A vision of an NC community where everyone can thrive

Did you know that 20 percent of the Triangle’s children – some 69,070 children in all – were at risk of hunger or hungry in 2013? And that a third of public third-grade students were not grade-level proficient in reading last year? Or that only 4.4 percent of children in our state have the chance to rise to the top fifth of socioeconomic status if they were born in the bottom fifth? And that all of these shocking stats are even worse for kids of color?

These facts have been on my mind lately. How they are related, how they tell a story, what I can do to change them. At the Triangle Community Foundation, we are always thinking about how data help us learn about our community, expose inequities and help our nonprofits further their missions. But I’m lying awake at night wondering about what really matters – those children. The ones who can’t concentrate in school because their stomachs are empty. The ones who can’t read and aren’t getting the help they need – what that means for their future. And it’s haunting me.

We talk about opportunity, and it is often assumed that everyone has it. That everyone is born with the same, equal opportunity, and they take different paths from there. But I don’t believe that to be true. I believe that there is an abundance of opportunity for success in the Triangle, but that it is not available to everyone. That where a person starts in life shouldn’t determine where he ends up. But it does.

This region that we call home has undergone a remarkable demographic, cultural and economic transformation over the past 25 years, and we continue to grow and diversify at breakneck speed. We live in a region with an abundance of assets – natural, creative and, most of all, human. But not everyone has the same chance at success. If we relied solely on our “best of” accolades, the Triangle does look like a very prosperous place, but if we dig a little deeper and try to really understand the makeup of our region, we see very clearly that not everyone is thriving here. Poverty and economic inequality, fed by racial inequity and other structural barriers, live in our region, too.

Like many of you, I am paying attention to what’s happening in the world and right here in the Triangle, and I know we cannot afford to ignore the crisis that many in our community face because they are shut out from opportunities. As the nationwide conversation of inequality and inequity continues, it would be easier to focus only on the good news, and while sometimes I’d rather do that, it would be unfair and ultimately short-sighted.

But how do we fix the cycle? What can we do about it? Outcome gaps are widening, particularly along racial and economic lines, and we must act now. In order to have the highest impact, all individuals, donors, nonprofit practitioners and community leaders must build skill and confidence and a collective will to identify, and ultimately transform, structures that unfairly benefit some while burdening others.

The foundation that I am privileged to lead remains steadfast in the vision of a community where everyone can thrive. To make progress toward that vision, we have to be honest with ourselves about the different opportunities and barriers facing a significant number in our community. And we have to be brave and humble about what our role can be to help level the playing field so that everyone has a fair shot at sharing in the success of our region.

So how can we change the narrative and in turn the region? It all starts with a conversation. A willingness to learn.

Because I’m still thinking about our children. What can we do to ensure their success? What do we want them to be capable of? How do we build a pathway to get there? I know we can do it together.

This story was originally published April 22, 2016 at 5:11 PM with the headline "A vision of an NC community where everyone can thrive."