New Report: Weaving the Dream: How Opportunity and Personal Agency Can Shape a Common Vision for America

Posted by More in Common on July 15, 2025

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 250^th 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.