Who Has the Right to the American Dream?

President Obama was recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to strengthen cooperation between peoples. It has been pointed out as a rather controversial decision since it comes so early in his presidency and before any concrete achievements can be attributed to him. However, I would like to mention that he has created a very real sense of hope and instilled a sense of empowerment and responsibility in our nation and the world. He symbolizes our ability to change the world into a better place and charges us, as world citizens, to do something about the ills and inequities we see every day.

I'd like to take this opportunity to point out what I see as one of the greatest issues facing us today -- the lack of educational equality and opportunity. We as a nation have always considered America the land of opportunity, where anyone who possesses the necessary drive can rise to success in any field. Unfortunately, this isn't true for everyone. There are some basic skills and character traits which are necessary for success in our complex world today. More and better education than what is offered in too many schools. Reasoning and logic skills. Self-confidence and an ability to advocate for yourself are also essential. Most of us grow up knowing this and accept it as our birthright -- but not the roughly 40 million living below the poverty line.

A few years ago, instead of just griping about the lack of education and opportunities I saw, I decided to do something about it. I was fortunate enough to know a teacher who had an idea to actually go into areas of need, focus on driven students who wanted a good education, and give them the tools to succeed. We gave them opportunity and encouragement and watched them become achievers and leaders. Our nonprofit organization is called Determined to Succeed and I'm proud to say we help low socio-economic students fulfill their dreams. It's a partnership between us and our students. They agree to bring the drive and we hold them accountable to that by meeting with them, their teachers, and their parents regularly. In exchange we give them tutoring, mentoring, summer enrichment programs, and a commitment to stay with them until they graduate from high school fully prepared to enter college. Since they enter our program in sixth grade that means a seven year commitment for us, but it's also a seven year opportunity for us to make sure our students get the skills they'll need in life.

I've seen firsthand how much of a difference we can make by reaching out to those less fortunate. For me it's education because I strongly believe every child deserves a chance at success. President Obama said his Nobel Prize was a call to action for him. I hope you embrace that and find a way to do something for your community -- whether it means donating money or time to a nonprofit like Determined to Succeed or another cause you find on iParticipate.

 

 

Comments

[conserve joe]

I started in a program similar to yours called "Teammates", which was started by Coach Tom Osborne when he was at Lincoln. It works with kids that are in a "disadvantage" (lack of a better word) and is there to be a friend and mentor. The goal is to get them to college by setting goals and ways to achieve those goals. For instance, my mentee lives with grandma who speaks zero English, dad is in jail and their is a restraining order against mom. The kid is a good kid so hopefully I can keep him looking towards the future instead of the immediate gratification that a lot of kids want these days. Hank, keep up the good work and hopefully we as individuals can do more and more to help the kids of this country. Money isn't the save all like most politicians think, it is the family and the next door neighbors that do the most good. We have gotten away from that and are always looking to the government for answers and a handout when all we needed to do was look to our community for help.

[jumperpin]

Your motives and aspirations are compelling. But do we really need more college degreed taxi drivers and burger flippers.

In case some haven't noticed, our mfg/tech bases have been traded off for the short-term enrichment of a greedy few. If one may add, the tellers and enablers of these transactions were quite heavily schooled/degreed at our "best" schools.

With workers/pr­ofessional­s here competing increasingly against slave-wages around the globe, simply more graduates is hardly the answer.

[Dynamohum]

Hank, Thanks for being involved in such and important and necessary cause for kids right here in the United States. Everyone should get involved in some kind of community service. I just completed 13 years of service for one organization and intend to keep it up until I am too old. It is the single best and most rewarding thing I have done in my entire life.

Thanks again!!

[Nomccain]

Everyone who works hard for it!

[middleoftheroad]

Hats off to you Hank! Throwing money at education is not ALWAYS the answer, but having a knowing, caring, and mentoring adult almost always is for an individual student.

