Bell Policy Center

Mission

The Bell Policy Center's mission is to ensure economic mobility for every Coloradan. To that end, the Bell Policy Center strives to ignite a conversation that inspires communities and their leaders to transform Colorado into a state where everyone thrives. Through policy research and analysis, advocacy, and strategic communication, we advance systems change that supports economic mobility and equity. We focus on four main policy areas:

• Public Funding for Economic Mobility: Legislative, ballot, legal, and long-term strategies to ensure public funding for the essential ingredients and levers of economic mobility, as well as core research and analysis on public funding and economic mobility.

• Strengthening the Caring Economy: Research, communication, and advocacy to elevate and strengthen Colorado’s caring workforce (early childhood educators, direct care workers supporting older adults and people with disabilities) and the families they serve.

• Closing Equity Gaps: Identifying and tackling structural barriers for marginalized communities (including racial and gender barriers) in key levers of economic mobility, with a strong focus on housing, financial empowerment, postsecondary education, and aging.

• Telling the Economic Story: Telling the story of our economy to policymakers, media, and activists with a focus on fairness, racial equity, and economic mobility.

Throughout these four priorities, our systems change work strives to center Community (research and advocacy that engages with and builds from the priorities of affected communities), Equity (advancing greater equity in economic mobility for BIPOC Coloradans, women, and other historically marginalized communities), and Narrative (influencing the conversation around economic mobility and building public and political will for systems change on economic mobility).

As we continue our commitment to economic mobility, you'll find the Bell Policy Center:

- In the conversation: The Bell informs and shapes the debate on economic mobility by offering research and perspective to media, partner groups, opponents, and thought leaders.

- At the ballot: Advocacy efforts led by the Bell put important policies on the ballot, giving Coloradans the power to secure economic opportunity with their votes.

- At the legislature: Elected leaders rely on the Bell's unique insights on economic mobility, often looking to the Bell to better understand their communities' needs. We advance legislation and support coalition partners with their goals.

- In the community: The Bell connects with local leaders and residents from communities across Colorado and works with these leaders and coalitions to elevate these voices.