THE INVITATION

Almost 250 years ago, this nation was founded under the revolutionary idea that all are created equal. The Constitution that followed this Declaration of Independence offered us the invitation to bring this idea to life under the mantle of “We, the People.” It is now the work of our generation to take up the unfulfilled promise of “We, the People” and refound a country that truly serves all.

This is the invitation before us. This moment calls upon us to assume our role as founders of a true multiracial democracy and to remake the nation so all can flourish.

What exactly does that require us to commit to?

We must envision and build a shared future so expansive and uncompromising that it becomes irresistible. We imagine a nation where a person’s race or zip code does not predict their life outcomes—where no one is expected to experience violence, poverty, hunger, or privation. We envision a nation in service of our collective flourishing, where everyone can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. A country that finally works for all.

When we say “all,” we must mean everyone. The ends of equity have always been the transformation of our society—our laws, regulations, customs, institutions, and ways of relating to one another—so that everyone can flourish. But throughout history, bad-faith invocations of “all”—which have often excluded those with the least voice in defining them and the least formal power to change them—have served as the building blocks of exploitation, division, and oppression. The term “all” has been used to project symbolic equality while reinforcing material inequality. The problem is that “all” hasn’t actually meant everyone.  

We must occupy the highest ground, spiritually and politically, by fortifying ourselves to be ready to govern in a nation where all truly means all. By holding all intersectional interests and refusing to be pushed into silos that short-circuit solidarity, we can cultivate and advance a unifying vision and a nation renewed through a flourishing democracy.

We must take ownership of the nation, with all its faults and promise, and take up our power as founders with a revolutionary love for all. This work is not easy, and it is not possible in the absence of a revolution of the soul. If we are to recalibrate our systems, structures, and norms for the flourishing of all people, we must develop an individual and collective soul that can love all. This work can only be realized if we grow into the fullness of our personhood and recognize the interconnectedness of all humanity. Our part will be to move into the fullest aspiration of equity: a democracy, economy, and society that serve the needs of all.

It is time to publicly declare whose thriving we work to ensure and who we would deny the opportunity to thrive. A commitment to the flourishing of all is the only logical conclusion to acknowledging the intrinsic value of human life and the inherent dignity of personhood. 

How will we know if we are making the evolutionary leap to building social, cultural, and governing systems that work in service of human flourishing? We mentioned a future where a person’s race or zip code does not predict their life outcomes—a nation where no one is expected to experience violence, poverty, hunger, or privation. One way we will know we have arrived is that there will no longer be 100 million people living in or near poverty. Instead, we will see 330 million people flourishing. That day, we will see what it looks like to unlock the promise of the nation by unleashing the promise in all.

Will you commit to joining us in driving this transformation?