More in Common – PHENND https://phennd.org We are a network of over 20 colleges and universities that strengthens service learning in Philadelphia, connecting academics with community involvement. Fri, 11 Jul 2025 19:47:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 Webinar: How Weaving Together Agency and Opportunity Can Shape a Common American Vision – Jul 24 https://phennd.org/update/webinar-how-weaving-together-agency-and-opportunity-can-shape-a-common-american-vision-jul-24/ Fri, 11 Jul 2025 19:46:28 +0000 https://phennd.org/?post_type=update&p=86194 At a time when so much feels beyond our control, can we shape our future? A seven-year investigation by the Beacon Project at More in Common shows that Americans of all stripes believe that individuals have the power to transcend negative circumstances, or “personal agency.” But they also think that people should be afforded the opportunity to exercise that agency—not just to better themselves, but also to improve their communities. In other words, with agency comes responsibility. We call this “morally directed agency,” and suggest it may be a key to a shared vision of America’s future. In this webinar, lead author Dr. Daniel Yudkin will offer a tour of a large-scale investigation of Americans’ beliefs in personal agency, spanning 60,000 people across four countries.

Date and Time: July 24, 2025, 10:30 AM

Register.

]]> New Report: Weaving the Dream: How Opportunity and Personal Agency Can Shape a Common Vision for America https://phennd.org/update/new-report-weaving-the-dream-how-opportunity-and-personal-agency-can-shape-a-common-vision-for-america/ Fri, 11 Jul 2025 19:42:52 +0000 https://phennd.org/?post_type=update&p=86193 At a time when so much feels beyond our control, can we shape our future? A seven-year investigation by the Beacon Project at More in Common shows that Americans of all stripes believe that individuals have the power to transcend negative circumstances, or “personal agency.” But they also think that people should be afforded the opportunity to exercise that agency—not just to better themselves, but also to improve their communities.

In other words, with agency comes responsibility. We call this “morally directed agency,” and suggest it may be a key to a shared vision of America’s future.

As our country approaches its 250th anniversary and undergoes rapid demographic and technological changes—from increasing racial diversity to the advent of AI—Americans are asking themselves what kind of country we want to build together.

Our report, which surveys over 60,000 individuals across four countries, offers an answer: a society where everyone has both the opportunity to build lives of purpose and prosperity, and a sense of responsibility to help their fellow citizens do the same. This vision may help transcend our country’s divisions and paint a more hopeful picture of the future.

Download the report.

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