At Boston Rising, we think of all Americans as part of a single class. We call it the “Rising Class.”
The Rising Class represents an entire community of self-determined people committed to achieving their own American Dream. We believe that families and communities experiencing poverty are not the poor. They are part of the Rising Class to which we all belong. The Rising Class is made up of those who, through their aspirations and their progress, are the basis on which we build opportunity and growth.
For too long, the conversation has focused on the weaknesses of individuals living in poverty, rather than focusing on their strengths and extraordinary potential for growth.
People are not poor. People are rich – full of immense human potential. People experiencing poverty want out. They are just as self-determined and motivated as anyone else.
Families and communities experiencing poverty represent a vital part of the Rising Class. As with any member of the Rising Class, for them to rise they need access to a decent education, a shot at a good job, and the right social connections along the way. Boston Rising recognizes that the truth about rising is that it’s harder to do if you are experiencing poverty. Our mission is to clear the way for those members of the Rising Class experiencing the cycle of poverty so we can all keep rising together.
By restoring the basic building blocks of the American Dream – a decent education, an upwardly-mobile job, a social network – and then making them accessible to as many people as possible, we can achieve our mission.
