Design Highlights
- Pointbridge collaborates with the Aspen Challenge to develop innovative solutions addressing physician liability issues in healthcare settings.
- The Legacy Medmal program targets newly admitted physicians, offering guidance on managing potential liabilities effectively.
- Aspen Challenge’s framework supports youth engagement in developing practical solutions for real-world healthcare challenges.
- The initiative encourages collaboration between healthcare professionals and students, fostering a new generation of problem-solvers.
- The program aims to enhance understanding of medical malpractice risks while promoting civic-mindedness among participants.
When it comes to tackling community issues, why leave it to the adults? That’s the question the Aspen Challenge poses, inviting high school students to step up and take the reins. Launched in 2013 by the Aspen Institute and the Bezos Family Foundation, this program is all about giving youth the tools they need to confront real-world problems in their neighborhoods.
The Aspen Challenge empowers high schoolers to tackle community issues head-on, proving that youth can lead the way.
Teams of eight students, guided by two educators, dive headfirst into the messy world of community issues. The program is structured like a rollercoaster ride, starting with empathy building. Students learn what’s really going on around them. Spoiler alert: it’s not always pretty.
Then comes the inspiration forum, where leaders throw down real challenges. Talk about pressure! From there, students choose their challenge and get busy designing solutions. They have just one week to draft a vision and set their goals. No pressure, right?
Creativity, feasibility, and sustainability are the names of the game, and those criteria are used to judge their solutions. Outreach is the next step. Students must engage their communities through events and media. It’s not just about coming up with great ideas; it’s about getting people on board. Young people as future decision-makers is a central theme that resonates throughout the program. The program involves students from 20 local high schools, showcasing the collective power of youth in addressing local challenges.
And let’s be real: it’s hard to get adults excited about anything, let alone a teenager’s idea. But in cities like San Diego and Boston, they’re all in. There’s a buzz as students craft their pitches and brand identities. You can almost hear the eye rolls from the grown-ups. Much like how comparison shopping reveals significant variations in auto insurance pricing, different approaches to community problem-solving can yield vastly different results.
The culmination of all their hard work is the Solution Showcase, where the top teams present their solutions. Winners get a trip to the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, while others go home with valuable experience and pride. It’s like the Olympics for nerds, but cooler.
The Aspen Challenge is expanding, with new partner cities like Boston joining the fray. It’s about tapping into the underutilized brains of young people—something Nat Irvin of the University of Louisville points out so well.
There’s a sense of urgency here, as educators like Boston Superintendent Mary Skipper emphasize empowering students. It’s about fostering leadership and civic-mindedness.
