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By 2050 there will be no clear racial or ethnic majority in our nation. To ensure that the unprecedented growth of communities of color also yields future prosperity, we must proactively work to close racial and ethnic disparities across the board with innovative policies that work for all. Progress 2050, a project of the Center for American Progress, develops new ideas for a diverse America by working toward a more inclusive progressive agenda. Below is a sample of our major products and activities:
Major reports
Progress 2050: New Ideas for a Diverse America
By the year 2050 there won’t be an ethnic majority in our nation. This demographic shift holds important policy implications, particularly if current racial and ethnic disparities continue. In this paper, the Progress 2050 team lays out its premise and strategies to promote a more inclusive progressive agenda.
Diverse Schools Need Diverse Teachers
Progress 2050 teamed up with CAP’s Education Team to release two important reports that highlight the diversity gaps that exist between our teachers and students, as well as to highlight strategies to recruit and retain a teaching workforce more reflective of the changing demographics in schools.
Assimilation Tomorrow: How America’s Immigrant Will Integrate by 2030
In conjunction with CAP’s Immigration team, Progress 2050 released a groundbreaking study that projects immigrant integration patterns to 2030. The report finds that immigrants will continue integrating at high levels and show positive gains in homeownership, English acquisition, and naturalization rates.
A Better, More Diverse Senior Executive Service in 2050
Progress 2050 and CAP’s Doing What Works project released a report with projections on the SES’s diversity over the next few decades. The report argues that Hispanics will remain significantly under-represented, and it includes recommendations to improve the ability of our government to represent all of our citizens more effectively.
Events, conferences, and briefings
Progress 2050 roundtables on demographic change
Progress 2050 is conducting roundtables across the nation in states that experienced exponential demographic change in the last decade to discuss the opportunities and challenges communities face as they undergo this shift. The goal is to create the space for meaningful localized dialogue, identify place-based policy solutions, and piece together a narrative squarely focused on the opportunity of diversity.
Still Dreaming: Continuing the Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement Through Criminal Justice Reform
In collaboration with the American Constitution Society, Progress 2050 held a robust conversation on criminal justice reform emerging as the civil rights issue of the 21st century. The event highlighted how the disparities in incarceration rates among people of color resonate with the Jim Crow era.
Why Black Gay and Transgender Americans Need More than Marriage Equality
In partnership with the FIRE Initiative, Progress 2050 held a panel discussion on the complexity of issues facing LGBT people of color. At this time CAP released a groundbreaking report, “Jumping Beyond the Broom: Why Black Gay and Transgender Americans Need More Than Marriage Equality.”
The State of Young America
In partnership with Young Invincibles and Demos, Progress 2050 held a robust conversation on the impact of the staggering economy on our nation’s youngest adults. This event highlighted the economic trends among youth and key priorities among youth voters in the 2012 election.
Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America
Progress 2050 hosted Melissa Harris-Perry to discuss her groundbreaking new book, Sister Citizen, which explores black women’s political and emotional responses to pervasive negative race and gender images.
Prosperity 2050: Is Equity the Superior Growth Model?
In partnership with PolicyLink, this day-long event featured thought leaders in economics, environmental sustainability, employment access, policy, and social research to discuss solutions to inequitable outcomes for American communities facing structural impediments to their success. The conference resulted in a report that explored the proposition that equity is an economically superior growth model.
Rapid-response opinion and articles
“Ryan Budget Would Cause More Pain for Communities of Color” by Daniella Gibbs Léger
“Race and Beyond: Transforming ‘White Culture’ in the Wake of Martin Shooting” By Sam Fulwood III
“Unleashing Women’s Economic Potential” by Julie Ajinkya
“Voter ID Laws Target the Most Vulnerable” by Vanessa Cárdenas
“Obama Steps Up for Communities of Color” by Daniella Gibbs Léger
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