Worker- and Community-Led Strategies for a Fairer Economy

Workers and communities know very well what good jobs – or bad jobs – look like, because they live this reality every day. Yet our labor market and policies are often designed without the input or leadership of workers or the communities they live in. As a result, even well-intentioned efforts to create better working conditions and a more equitable economy can fall short for similar reasons. So what does it look like to have workers and their communities at the helm of job quality strategy and advocacy?This event — hosted on March 5, 2026, by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program — is the second in its four-part event series on Fixing Work in the South. Drawing on the work of EOP’s Job Quality Fellows, this conversation explores what kind of progress is possible when we lean on the expertise of workers and communities to inform strategy and empower them to shape a labor market that works for everyone.Our speakers include Cecilia Behgam (Texas Climate Jobs Project), Kelly Brooks (Civic Works), Maya Ragsdale (Beyond the Bars), Ben Wilkins (Union of Southern Service Workers), and moderator Amanda Fins (The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program).For more information about this event, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit our website. For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to our YouTube channel.Or subscribe to our podcast to listen on the go.This event is part of our Job Quality in Practice series.