[William50]

If that same amount of attention were given to all students think where this country would be!
middleamerican2010
Casey

[tinatoledo31]

no one has a right to the american dream.

people in this country have a right to the opportunity to pursue the american dream.

were the original colonists given homes and jobs? no they created them.

were the immigrants who came here in droves 100 years ago given shelter and jobs? no, they worked hard for them.

unless this recent attitude of the american dream being a "right" ends, we will turn into a welfare state as we try to give people the american dream instead of the opportunity to succeed as we have for 100s of years.

[tc2598]

Right. He's talking about opportunity. You aren't listening.

[deBeer]

Co sign!

The lefties want everything with no work. They are great at spending others peoples money.

It is written the "pursuit of happiness".... not a right.

Barry O talks about wealth redistribution yet the founding fathers stated that if the government takes your property away it is tyranny.

We are experiencing the most tyrannical administration this nation has ever seen.

[tc2598]

You are the sort of person who is simply going to need ignored, like you were in the last election.

I'll start right now.

[Ganapati]

You don't understand absolutely anything...

[satanlite]

"The lefties want everything with no work. "

How sad you actually probably believe that. It shows your foolishness. No more can be said to you.

[RobHunt]

Certainly not Rush Limbaugh. Only people that stay in line and don't make waves are entitled to enjoy the fruits of their labor. All good springs from government, and critics should be shunned.

[Fudgefase]

Having worked with people who effectively withdrew from education aged around 13 (usually because they had missed something vital in their first few years of primary education and simply had very little reading and writing skills) I can absolutely say that what you are doing is beneficial and valuable - not just to the people you are helping but to society as a whiole. If you give people the tools to achieve, and the skills to try, they will try, and they will achieve. They will raise the standards for themselves and their children. It starts at the 'bottom'. The bottom is the foundation for society. The healing begins there. More power to you Mr Azaria.

[SiouxSayer]

My American Dream is soon to be a Nightmare: 3 months ago I lost my small photo studio due to the economy, my wife whom I cared for through her chemo treatments, decided she wants a new life with my daughters without me, will be losing my house very soon, and am looking at being homeless after that. I have no formal education as I dedicated my attention to my trade of photography. So, at 41, I am in a very bad place. I could save myself with a job or a path or an opportunity. Right now I am heading down a path to nowhere fast. I am terrified. I have IT skills, but no one is hiring men my age. I had dreams, hopes and aspirations...they all seem like a dream now. I live in a very rural part of TN and I would relocate to any area of the world to start over. If anyone can help or advise or offer...I would be most grateful...really. My email is on my profile here. I have no family to take me in or support me and everyone here is the only family I 'have'. I have never asked for help in my life and the shame I feel for seemingly begging simply shatters me. I used to be strong...Can anyone help? I simply have to keep asking...I have no other choice

[msbadger]

SiouxSayer: Although I cannot help you, as I too have no resources, I just want to wish you well and remind you that people are reading your post. Perhaps someone will be able to give a tangible response. My prayers and sympathy are with you, and others in our situation. Blessings.

[SiouxSayer]

Thank you for your kind words Ms. I will be sending you positive thoughts as well.

[UKOH]

I came to the USA on an H1-B visa. Now I have a green card.

In both cases the justification was a lack of available skills in the USA market place.

Look false modesty aside I am pretty good at what I do. But I have no illusions about being unique or Nobel Prize material in my field or anything like that. In a country as large as the USA it should be possible to find somebody with my skill set. In spite of an immigration requirement that my position was advertised extensively for a long period no suitable American candidates came to light.

Look I am extremely grateful personally that was the case and that - in time - I will be able to correct what I consider an accident of birth and finally become the American I have always felt I was right from an early age but this is a damning indictment of the American education system as it exists today.

We really need to ensure that the big tech companies, Microsoft, Oracle, IBM etc. can be staffed with home grown talent and not rely on an army of H1-B imports to get the work done.

The education system really must improve and turn out more high quality technicians in the USA.

[PNG]

Fantastic points. This must be viewed with more substance with the powers that be (companies), instead of going for 'easy money'. Home-grown talent wins the day.

