As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, there is much to reflect on and much more to do to realize the democratic ideals that this country was founded on.
At the Memorial Fund, we know that this nation’s constitution was not created with everyone in mind. That is evidenced across the country where stark inequities in education, income, health outcomes, and more exist in every state. In Connecticut where our efforts focus, top earners make more than 37 times what the bottom 99 percent earn, and it ranks among the highest in economic and racial segregation.
We can and must create a society that works for all – one where everyone can thrive, and the only way forward, is together. It’s why we’ve been so proud to support the Next250 movement, One Fair Wage, and the Living Wage for All campaign. Weaving together the hopes and dreams of people of different backgrounds, faiths, and experiences across the country – including right here in Connecticut – Next250 shapes and offers us a new declaration reclaiming this country’s promise and a pledge that honors our bonds of interconnection as we tend to our communities and ourselves.
Next250’s Declaration of Interdependence states that we are building a nation where:
- All people are treated with dignity and respect.
- Everybody feels safe in every community.
- Access to clean, green spaces is abundant.
- Every person who works earns a living wage and benefits that allow families work-life balance.
I recently had the opportunity to be in community with our partners and Next250 co-founders Saru Jayaraman, Carmen Perez-Jordan, and Linda Sarsour at a mobilization event in D.C., and what I experienced was love for humanity in action. A powerful coalition of organizers, policymakers, funders, and more that are modeling what it actually looks like to build an economy rooted in dignity, fairness, and shared prosperity. I was filled with incredible hope that future generations, including my son, will know that we did not settle, but chose to exercise the full might of our collective power to build something far better.
We all have a part to play in creating the future we dream of and deserve.
Read and sign the declaration to join the movement working to ensure that America’s next 250 years is defined by our interdependence and is a place where everyone can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. We got this! Let’s go!