The mission of the Public Policy Forum is to promote civic dialogue, debate and community engagement with distinguished expert speakers on issues of international, national and local significance.

The Crested Butte Public Policy Forum is a not-for-profit organization, supported by local community sponsorships and donations.

The Forum is Broad and Inclusive

The Crested Butte Public Policy Forum is an avenue for information, not advocacy. The speakers reflect a wide range of ideologies, beliefs, and political affiliations. The Forum is not associated with a particular political party nor does it espouse a particular political ideology. 

The Forum is Locally Powered

Associating the Forum with local issues, local interests, and local community members whenever possible strengthens its role within the Upper Gunnison Valley. Though the topics discussed may be global, national or regional in nature, tying them back to Crested Butte keeps the Forum rooted locally. Furthermore, the Forum’s financial viability rests in the participation of the community.

The Forum is About Possibility

In today’s polarized political culture, the Forum ascribes to the ethos of politics being “the art of the possible.” Rather than focusing on what is broken and what divides, the Forum values possibilities and solutions by presenting balanced information to stakeholders, steering away from the divisiveness that dominates much of today’s policy discourse.