Alongside Network
Jen Aspengren is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in nonprofit leadership and social innovation. As the Founder and CEO of Alongside Network since January 2021, Jen leads initiatives focused on community support and engagement. Prior roles include Special Projects Director and Associate Director of Learning at Alia, and Minnesota Lead at ChangeX. At Ashoka, contributions spanned almost 13 years, including roles as Change Leader and Director of National Programming and Partnerships, where Jen was instrumental in diversifying the Ashoka Fellowship and establishing a strong community presence in the Twin Cities. Jen's foundational experiences include positions at the Division of Indian Work, Human Solutions, and City of Lakes AmeriCorps, as well as a commitment to youth and community service. Jen holds a Master's degree in Public Policy from the Humphrey School and a Bachelor's degree from the University of St. Thomas.
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Alongside Network
Alongside Network is addressing health equity by integrating psycho-social supports and follow up care for all families who have a child that experiences a life-threatening illness or injury. We are working to shift the system of care for families who have a child with a life-threatening illness or injury, such that psycho-social supports are integrated throughout their experience, with an emphasis on normalizing and offering clear pathways to follow-up care. We work with hospital systems and payers to demonstrate the benefits of integration, and we also work directly with families to validate, connect, and support them as they adjust to life following a child’s life-threatening illness or injury.