Rewriting the Narrative of the American Dream

The America250 commemoration has prompted me to reflect on the promise of America, and the work still required to fulfill it.

As we celebrate the ideals of the American Dream, "in order to form a more perfect Union" requires that we are honest about our past and present. (Shout out to SchoolHouse Rock!) This statement is a call to action to keep working, not a declaration of accomplishment, and it invites us to celebrate how far we have come while remaining honest about the distance we still have to travel.

From the founding of our nation, the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness has not been accessible to everyone. Hard work, passion, and purpose have always mattered, but for too many entrepreneurs, they have not been enough.

The tables were too small.

The doors were padlocked.

The boats had holes.

And some people have been running the race without shoes.

At IFEL, our work has always been rooted in the belief that talent is everywhere, even when opportunity is not. We exist to remove the systemic barriers that prevent entrepreneurs and small business owners from accessing the knowledge, networks, and capital they need to build wealth through entrepreneurship. The American Dream should not depend on whether someone has already saved you a seat at the table. Our vision is for it to be possible on every Main Street and in every community from sea to shining sea.

We are really excited about the opportunity our Capital Circles initiative offers as a pathway to taking action for anyone and everyone who believes the American Dream can and should work for more people. When we come together in community, we can build bigger tables, unlock more doors, repair the boats, and provide the shoes entrepreneurs need to run—and win—the race.

Our origin stories may be different. Our experiences in America may not be the same. But we are all part of the story being written now. The pursuit of “more perfect” requires us to keep believing in what is possible, and to take responsibility for helping make it so.

If you believe the next chapter of the American Dream should include more entrepreneurs, more communities, and more pathways to prosperity, we invite you to join our community of changemakers. Working together, we can ensure that America’s next 250 years are defined not only by the promise of opportunity, but by our collective action to make that opportunity real for everyone.

Together, we can make a difference.

Yours in partnership,

Jill + Team IFEL