[Pat15]

problem in US is the home grown kids dont want to do the hard work ...They go to college for parties, booze and a little bit of study ...Colleges are into football, basketball that brings in $$$ I see many young generation whose interests in higher eduaction is very low ...Even after spening thousands of $$$ easy loans many are ill equipped to for any serious work outside except pusing paper ...Look around many scientists working major institutions are from outside US ...there is a reson for that ...Home grown kids want easy jobs, no thinking ..parties ..drugs violence that is all they know ...

[longtalldrink]

...uh I would call that a failure of our education system...you know that whole "reasoning" part.

The author says "instead of just griping about the lack of education and opportunities I saw, I decided to do something about it." Maybe you should take heed.

[satanlite]

No disrespect intended, but speaking as an IT guy who saw salaries and job opportunities virtually vanish overnight due to H1B visas and thsi supposed "shortage" you are crying BS. Corporations used H1B visas to gut the IT salary market. I hold no anger towards you personally but let's get the story straight. It wasn't so much lack of skills in the US it was ability of major corporations to majorly Fk over US workers. Saved them BILLIONS. Fk d over many US citizens.

[StuManChu]

We all have the right for the "pursuit of happiness". In that right, we have the right to fall flat on our face. Happiness is not guaranteed. Some have less obstacles to overcome, but it is up to the individual to pursue his or her own happiness, with no guarantees but the right to pursue. This applies for 100% of Americans.

We have spent more on education than any time in our history, with awful results. What is happening with all the money?

[ron46032]

Oh, you're looking for results. Left wingers don't care about results. It's enough to care and throw money.

[WilliamBradford]

I think it is excellent that private charities like Mr. Azaria's are filling a void and making a difference. I will make a contribution.

But the existence of this void is still an issue that should be dealt with more directly. Contrary to his assertion, we do have equality of education and opportunity. In most states, every public school has exactly the same resources available to it, regardless of the neighborhood. If money is the problem, then it should already have been solved.

The truth is that "character traits" are a big part of the problem and should not be taught at school. Again, it is admirable that this private charity is filling the role of families, but it is not a solution. The problem will continue, and expand, unless we honestly address the source.

[tc2598]

Did you just say that all public schools have the same resources?

That is simply not true. Public schools are funded from property taxes. That means areas with more expensive houses have more money for schools.

You're telling me that an inner city public school has the same resources as an affluent suburb public school?

That is insane.

[ron46032]

Look at the facts before spouting. I know here in Indiana, the Indianapolis public schools (inner city) spend much more per pupil and have higher paid teachers than the surrounding suburbs.

I've studied the state testing data and demographic information. There are clear correlations between failing in school to being a minority and having parents with a low education level. There is a slight inverse correlation to money per pupil. At least in Indiana, the more you spend per pupil and teacher the worse the outcome.

[satanlite]

Well then genius, let's spend no money on education. Yup. THAT will certianly fix your "education" problem wont' it?

[JakeJamesVogel]

Hank- I had an idea over a year ago that would eventually provide free higher education to the world.
At first I tried to get politicians interested in the idea (for a US version) to no avail- then I entered the idea in Google's Project 10^100. Out of 155K entries my idea (combined with similar ideas from like-minded folks) made the top 16- we are still waiting on the results (10 Million dollars in funding at stake). The original idea- to take some of the money that goes to our brick and mortar universities and found a free, accredited, online learning platform where any citizen can learn and become an expert in any field he or she chooses. Of course there are limitations, we wouldn't want people practicing chemistry at home- but a lot can be taught virtually. Another limitation is the cost of internet use, computers, and books. I think that student-micro loans could replace the massive burdensome loans of today and help cover these costs. I call the idea "The University of Freenix". Would you help me spread the word? I believe the more people behind the idea the greater likelihood it will happen.

Thanks,

Jake James-Vogel

[pinellas]

Bravo indeed! I knew I liked this guy = )
I've been working w/ school-age children in after school & summer programs for over 16 years now & applaud all those who spend their time & energy & $$ to help disadvantaged young people.

& it's a pity so many adults seem to operate under the false assumption that their narrow life experience is the same as everyone else's.

[fcsakes]

Mr. Azaria, the fact is many kids living below, at, around, or near the poverty line don't even have dreams. Those are the ones we need to find.