Homeless Talk Santa Rosa

What happened to the American Dream?

The Greatest Generation modeled the dream when they returned from WWII. They went back to school, got jobs, bought cars, stayed somewhat permanently in homes, and told their children to become educated, and become anything they wanted to be.

The Boomers were the most educated generation ever, and the most vocal about what they believed. As they entered the workforce, they changed how work was supported, expanding childcare and part-time employment. They moved away from home early, and into rentals together. They gave themselves vast amounts of information and communication.

Gen X, Xennials, and Millennials (born 1965 to 1980) grew up with parents who were increasingly indebted, job-fragmented, and family-stretched. Playtime became focused on inside activities and protected environments, and mostly in response to adult fear. A result was a growth in family and teen mental health caseloads.

Gen Z (born after 1995) experienced the worst of it. At the exact time when their brains in puberty needed experience taking risks and problem-solving, helicopter parents who over-protected in the world and under-protected on the internet, denied them the skills and opportunities to develop confidence and maturity. Their lives transformed from flip phones which captured images of the world to smart phones which negatively focused their world on themselves.

The American Dream has been greatly impacted by economic forces which have created huge class differences. It’s getting tougher to live in this world. But our own refusal to allow opportunities for our children to experience independence is undermining their ability to fight for themselves, and our American Dream.

"Homeless Talk - Citywide Conversations: Visions for Change"
This project is complete. Read our report and see our data here:
http://sonomacountyhomeless.org/
(Scroll down to the 2nd picture, of the house with a mural on the side).

Thank you to the 500 people who opened their minds and tongues to help our city move forward on this crucial issue.

sonomacountyhomeless.org

Check out Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week at http://hhweek.org/hunger-and-homelessness/ It starts in 2 days!

Hunger & Homelessness – Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week The FactsNo one should have to worry about whether they will have food on their plate or a roof over their head. But the reality is that hunger and homelessness are widespread problems that affect far too many people. In the United StatesMany Americans are living on the edge, forced to choose betwee...