As defined by the Urban Institute, upward mobility has three interconnected dimensions:
- Dignity and belonging—people feel respect, dignity, and belonging that come from contributing to their family, work, and community and are valued for those contributions.
- Economic success —people have adequate income and assets to support their and their family’s material well-being.
- Power and autonomy—people have control over their lives, can make choices, and exert influence over larger policies and actions that affect their future.
Racial equity acts as the thread to connect these components because many of the barriers that block people’s economic success, power and autonomy, and dignity and belonging result from longstanding ongoing racism that is built into policies, processes, institutions, and culture.
There are five interconnected pillars of support essential to mobility:
- Rewarding work — pays living wage, provides dignified work conditions, offers economic security.
- High-quality education—from preschool through postsecondary—provides a crucial avenue to economic and social mobility.
- Opportunity-rich and inclusive neighborhoods —play a central role in supporting families’ stability and well-being, access to social and economic opportunities, and children’s chances to thrive and succeed.
- Healthy environment and access to good health care — help people of all ages to surmount life’s challenges, excel in school and at work, ensure their families’ well-being, and fully participate in their communities.
- Responsive and just governance —engages residents in decision-making and serves needs of all community members with restraint and fairness.
