Bell Policy Center

Programs: The bell policy center provides research, outreach, advocacy, and strategic communication on the intersecting forces affecting economic mobility in colorado: economic inequality, changing demographics, technology's effect on the way we work and learn, and shrinking public investment. We focus on three major goals as we address these forces: raise the economic floor: build the economic security of low- and moderate-income coloradans through policies and public investments that increase wages, reduce barriers to their progress through income and work supports, protect them from predatory practices that strip wealth and increase debt, help them prepare for sustainable careers, prepare them for retirement, and support savings and asset building for the future. Build a diverse and robust middle class: drive a colorado-specific conversation about how we reduce economic inequities and rebuild a thriving, diverse middle class. Understand and describe the state of economic mobility into the middle class, the primary barriers to moving up, and cost pressures straining family budgets; identify the effect of declining public investments on low- and middle- income coloradans and the communities in which they live. Identify policy changes and investments that could reduce barriers to upward mobility. Spark innovations for the future: explore how innovative approaches and partnerships, such two-generation approaches in education or human services, new approaches to addressing the needs of aging coloradans, or impact investing and community wealth- building could help more coloradans move ahead economically. Examine innovations that could help coloradans thrive amid increasing automation, changes in the nature of work, and shifting demographics. Identify policy changes or investments that could bring these innovations to scale. 2017 accomplishments included: --released the 2017 opportunity handbook: a quick guide to economic opportunity in colorado, a snapshot looking at several key areas of economic opportunity, including child care, postsecondary education and training, wages, retirement savings, housing, and health care. --developed and led a robust financial equity coalition focused on fighting predatory financial practices and helping more coloradans preserve and build their assets; the 30-member group includes workgroups on predatory lending, retirement security, student debt, and financial education and asset building. --successfully advocated for several policies to advance economic mobility, including stronger consumer protections against unscrupulous debt collection practices. --co-hosted a roundtable on student debt with the consumer financial protection bureau, and a panel discussion with three partner organizations on our student debt crisis. --convened practitioners from the adult education and training, post- secondary education, workforce development, and early childhood education communities to identify and begin mapping current efforts in denver to link early childhood education and adult education in a two-generation approach, and identify collaboration opportunities. --provided leadership to the strategic action planning group on aging, a governor-appointed group building a comprehensive approach to addressing the opportunities and challenges presented by our aging population. --hosted 11 community conversations on economic mobility issues in different communities across the state.