REGIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS
Distance: 80 Mile Corridor
Area: 4,000 Square Miles
Total Population: 90,000+ Total
Child Population: 22,600+ Total (Under 18)
White: +/- 70%
Hispanic/Latinx: +/- 30%
Other Race/Ethnicity: 3%
Immigrants: 15-18%
Children Under 18 yo: 20,000
Free & Reduced Lunch Qualifying Students:
Aspen School District: 5%
Roaring Fork School District: 43%
RE-2 School District: 45%
Garfield District 16: 58%
Garfield Self-Sufficiency Standard: $75, 239
Garfield Median Household Income: $69,161
Eagle Self-Sufficiency Standard: $76, 608
Eagle Median Household Income: $79, 556
Pitkin Self-Sufficiency Standard: $95, 667
Pitkin Median Household Income: $74, 576
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 (2022)
Additional ACF Data: Realities in Our Region Data Report & Cradle to Career Regional 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 and private sectors strategically positions him to launch and direct the Hurst Community Initiative, targeting public policy and regional populations hit hardest by the defining challenges of our time. Evan lives with his wife and daughter in Carbondale, Colorado.
Evan Zislis
Founding Director, Hurst Community Initiative Evan.Zislis@AspenInstitute.org 970.366.2532
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