Social Mobility in Rural America

Much of the research on the fading “American Dream”-the expectation that children will grow up to earn more than their parents-has focused on the country’s urban areas. However, as the nation’s cultural, economic, and political divides have deepened, there has been accelerating interest in understanding how the 60 million people who live in rural America are confronting the challenges that come with climbing the income ladder.

A recent field report by the National 4-H Council and The Bridgespan Group titled “Social Mobility in Rural America” examines this important and often overlooked section of America. The Forum’s Karen Pittman offered her thoughts and insights in a foreword for this important contribution to the field of youth development.

Review the report.

Read Karen’s Foreword.