The author says there is much more that America can and must do to support working families with young children. Photo: Getty Images
The American family is our nation’s greatest strength. Yet our country is failing them. As we navigate a year fraught with partisanship and conflict, we also have an opportunity to recommit to an inclusive America where raising a family, working, and contributing to our communities is not just feasible but easier.
I was recently part of an effort to do just that. The Convergence Collaborative on Supports for Working Families, a bipartisan collaboration of leaders from many backgrounds and political beliefs, was an opportunity to step back from the political maelstrom and concentrate on how to support working families better. We spent several months together, learning from diverse perspectives, sometimes disagreeing but uniting with policies to support the American family.
Sadly, those families are hurting. Many working-class Americans have been left behind as wages have stagnated and inequality has grown. A survey by the conservative American Compass found that in 2021 , only those who are married and have the highest income and education levels believe they have achieved the American Dream. This leaves millions more— including the 42.6% of North Carolinians ages 25-44 who do not have a degree —feeling that the American Dream has failed them.