In 2014, Charlotte was ranked dead last out of the top 50 urban cities in America for economic mobility in a study conducted by Harvard professor and economist Raj Chetty. A key indicator of fairness and hope for low-income residents, upward mobility measures an individual’s or group’s ability to improve their socio-economic status.
In a community with high upward mobility, even the least fortunate have the opportunity to access a quality education, pursue employment opportunities, attain career advancement, and be remunerated with higher pay.
Just ten years later, Chetty’s latest economic-mobility study revealed an incredible success story in the Queen City. Thompson is proud to have played a vital role in turning things around.
Charlotte jumps 12 spots, improving to #38
A notable achievement, over the past decade Charlotte has undergone the 3rd greatest improvement in economic mobility in the nation. The shift included a 15% increase in adult income for the poorest residents, a level of progress Chetty posited would take 30 years to achieve.
So how did it happen? What is the secret to Charlotte’s success story?
A wake-up call for Charlotte
Concerned by the findings, civic leaders pushed for further research into the causes behind the lack of upward mobility and the persistent racial gaps. In 2018, a report was compiled and published by The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Opportunity Task Force.
The report produced a number of key findings:
- Disparity in economic opportunities were often based on race and geography
- Low-quality education perpetuates economic inequality
- Early childhood education and development are crucial for improving long-term economic outcomes
- A shortage of workforce development programs
- A lack of affordable housing makes it challenges to invest in education and career advancement
- Healthcare disparity impacts an individual’s ability to work and succeed
- Reliable transportation directly improves upward mobility
- Strong community networks and support groups play vital roles in fostering economic mobility
Springing into action
Once released, Thompson quickly used the report as a playbook for identifying evidence-based programs and services that would address the key obstacles to mobility uncovered by the task force. Since that time, we have served over 20,000 children and families, which constitutes a 6x growth compared to previous years. This rapid growth led Thompson to become the largest youth serving nonprofit in the Charlotte area.
While many leaders were meeting and convening, we already had boots on the ground, working to implement the much-needed services that could directly impact upward social mobility and satisfy the long term unmet needs in Charlotte and beyond.
A success story that changed lives
Our service continuum and commitment to quality directly and positively impacted economic mobility in Charlotte. In conjunction with other local organizations, including Leading on Opportunity, a nonprofit established to support Charlotte-based entities in tackling economic mobility challenges, our efforts supported the city’s $250M Racial Equity Initiative, a campaign launched to address many of the social and economic disparities caused by centuries of American racism.
Looking to the future
At Thompson, we understand that upward mobility must be present in order for a child born into poverty to break the cycle. Along with the programs and services we deliver, Team Thompson supports policy changes that:
- Invest in the next generation through targeted job training, mentorship, and educational support
- Address social communities, rather than specific neighborhoods, to broaden connections across class and race
- Integrate social capital with financial and human capital in housing support, job training, and education programs
The future is looking bright for Charlotte’s disadvantaged communities, and we’re proud to be a part of it.
