(Illustration by Marcos Chin)
We accepted this challenge in 1978 with our founding mission. The work of USI began as a promise. Back then, it was a promise to give the working poor of St. Louis access to more resources and a better quality of life. Nearly 50 years later, our promise remains.
Framing the Future with Love
At Urban Strategies Inc. we believe that love is a value but also a practice that calls us to stand with communities, reimagine systems, and build pathways toward liberation. In this supplement, we invite you to join us on this journey of love-centered transformation. Sponsored by Urban Strategies Inc.
What is a promise? Merriam-Webster refers to a legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect a specified act. The US Constitution declares that all are promised a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Instead, we have made exceptions based on income, skin color, zip code, lifestyle, age, ability, and a host of other factors. While our constitution’s promise has not lost its luster, we have forgotten that for generations, too many of our neighbors have been shut out of opportunities to achieve their dreams. Despite neglect of our founding promises and trickle-down approaches to success, American citizens have had to strive for less-than-stable livelihoods or thrive in the face of traumatic conditions. At USI and together with our robust partner network, we are committed to more opportunity for all.
What would it look like if everyone had access to high-quality education, affordable housing, living-wage jobs, and other resources we all need to thrive? What would it look like if some of our people did not have to suffer for others to succeed? What would it look like if we valued every individual as a fellow human instead of seeing others as adversaries? Fulfilling the nation’s promise will require collaboration among many sectors, but also courage to fight against the forces that work hard to ensure that promise is never delivered. We will also need bravery to admit that even those of us who have worked to do right by our community have not always gotten it right. In some cases, we have unwittingly paved the way for those who do harm.
The articles in this supplement represent the array of voices we need—philanthropy, government, private industry, and community—to fulfill the nation’s promise. Each esteemed author brings their own perspective to the question, “What would it look like if everyone had the opportunity to succeed?” For me, the answer is that everyone has resources to realize their potential while feeling safe in mind and body. I encourage readers to consider this question while reading these articles without bias or judgment and with an open heart and humanity.
Will you accept our challenge to lean in with love and do the hard work together? Will you challenge your bias, antiquated beliefs, and the harmful systems that support the othering of our neighbors? This is both the urgent work in front of us and the unspoken part of the promise. It will take dismantling and rebuilding to achieve the promise.
Read more stories by Esther Shin.