Richard Reeves explains the factors that limit or assist social mobility for people born into the lowest economic quintile in American society.
Richard V. Reeves of the Brookings Institution sums up some of his recent findings in a short Youtube video titled "Is America Dreaming?: Understanding Social Mobility," published yesterday. Using Lego blocks and figures, he demonstrates some of the qualities and factors that inhibit or help social mobility, and discusses how these relate to inequality and opportunity.
Reeves explains how American society is top-heavy in terms of economic wealth, the bottom quintile receive five percent of the money while the top quintile receives 52 percent. To understand American economic fairness, which Reeve defines as an individual's ability to advance from the bottom quintile, Reeves analyzes mobility for specific groups in the lower quintile's population: black Americans, white Americans, unmarried parents, married parents, high school dropouts, and college graduates.
Hat tip to Robert Puentes for sharing the video.
FULL STORY: Is America Dreaming?: Understanding Social Mobility

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie