at 9am PT/12pm ET. We’ll provide an in-depth overview of the program, concrete application tips, and dedicated time for audience Q&A: aspenpolicyacademy.org/program/envi...

🌱 Apps open for our #EnvironmentalPolicyAccelerator! ✔️ 6-week, part-time virtual program (Oct 20–Nov 24) ✔️ Turn your early-stage idea into a policy solution + advocacy plan ✔️ Open to teams (≤4), no policy experience needed ✔️ Free!

🚨 Big news! Tech Hub alum + NY Assemblymember @alexbores.nyc has been named to the #TIME100AI2025 list 🎉 Alex is the first computer scientist elected to the NY Assembly and is leading the charge on AI accountability with the #RAISEAct.

✨ We wrapped up our Science & Tech Policy Fellowship with a final happy hour in SF at #MarinaCampusSF! 🥂 Fellows closed out the month-long bootcamp with drinks, speeches, and a toast to their impact, including announcing Carlos Javier Torres as our Savilla Pitt Fellow!

💬 “The Aspen Fellowship helped me turn a career I felt was missing something into a new one that fits my values and strengths.” Alum Samara Trilling reflects on the #TechPolicyFellowship. Samara graduated from Harvard Law and is heading into plaintiff-side antitrust.

🎙️ Our Director @betsycooper.bsky.social was just featured on @opentext.bsky.social's podcast #ReimaginingCyber! Host Rob Aragao and Betsy explore how cybersecurity leaders can move beyond the technical to influence policy.

📰 “The ICJ ruling gives young people another tool to defend their rights and a livable planet.” 💡 Proud to spotlight alum Swathi Manchikanti, co-author of a @thinkglobalhealth.org's piece on how the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion could transform climate action.

📰 Last chance! Join us TOMORROW (Aug 20, 9am PT / 12pm ET) for “Writing an Op-Ed”, a 1-hr webinar to turn your ideas into a persuasive policy piece. ✨ Find your sharpest angle 🎯 Tailor your message to your audience 🗞️ Pitch so your piece gets published

Come learn how to turn those insights into powerful opinion pieces in Aspen Policy Academy’s free virtual training session on 8/20 at 9am PT/12pm ET. Register here to expand your civic engagement toolkit: aspeninstitute.zoom.us/webinar/regi... #Webinar #AspenInstitute #AspenPolicyAcademy

Exciting news! Our Influencing AI From the Outside short course alum Nino Lazariia has been accepted into the 2025 Clean Energy Leadership Institute Fellowship! Over the next 6 months, she’ll join leaders nationwide to drive a just & decarbonized energy future. 🌍⚡

Got an environmental policy idea that needs polish? Join our virtual Environmental Policy Accelerator! Get expert feedback and build an advocacy plan to put into action. Apply yourself or in teams of up to 4 by Sept 11: aspenpolicyacademy.org/program/envi...

💡 “With recent developments in AI, it’s never been more important to know how to identify and react to scams.” In The AI Journal, our Director @betsycooper.bsky.social shares practical steps for what to do after you’ve been scammed, which AI has been making more convincing than ever.

🎨 We’re hiring a paid Design Intern! 🌎 Remote (pref: SF, DC, NYC, CO) ⏰ 5–10 hrs/week | $20/hr | Flexible start 📅 Open to undergrad & grad students

🙌 We're thrilled to highlight Carlos Javier Torres, our 2025 Savilla Pitt Memorial Fellow! Carlos leads policy & partnerships at ¡HICA! in Alabama and brings deep experience in public health, philanthropy, and more. His warmth and wisdom embody the legacy of Savilla Pitt.

🎧 In the Press! Alums Rebecca Kilberg, Mary-Clare Bosco & Jonathan Gilmour joined The Data Fix podcast to discuss how policy can tackle the environmental impact of data centers — especially around water use.

🗣️ Want to drive policy change? Start with how you communicate. Join us Aug 13 at 11AM PT / 2PM ET for a free webinar on how to communicate policy ideas clearly & effectively — in writing and in person. 📍 Virtual | Free | 1 hour

🖌️ We’re hiring a paid design intern to help the Academy create everything from social media graphics to research reports! This position is perfect for students looking to gain real-world experience at the intersection of design and policy. Apply here: aspeninstitute.hrmdirect.com/employment/j...

🗣️ “With artificial intelligence, cyber attacks like the one St. Paul experienced will only be on the rise — and every city should have a plan for how to move forward if they are the next victim.” — Our founding director @betsycooper.bsky.social in Government Technology

Alum Rebecca Kantar has launched a cybersecurity education game as part of Roblox’s new Learning Hub. Read about this kid-friendly cybersecurity activity and more 👇: www.businesswire.com/news/home/20...

🎙️ Alum Stephen Mushegan joined @marketplace.org to weigh in on how new federal policy may impact wind energy development in the U.S. A recent GOP tax bill requires wind projects to begin by July 2026 to qualify for credits, shaping what gets built and when.

🧠 Science & Tech Policy, in session! Our Fellows joined a “Tech Policy 101” workshop led by @derekslater.bsky.social, co-founder of Proteus Strategies & former Global Info Policy Director at Google. Topics included AI harms, internet governance & digital rights.