Washington, D.C. -- March 31 and April 1, 2003
The Asset Development Institute, in collaboration with Brandeis' National Center on Women and Aging, convened a two-day national summit for an intensive and forward-looking discussion on the promise of asset development for women at all stages of their lives. It was an impressive gathering of individuals, including representatives of national and state policy organizations and grassroots programs, national religious groups, labor unions, academia, and major foundations. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Linda Chavez Thompson, Peter Edelman, Robert Kuttner, Anita Hill, and others were joined by representatives from partner organizations in the forefront of women's policy issues in playing key roles at the summit.
Many women in America have not yet gained the assets - the quality jobs, human capital, savings and investments, and other capacities and resources - that are essential to economic security and opportunity. For women, traditional policies may have resulted in more participation in economic life, but many have yet to make it into the economic mainstream. Asset development is the means by which to craft a new and compelling social vision, one that is inclusive (all are part of the opportunity structure) and universal (common factors everyone needs to attain economic well-being).
Summit participants assessed and evaluated the asset development policy framework as it relates to women. Attendees examined current knowledge about asset-based outcomes and the role of current policies and practices in enabling or hindering better outcomes, as well as shared promising models for innovative and politically viable asset-building policies. The summit was a forum to promote a concerted strategy to advance asset-based policies that will significantly increase the economic well-being of women.
© 2009, Institute on Assets and Social Policy, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University. All rights are reserved.
