What is the Hurst Community Initiative?
Generously funded by Bob and Soledad Hurst, the Hurst Community Initiative seeks to promote dialogue, increase understanding, and facilitate opportunities for meaningful connection across the West Mountain Region – among the communities of the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys (Parachute to Aspen, Colorado).
We believe that individuals are most resilient as integral members of communities that promote equity, inherent belonging, justice, and civic engagement.
REGIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS
Distance: 80 Mile Corridor
Area: 4,000 Square Miles
Total Population: <90,000 Regional Total
Child Population: 21,000+ Total (Under 19)
White: +/- 70%
Hispanic/Latinx: +/- 30%
People in Poverty: 7% - 8%
Untreated Health Care Due to Cost: 21.3%
Untreated Mental Health Care: 16.9%
Free & Reduced Lunch Qualifying Students:
Aspen School District: 6.2%
Roaring Fork School District: 50.8%
RE-2 School District: 34.1%
Garfield District 16: 67.7%
Garfield Self-Sufficiency Standard: $96,234
Garfield Median Household Income: $82,772
RFV Eagle Self-Sufficiency Standard: $118,088
RFV Eagle Median Household Income: $117,791
Pitkin Self-Sufficiency Standard: $116,064
Pitkin Median Household Income: $96,123
Pervasive Regional Challenges:
Fair, Equitable & Affordable Access to Quality
• Food
• Housing
• Medical Healthcare & Mental Health Services
• Preschool & Childcare
• Skills-Based Training & Professional Development
• Diversity of Competitive Career Opportunities
• Living Wage | Financial Self-Sufficiency
• Transportation & Mobility
• Inclusive Design, Disability Access & Inclusion
Source: Aspen Community Foundation (2024) | ACF Regional Data Sheet
Additional ACF Data: Realities in Our Region Data Report & Cradle to Career Regional Data
Colorado Health Access Survey: 2023 Data
Additional Data: OpportunityAtlas.org
Leadership & Program Advisors
A Colorado native, Evan Zislis joins Aspen Institute with over twenty-five years in the Roaring Fork Valley working as an educator, social entrepreneur and community advocate. With a career focused on building relationships through program development and organizational leadership, Evan’s expansive network in the public, private, and social sectors strategically positions him to launch and direct the Hurst Community Initiative, targeting community leaders and regional populations hit hardest by the defining challenges of our time. Evan lives with his wife and daughter in Carbondale.
Evan Zislis
Director, Hurst Community Initiative (Aspen CSG) Evan.Zislis@AspenInstitute.org 970.366.2532
[click on each for more information]
Chris Estes
Co-Executive Director
Community Strategies Group
Elliot Gerson
EVP, Policy & Public Programs
International Partners
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Cristal Logan
VP, Aspen Community Programs
& Engagement
Stephen Patrick
VP & Executive Director
Forum for Community Solutions
Domenika Lynch
Executive Director
Latinos and Society Program
Ida Rademacher
VP & Executive Director
Financial Security Program
Lori Severens
Director of Leadership Programs
Ascend
Frederick Riley
Executive Director
Weave: The Social Fabric Project
Todd Breyfogle
Executive Director
Executive Leadership Seminars
Aspen Institute is a global 501c3 nonprofit organization igniting human potential to
build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., (founded in 1949 in Aspen, Colorado) Aspen Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the greatest challenges of our time in service of a more free, just, and equitable society.