Dear Fellows,

In 1949, as the world grappled with unprecedented challenges, the founders of the Aspen Institute understood then what resonates even more powerfully today: that in moments of profound uncertainty, we need spaces for deep reflection, human connection, and bold action.

As we mark the Institute’s 75th anniversary, I find myself returning to the words from that first Aspen gathering: “The difficulty of our time is a difficulty of the human spirit.” These words feel startlingly relevant as I think about our upcoming Action Forum and what it means to gather as a Fellowship community in 2025.

The technology of Fellowship – of coming together in rare space to sharpen our inquiry and strengthen our resolve – has never been more vital. This July, we’re creating an intimate environment for you to step away from the daily demands of leadership and reconnect with what brought you to this fellowship journey in the first place. Through seminar dialogues guided by our extraordinary team of moderators, inspiring conversations with leaders on the frontlines of progress, and moments of reflection in nature and through art, we’ll explore leadership at the edges of our maps—where the terrain of reality differs most dramatically from our careful plans and cherished assumptions.

The world we’ve found here is not pre-ordained; it was wrought through the messy, important work of people making new things that fit their moment. Now it’s our turn. These are days that call for leadership marked by imagination, courage, humility, and audacity. Put another way, these are days that call for each of you.

I look forward to being in community with you this summer.

In Fellowship, 

Dar