Economic Mobility
We advocate for workers who are trying to improve their circumstances but face needless barriers to growth and lack opportunity. Every person should have the ability to improve his or her economic situation by gaining the education, work experience, and skills needed to earn a better living. We seek especially to lift those living in intergenerational poverty.
We craft public policy solutions that maximize opportunities to move upward and that remove systemic barriers to economic mobility so everyone has opportunities to earn success and enjoy self-reliance.
Reviewing the Necessity of Utah’s Occupational Licenses
On January 7, 2021, one of newly elected Gov. Spencer Cox's first actions was to issue an order requiring state agencies to "review all occupational licenses to ensure they are truly necessary and are not outdated or incomplete." Gov. Cox stated, Government...
Biden Is Right: Americans Should Not Receive Unemployment Benefits if They Can Work
There has been some debate about President Biden's recent statement that Americans who turn down jobs won't be able to...
“Returnships” for People Returning to Work
Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson recently signed an executive order requiring most...
The Value of Mentors in Helping People Rise Above Poverty
Living in poverty can mean dealing with a lot of stress because a person is faced with one crisis after another: "How...
The Wheel of Fortune: Why Looking Down on the Poor and Disadvantaged Is a Bad Idea
Have you ever seen a person who is homeless taking refuge under a shade tree in the summer heat, with his sleeping bag and bundles of meager belongings, and thought: "I'm so glad that's not me," or...
Clean Slate Law Helps Some Utahns with Criminal Records, But We Can Do More
In 2019, the Utah Legislature passed a bill that allows some people with nonviolent, misdemeanor criminal records to have their convictions automatically expunged under certain conditions. This law...
Utah Ranks 6th on the U.S. Prosperity Index, Nevada 46th
The Legatum Institute based in London has published state rankings as part of its United States Prosperity Index 2020. The Index uses 200 indicators in 11 categories to measure prosperity among the...
Utah Needs a Child-centered Approach to Fighting Poverty
Paul Mero recently wrote an op-ed for the Salt Lake Tribune in which he highlights new research challenging many assumptions about how to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. One conclusion...
New Research Pinpoints Lives and Circumstances of IGP Children and Families
A new report sheds interesting light on children in intergenerational poverty and their families. Here are the key findings: Most IGP Parents and Teens see nothing wrong with their current situation...
Report: Intergenerational Poverty in Utah, 2019
Utah’s Intergenerational Welfare Reform Commission has provided its latest update on intergenerational poverty in Utah. Learn more about it here.
Intergenerational Poverty in Utah, 2018
Over the past six years, Utah has made progress addressing intergenerational poverty. The progress is not being made through the establishment of new government programs or significant increases in...
Possible Civil Rights Violations at Utah Elementary and High Schools
There at least 23 open investigations into alleged civil rights violations — most on the basis of disability, sex or race — in elementary and high schools across seven Utah school districts that...
Utah Legislature Leaves Thousands of Workers without Workplace Protections
Workers at companies with less than 15 employees still have no legal recourse for biases against their gender, race, sex, religion, pregnancy or other protected classes. A bill that would have...
County Plans Overview, 2017
From September 2016 to June 2017, thirteen Utah counties were selected by Utah’s Department of Workforce Services (DWS) to develop local strategic plans to address high rates of intergenerational...
Utah Omnibus Research, 2017
Next Generation Freedom Fund teamed with Heart & Mind Strategies to survey Utahns about their understanding of poverty in Utah, especially intergenerational poverty. Findings reveal that Utahns...
Report: Intergenerational Poverty in Utah, 2017
Under the leadership of Utah’s Lieutenant Governor, leaders in 11 rural counties and two urban counties were engaged to develop local plans that align with the Commission’s goals to reduce IGP among...
The American Dream is Alive in Utah
There is still one part of the country where the poor can become successful: Salt Lake City. If you’re in the bottom 20 percent of incomes and living in Charlotte, North Carolina, you only have a 4...
Intergenerational Trauma Among American Indians
Trauma has been garnering more and more attention over the past few years, with the rampant climb of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and the understanding of what can cause it. Intergenerational...
Report: Intergenerational Poverty in Utah, 2016
Key findings in the 2016 annual report include struggles in early childhood development, lack of children’s health care, childhood homelessness and juvenile justice system involvement. The report...
About Us
We are advocates for those who are poor and disadvantaged. Our mission is to lift every person in need to prosperity and self-reliance through sound public policy that affirms each person’s human dignity and allows for every opportunity to flourish. We work with all people of good will who share our vision.
We invite you to join us. . . .
