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The New American Dream: Exploring How Next Gen Leaders are Reshaping the Vision

Millennials and Gen Z are shaping the way that business and political leaders are responding to social injustice, climate change, economic and racial inequity, and many other issues that our planet is facing. They are not only resilient and adaptive but also incredibly innovative and solutions-oriented. Perhaps the most distinguishing characteristic about this age demographic is their commitment to integrity. For example, younger generations will research whether a company actually follows through on its commitment to sustainability - they want transparency and accountability, not greenwashing. 

Given these distinguishing characteristics about Millennials and Gen Z, it's interesting to explore how their choices and preferences are reshaping the idea of the American dream, which has both national and global implications. For many, the old American dream evokes an image of a white picket fence, a neatly manicured green lawn, a two-door garage, and a happy family of four sitting together around the dinner table. Given the enormous challenges confronting our society and our planet, this image hardly feels relevant anymore, even if attainable. 

The mindset of Millennials and Gen Z, their values, and their choices may be reshaping the American dream for the better so that it's a positive and constructive response to our society and our planet's needs. What is the new dream and how does it look different across diverse racial or ethnic perspectives and experiences? What are the barriers and what is the role of the public and private sectors in helping to remove barriers? How will this new dream change the landscape of America, and influence our global community and how we respond to global challenges? 

In collaboration with the Walton Family Foundation, join us in a thought-provoking conversation on February 24th. Joining our panel will be Kristen Soltis Anderson, pollster and co-founder of Echelon Insights, Emma Pengelly, the Deputy Director for the Home Region Program at Walton Family Foundation, Nayancie Matthews, a business and finance major at Baruch College, and Elizabeth John, an MBA student at NYU Stern.

New American Dream Event Resources

After the main event, everyone is invited to continue networking and connecting on the Wonder platform. This will be an informal space where you will have the opportunity to continue the conversations from the main event and network with new people. Everyone will be provided with the link to join us on Wonder at the end of the main event around 11 am PST. Hope to see you there! 

Join us on February 24th, at 10:00 am PST/1:00 pm EST

About our Speakers: 

Emma Pengelly

Emma is a Deputy Director for the Home Region Program at Walton Family Foundation. Before joining the foundation, Emma served first as a teacher and then as a school leader in Brooklyn, New York. Emma leads the Massachusetts investment portfolio as well as a group of investments in innovative school models and in intentionally diverse schools. Emma holds a bachelor's degree in women's studies from Harvard College, a master's degree in general childhood education from the Bank Street College of Education, and an educational leadership doctorate (EdLD) from Harvard University. 

Kristen Soltis Anderson

Kristen Soltis Anderson is a pollster and is co-founder of Echelon Insights, a research and analytics firm. For over fifteen years, Anderson has worked in the field of public opinion research and has focused on understanding emerging audiences such as the Millennial generation. She is the author of The Selfie Vote and is the host of The Trendline with Kristen Soltis Anderson on SiriusXM. She is also a columnist for The Washington Examiner and is a contributor to Fox News Channel. 

Nayancie Matthews

Nayancie Matthews is a current Junior at Baruch College, majoring in international business and finance. Nayancie is a first-generation college student and immigrant born in St. Kittle and Nevis, and raised in Guyana. Nayancie is a passionate lifelong learner who believes in the value of people and community. Nayancei is also a three-time alumnus of the Up to Us competition.

After graduating from Baruch, Nayancie plans to work in the realm of finance while incorporating her love for community and economic development. Nayancei additionally plans to attend law school to receive her Juris Doctorate and MBA to practice civil rights law. 

Guest Panelist: Elizabeth John

Elizabeth John is a full-time MBA student at NYU Stern, specializing in Sustainable Business & Innovation and Marketing. She is interested in how companies can become more socially responsible and has spent the past year as a Fellow with Williams-Sonoma, Inc., focusing on supplier diversity. Before starting her MBA, Liz served as the New York City Executive Director at PowerMyLearning, a national education nonprofit that advances educational equity and accelerates students' social-emotional learning and academic achievement. Prior to joining PowerMyLearning in 2013, Liz served as the Director of Education Programs for New York Cares, the city's largest volunteer management organization. A former New York City Teaching Fellow, Liz also taught sixth and eighth-grade math at a high-need public school in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Liz holds an M.S. in Teaching from Pace University and a B.A. in History from New York University.